Responding to the bombshell Kurt Eichenwald cover story in Newsweek on Donald Trump’s tangled web of foreign business matters and the national security risks they’d pose if Trump were elected, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has questions. Twenty of them.
“Almost every foreign policy decision [Trump] makes will raise serious conflicts of interest,” writes Eichenwald in Newsweek.
“From deals with known terrorists and dictators, like Muammar el-Qaddafi, to ties with controversial Russian figures, Trump’s business career is full of sketchy relationships with foreign countries,” Clinton’s campaign responded today. “According to Newsweek, these ties would directly influence America’s standing with allies, like South Korea, and adversaries, like Iran, if he becomes president.”
1. Will you sever ties with your company linked to foreign leaders, questionable organizations, and criminals if you become president?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
2. How will you handle non-cancelable contractual obligations with parties whose interests conflict with those of the United States?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
3. While refusing to release your tax returns, how will you confirm that you do not have dangerous financial ties to bad actors abroad?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
4. If you were willing to work with Qaddafi—a known terrorist and dictator—is there anyone you aren’t willing to make a deal with? Who?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
5. How can you be tough on Iran, given your business partnership with someone connected to Iranian money laundering? pic.twitter.com/1AdDm2kfvy
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
6. Given that you’ve already questioned our commitments to NATO allies, what is your answer to this? pic.twitter.com/qp5vMqtcs1
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
7. To what extent would your foreign policy be dictated by potential financial benefits for your business partners? pic.twitter.com/4Nd9KSdTfi
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
8. Will you disclose the nature of your personal and business relationships with all of the Russian oligarchs you are “close” to?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
9. Have you or your campaign discussed U.S.-Russian relations with the Russian billionaires with whom you’ve done business?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
10. How did the Russian mob boss who ran a criminal organization out of Trump Tower get a VIP pass to your Miss Universe pageant in Moscow?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
11. With business ties to politically-connected Indian developers, how can you conduct foreign policy that puts the U.S. above your profits?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
12. How can we be sure you’d be willing to be tough on any nation if necessary, if it would put your interests and profits at risk?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
13. How can we know you won’t (again) impulsively damage relationships with crucial allies to preserve your own ego? https://t.co/j1VtaFhA6C
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
14. We know you engaged extensively in pay-to-play here at home. Have you bribed foreign officials or other parties abroad?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
15. To what extent are you and your family currently contractually tied to payments from foreign business partners, or governments?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
16. You’ve mentioned ~120 foreign deals, including in countries with national security implications. Where and with whom are you working?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
17. Will your children disclose all of the foreign trips and business deals they’ve undertaken during the campaign, and with whom they met?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
18. We’ll let @kurteichenwald ask this one: pic.twitter.com/xnIl6JazS3
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
19. In sum, how will Trump guarantee that if forced to choose between America’s security and his own bank account, he won’t pick the latter?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
20. It’s pretty clear: Trump’s spent his life unscrupulously looking out for his own wallet above all. Why would that change as president?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
20 questions Donald Trump needs to answer about his business—and the national security risk it poses