Since even before his 2016 campaign, former President Donald Trump has painted himself as one of the United States' most successful businessmen, but this boast rarely holds up under scrutiny.
Whether it's Trump's numerous failed business ventures, his billion dollars in debt, or his organization's sketchy tax filings, Trump's critics insist he's far from the magnate he portrayed in The Apprentice.
Two of the Trump Organization's most endangered properties are across the pond: Trump Turnberry, in Scotland, and Trump Golf Links International in Aberdeenshire. Trump's failure to hedge his investments on these properties has already resulted in a loss of tens of millions, and neither have turned a profit since they've opened. As President, Trump was accused of funneling taxpayer dollars into his Trump Turnberry—a practice he also exercised domestically through Secret Service stays and a failed attempt to host the G7 at one of his resorts.
So it may come as no surprise that Trump's properties in the United Kingdom were in dire pandemic-induced straits, and subsequently relied on money from the British government to stay afloat.
Newly-released reports found that Trump Turnberry accepted $3 million in pandemic relief from the United Kingdom, while the Aberdeenshire property received 600 thousand.
Trump infamously refused to divest from his businesses ahead of the presidency, passing control of the Trump Organization to his sons instead.
The revelation that the Trump Org took money from the United Kingdom had some claiming Trump violated the Emoluments Clause, which restricts federal government members from accepting foreign gifts.
Trump Golf Courses Claimed Nearly $4 Million In British COVID-19 Aid While He Was President even though the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause prohibits federal officials from accepting payments from foreign governments.#CrookedPresident #GriftMaster https://t.co/oiiRIJHszs
— 👽 McSpocky™ 🗣🇺🇸🌊💉 #BuildBackBetter (@mcspocky) December 26, 2021
Foreign emolument violation. Period. https://t.co/ntf9HbOxAj
— Science/Medicine 1st - The Ends Justify the Memes (@KnowWhatEyeMeme) December 27, 2021
Trump’s failing operations collected the COVID-19 relief during the pandemic, The Independent reported, even though the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause prohibits federal officials from accepting payments from foreign governments.https://t.co/83NSxZhnHV
— 🌊😷—((( Freddy Atton )))—😷🌊 (@freddyatton) December 29, 2021
This is very interesting. TFG took money from a foreign government while president.https://t.co/Czxj0S91ib
— Vicki (@Vicki15190641) December 27, 2021
Trump’s Scottish golf courses claimed nearly $4M in British government aid in 2020 while he was serving as U.S. president…even though the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause prohibits federal officials from accepting payments from foreign governments.https://t.co/nqVEDilhdH
— SaveTheSenate2022 (@sotomayor2020) December 29, 2021
Trump unlawful emoluments. The grifter took money from the UKhttps://t.co/vzA9TbA6kh
— Alvin S. Brown, IRS Tax Attorney (@USTaxAttorney) December 27, 2021
They accused the former President of grifting.
Don’t ANYBODY talk to us about looting #TrumpCrimes https://t.co/XsgwJHBLDj
— Frangela (@frangeladuo) December 27, 2021
The Trump Companies are pyramid schemes and local municipalities bought in. It was only a matter of time before they crumbled. Scotland, you're up first!https://t.co/MQ5Mir1IVB
— The Good Doctor is VAXXED and BOOSTED (@0FrancisFurter0) December 27, 2021
Just when you thought you couldn’t be shocked, another revelation confirming Trump is trash. https://t.co/wVMNsCk2zK
— 🎈DaybyDay 🐝 (@kpavonescooter) December 27, 2021
Oof.