Administration

Trump says he had ‘nothing’ to do with Scotland, Ireland resort visits

President Trump is denying any knowledge of an Air Force crew’s decision to stop at his Turnberry resort in Scotland, a subject that has drawn scrutiny from congressional Democrats. 

In a series of tweets, Trump also again denied involvement in the decision by Vice President Pence to stay at his property in Doonbeg, Ireland, during an official visit last week despite his meetings being on the opposite site of the country in Dublin, its capital. 

“I know nothing about an Air Force plane landing at an airport (which I do not own and have nothing to do with) near Turnberry Resort (which I do own) in Scotland, and filling up with fuel, with the crew staying overnight at Turnberry (they have good taste!),” Trump tweeted Monday. “NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.”

Politico reported Friday that the House Oversight and Reform Committee has been investigating why the Air National Guard crew stopped at the Trump Turnberry outside Glasgow during a routine trip from the United States to Kuwait this past Spring, in addition to military spending around Trump’s Scotland resort. The same news outlet also reported Sunday night that the Air Force is reviewing accommodations planning in the wake of the report.

Broadly, Trump and other top officials have recently drawn scrutiny from Democrats and ethics experts over official spending at Trump properties.

House Democrats on the Judiciary and Oversight committees have requested information from the executive branch regarding efforts by Trump and other administration officials to spend taxpayer dollars at resorts owned by Trump, saying they raised possible issues with the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause.

Pence was forced to defend his stay at Trump’s Doonbeg resort last week as it drew broad criticism. 

Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, initially said Trump suggested he stay there, but the vice president’s office later backpedaled, saying it was solely the decision of Pence’s office and that Trump did not direct him to stay there. Trump told reporters last week that he had no involvement in the plans and that it wasn’t his idea for Pence to stay at the Doonbeg resort, a claim he reiterated Monday. 

“I had nothing to do with the decision of our great @VP Mike Pence to stay overnight at one of the Trump owned resorts in Doonbeg, Ireland,” Trump tweeted shortly after addressing the Air Force stay in Scotland.

“Mike’s family has lived in Doonbeg for many years, and he thought that during his very busy European visit, he would stop and see his family!” 

Additionally, Democrats have also raised concerns about Trump naming his Doral golf resort in Miami, Fla., as a leading contender to host the 2020 Group of Seven summit.

Trump has denied trying to use the presidency to enrich himself  and claimed last month that serving as commander in chief has cost him between $3 and $5 billion “in a combination of loss and opportunity.”

“People like my product, what can I tell you? I can’t help it. But, you know. And I guess they say, ‘We want to stay at a place that’s better than someplace else,’” Trump told reporters last Wednesday when asked to address the Doonbeg issue.

Tags Donald Trump Mike Pence

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