President Donald Trump was harshly criticized on Tuesday after a bombshell new report in The New York Times.
“The ambassador’s deputy, Lewis A. Lukens, advised him not to do it, warning that it would be an unethical use of the presidency for private gain, these people said,” reported Mark Landler, Lara Jakes, and Maggie Haberman. “But Mr. Johnson apparently felt pressured to try. A few weeks later, he raised the idea of Turnberry playing host to the Open with the secretary of state for Scotland, David Mundell.”
Noah Bookbinder, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), blasted Trump.
Our ambassador, at President Trump’s urging, reportedly asked the British government to steer the British Open to Trump’s club. Hard to think of a better example of using the presidency for personal gain in ways that could affect international relations.https://t.co/JHTVS9a8du
— Noah Bookbinder (@NoahBookbinder) July 21, 2020
Here’s what others were saying:
The president gave a patronage position to a wealthy donor and then asked him to take official action to benefit his private business. https://t.co/0u24CgHmdb
— Adam Smith (@asmith83) July 21, 2020
Trump is using his office to line his own pockets.
Every Senator who voted to keep him in office has made Trump’s corruption part of their legacy. https://t.co/try3kG2fiR
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) July 21, 2020
Hate to say it, folks
But if this is true it is blatant corruption and a textbook impeachable offense. https://t.co/iWLnEhuyUC
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) July 21, 2020
Yikes. https://t.co/fhbXbEurV4 pic.twitter.com/jJJuADzqE1
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) July 21, 2020
Trumpian corruption is as imaginative as it is endless: President Trump used the US ambassador to the UK to try to get the British Open held at his golf course for his profit. https://t.co/xWS4Iyn8qB
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) July 21, 2020
The whole presidency is one long grift. https://t.co/Th0mjhJq0T
— Neil King (@NKingofDC) July 21, 2020
The grift never ends https://t.co/5EjGBHz8Qn
— Antifa Provocateur (@RealPLUTim) July 21, 2020
Another day, another potentially impeachable offense. https://t.co/0Avig6gAa1
— Matt Ford (@fordm) July 21, 2020
Woody Johnson, owner of the NFL’s @nyjets, as well as Trump’s UK ambassador. https://t.co/Owu6Y91lxt
— Chris De Benedetti (@CDeBenedetti) July 21, 2020
Trump is a corrupt thug. https://t.co/gmuEuQLnHN
— Matt Murphy (@MattMurph24) July 21, 2020
How can something be so completely ridiculous and impeachable at the same time https://t.co/KyfhX5D3Vr
— Cody Fenwick (@codytfenwick) July 21, 2020
The swamp keeps overflowing: Trump trying to use his presidency to push the Brits to move the British Open to a Trump property.
Trump’s Request of an Ambassador: Get the British Open for Me https://t.co/yqF5mCrJD5
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) July 21, 2020
What is described is a blatant misuse of office and position. https://t.co/eex4u6HvQH
— Philip Hackney (@EOTaxProf) July 21, 2020
I know it’s a cliche …but this seems swampy! https://t.co/rzwB7l7UPt
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) July 21, 2020
I used to think a president couldn’t do that.
I guess now they can? https://t.co/Eth2RIlf74
— Dennis STILL WEARIN’ IT Herring (@dcherring) July 21, 2020
The con goes on. https://t.co/giCZXp03Oj
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) July 21, 2020
This seems like an impeachable offense, tbh! https://t.co/zxkkwzWin9
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 21, 2020
Instead of working with other countries to fight the pandemic, Trump is trying to leverage them to make money. It’s always about him, never about us. https://t.co/zga2cknubD
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) July 21, 2020
Imagine what a scandal this would be if the President wasn’t protected by a massive criminal conspiracy- Oops, I mean, a memo from the 70’s. https://t.co/OwNEKQGwnz
— Schooley (@Rschooley) July 21, 2020
Which is illegal. Which no one will hold him responsible for. https://t.co/mcPyCB8FDr pic.twitter.com/xigaGmuQAl
— Liberal Thug Momma Problems (@momma_problem) July 21, 2020
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