When the Trump Organization asserted Monday that it had sent a check to the U.S Treasury that "fulfills our pledge to donate profits from foreign government patronage at our hotels” during Donald Trump’s presidency, it left out one minor detail: How much?
$1, $25.27, $99? Or in lieu of money, perhaps Trump Org sent Treasury a winning assortment of Make America Great Again hats, now on sale at Trump Outlet for the reduced price of $19.99. Anyway, no need for a dollar amount or any documentation of the promise kept—Trump's word is his bond, just like Melania said, stealing the words of her predecessor Michelle Obama. Still, some seemed skeptical, writes the AP.
Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, said that the lack of disclosure was unsurprising given that the Trump's family businesses have "a penchant for secrecy and a readiness to violate their promises."
"Did they pay with Monopoly money? If the Trump Organization won't say how much they paid, let alone how they calculated it at each property, why in the world should we believe they actually have delivered on their promise?" Weissman said. [...]
"It's bad that Trump won't divest himself and establish a truly blind trust, and it's worse that he won't be transparent," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, ranking member on the House Oversight Committee. He called the Republicans refusal to do oversight, such as subpoena documents, that would shed light on Trump's conflicts of interest "unconscionable.
Hey, nothing like a nonspecific, unverifiable and toothless statement to really settle a controversy. No reason for the GOP-led House Oversight panel to suddenly look into an issue it has thus far completely ignored anyway. Promise kept, because they said so. Just ask Sarah Huckabee Sanders—she’ll level with ya.