REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
After he was elected president, Donald Trump asked British politicians to oppose the construction of wind farms near one of his Scottish golf courses, The New York Times reports. In a meeting with a group of pro-Brexit British officials, including Trump supporter and politician Nigel Farage, Trump allegedly encouraged them to campaign against wind-turbine farms, which he believes will ruin the view at one of his two Scottish courses. “He did not say he hated wind farms as a concept; he just did not like them spoiling the views,” Andy Wigmore, a media consultant who attended the meeting told the Times, adding that Trump “did suggest that we should campaign on it” and that he “spurred us in and we will be going for it.”
A spokesperson initially denied that Trump had used the meeting to push for his business interests, but stopped responding to questions after the Times presented details of the conversation, as provided by a witness. Shortly after the story was published Monday night, Trump took to Twitter, but did not deny the story. “Prior to the election it was well known that I have interests in properties all over the world. Only the crooked media makes this a big deal!” he tweeted. In a second tweet, he wrote, “Many people would like to see @Nigel_Farage represent Great Britain as their Ambassador to the United States. He would do a great job!”
The alleged conversation highlights what many fear to be a conflict between Trump’s political and business interests. Trump has stated that, while president, he will have his family run his businesses in what he wrongly calls a “blind trust.” But Trump has asked for these same family members to receive security clearances and sit in on meetings, raising questions about Trump’s continued involvement in his own businesses while in the White House.