[xzins]

It strikes me that this is a benefit specifically directed to a specific government official by a foreign power.

I don’t think staying at a hotel chain owned by an official even begins to rise to the level of a personalized benefit granted by a foreign power.

If it were a foreign contract to exclusively use Trump hotels, I’d see that as rising to the level that Congress would have to approve it.

That said, it sounds to me like congress would have to review and reject before it would be illegal. Then, if continued one might have a legal case.

[P-Marlowe]

This guy has no standing. Congress can approve a waiver so the only body in the United States that has standing to sue Trump on this issue is Congress.

This case will be thrown out by the first real judge that reads it.

[Steve_Seattle]

"If it were a foreign contract to exclusively use Trump hotels, I’d see that as rising to the level that Congress would have to approve it."

Or if a foreign government was given special rates - higher or lower than the norm. A higher rate could be seen as a personal gift to the president, a lower rate could be seen as a carrot offered by the president in return for some special favor.

Or it can involve special favors at the hotel itself: my daughter used to work at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Seattle, and she said the hotel looked the other way when Saudi royalty broke various hotel policies.