NewsNational News

Actions

President-elect Trump tweets he'll be leaving businesses 'to focus entirely on running the country'

<p>Donald Trump's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/28/politics/trump-foreign-businesses/" target="_blank">sprawling international business</a> creates countless conflicts of interest, which could lead to corruption.</p><p>And handing his business over to his kids wouldn't solve that. Here's why.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/trump-s-business-could-make-his-presidency-ethically-tough/">Trump's Business Could Make His Presidency An Ethical Minefield</a></b></p><p>For one, this is not a blind trust — like, at all. In a blind trust, one person hands off their business to someone else and doesn't communicate with them. That's unlikely to happen.</p><p>What's more, Trump appointed his three oldest kids to his transition team. </p><p>And his daughter Ivanka Trump <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/11/18/ivanka-trump-shinzo-abe/" target="_blank">has been in a meeting</a> with Japan's prime minister and <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/11/ivanka-joined-trumps-phone-call-with-argentinas-president.html" target="_blank">a call with Argentina's president</a>. She also <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/us/politics/donald-trump-pauses-transition-work-to-meet-with-indian-business-partners.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=a-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news" target="_blank">met with Indian businessmen</a> who spoke to Donald Trump about expanding deals with his ventures.</p><p>Plus, in a true blind trust, Trump would sell off his company assets, just as previous presidents have. But Trump plans to hold on to his, meaning he'll profit from any business gains during his presidency. </p><p>And previous presidents have set another standard Trump hasn't followed: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/trump-says-people-don-t-care-if-he-releases-his-tax-records/" target="_blank">releasing tax returns</a>. That means we don't know the full scope of the potential conflicts of interest surrounding Trump — or his kids.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/donald-trump-s-dc-hotel-is-a-big-conflict-of-interest/">Donald Trump's DC Hotel Is A Big Conflict Of Interest</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/elaine-chao-may-be-next-secretary-of-transportation/">Trump's Transportation Secretary Pick Is No Stranger To White House</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/donald-trump-wants-to-outlaw-burning-the-american-flag/">Donald Trump Wants To Outlaw Burning The American Flag</a></li></ul>
Posted
and last updated

President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter Wednesday morning to announce he's leaving his businesses in total "in order to fully focus on running the country."

In a series of tweets, Trump announced a press conference scheduled for Dec. 15 in New York City with his children to discuss his decision. 

RELATED: Trump administration, Carrier reach deal to keep nearly 1,000 jobs in US

The president-elect tweeted while he was "not mandated to do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as President, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses."

Here is the full series of tweets from President-elect Trump: