Trump Golf Deal in Qatar Renews Conflict of Interest Allegations
The Trump Organization announced a new $5.5 billion real estate venture Wednesday to develop a luxury golf resort in Qatar, drawing sharp criticism from ethics watchdogs over the company’s entanglements with foreign governments during President Donald Trump’s second term. The project, located in Simaisma north of Doha, will include Trump-branded beachside villas and an 18-hole golf course—marking the company’s first property in gas-rich Qatar.
The agreement involves a Saudi partner, Dar Global, and Qatari Diar, a state-owned real estate firm chaired by a Qatari government minister. Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said in a statement, “We are incredibly proud to expand the Trump brand into Qatar through this exceptional collaboration with Qatari Diar and Dar Global.”
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Critics say the deal contradicts the Trump Organization’s revised ethics pledge, which claimed it would avoid partnerships with foreign governments during the president’s term. “You want a president making decisions that are in the best interest of the United States, not his bottom line,” said Noah Bookbinder, head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
The Trump Organization insists its agreement is only with Dar Global, but Eric Trump’s comments and official announcements reference both companies. The development is part of a broader entertainment district that also includes a theme park and hospitality venues.
The project comes just ahead of President Trump’s planned Middle East visit, which includes Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—but not traditional US allies like Israel, Egypt, or Turkey. The deal has prompted further scrutiny of the president’s ties to the Gulf states, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, which invested $2 billion in a fund run by President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Donald Trump’s first term as president was mired in legal challenges over potential violations of the US Constitution’s emoluments clause. The new Qatar deal renews concerns that his business dealings could once again blur the line between presidential duty and private profit.
