The Philippine Embassy's Stated Trump-Hotel Rationale: Audit finding

Reporting and findings

1. documented

   A foreign embassy intentionally selected a Trump-owned hotel in part because of its association with the president, directly engaging the office-to-business value mechanism identified in the ethics pledge.

   • Time: Read a Transcript of Donald Trump's Press Conference on Conflicts of InterestSheri Dillon remarks: no new foreign deals, limited information rights, compliance counsel, and donation of foreign-government hotel profits
   • U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Oversight Committee Requests Documents on Trump Organization's Treatment of Foreign Government PaymentsBipartisan committee letter describing the January pledge and requesting implementation records
   • U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Democratic Staff: White House for Sale: How Princes, Prime Ministers, and Premiers Paid Off President TrumpPhilippines section; embassy receipt and ambassador's stated venue rationale
   • The Philippine Star: Philippine embassy defends holding independence event at Trump hotelEmbassy statement and venue explanation