International News
USA: Trump Raises Fresh Conflict Of Interest Concerns
Donald Trump’s impending White House return poses questions once again about conflicts of interest related to his business empire, with new cryptocurrency and other ventures raising fresh concerns.
The billionaire’s stunning political comeback is “rocket fuel for the Trump Empire,” said Mark Hass, an Arizona State University marketing professor.
After almost a decade of making headlines around the globe, Trump’s “brand is… sort of the Nike or Apple of politics,” he said.
“Everybody in the world knows what it stands for.
Trump no longer holds an executive title at the Trump Organization, which has been run by his two eldest sons since his 2016 election win.
However, the 78-year-old has retained his stake in the family business via a trust, which during his first term in office was managed by a third party.
After he left the White House, Trump made himself a co-administrator of the trust. He has yet to say if he will relinquish the position when he takes office again in January.
Regardless, according to Hass, Trump’s association with his businesses will persist.
“Maybe he does not have a direct role in it, but you couldn’t get as close to the business without directly running it, than having your sons run it and to have your name on it,” he said.
Tim Calkins, a Northwestern University marketing professor, said that Trump’s victory has likely revived the family’s brand.
“Brands are associations and at the moment the Trump brand is associated with winning, comebacks and momentum,” he told AFP.
“Trump is still a very polarizing brand, but the election outcome has strengthened the positive associations,” he said.
Since Trump’s last term in office, the family business has struck substantial deals overseas, with several linked to Saudi Arabia.
The Trump Organization has partnered with Saudi developer Dar Global on a high-rise apartment complex in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, a luxury building in Dubai and a hotel complex in Oman.
It has also signed an agreement with LIV Golf, controlled by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, and has hosted several LIV events on Trump-owned golf courses.
Haas said that such partners understand the contracts give them “influence” over Trump, and will ultimately produce financial benefits for him.
Stock price
Trump’s conflicts of interest will be “a lot worse” than his last presidency, said Jordan Libowitz, vice president of communications at CREW, a government ethics watchdog group.
Libowitz pointed to Trump’s expanded portfolio, which now includes a media group trading on the public market.
“There’s nothing stopping, say, the Saudi wealth fund, the Emirati wealth fund, the Kuwait wealth fund — which all do major investments in technology stocks… from pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the stock,” he said.
Trump owns nearly 53 percent of the Trump Media Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of his Truth Social platform.
That stake is currently valued at around $3.8 billion — making up the majority of his estimated $5.9 billion wealth, according to Forbes.
Foreign investors buying up the stock could raise its price greatly, said Libowitz. “But they can also crash it by selling all en masse.”
The New York Post has reported, citing members of Trump’s campaign team, that billionaire ally Elon Musk is considering acquiring Truth Social through X, his platform formerly known as Twitter.
The president-elect has also recently ventured into the world of cryptocurrencies, joining his sons in backing a new exchange platform called World Liberty Financial.
Trump is not a shareholder or board member of the start-up, but will receive compensation for the platform using his name.
“It’s still not clear how it works or what it’s doing,” Libowitz said. “But cryptocurrency is notorious for its ability to funnel money anonymously, particularly from overseas.”
CREW is considering filing suit against Trump — as it did during his first administration — arguing that the president is receiving payments from foreign clients in violation of the US Constitution.
The group’s previous suit eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, but it was dismissed because Trump had already left the White House.
“I think it’ll be a much more transactional presidency, because there are no obstacles,” Hass said of Trump’s second term.
“Trump, if nothing else, understands how to monetize his name and his fame.”
AFP
Manuel Neuer has been called up to Germany’s World Cup squad – two years after his international retirement.
The 40-year-old was named as part of Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for the tournament this summer, having not featured for his country since Euro 2024.
Among the list include Premier League players Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade – both of Newcastle – Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz and Brighton’s Pascal Gross.
Injured duo Serge Gnabry and Anton Stach and forwards Karim Adeyemi, Kevin Schade and Niclas Fullkrug are among those to miss out.
Germany’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Pascal Gross (Brighton), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has opened up on the club’s decision to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager.
The Blues confirmed the Spaniard as their next head coach following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, with Alonso set to take charge ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Mikel had previously been vocal about Chelsea’s managerial philosophy, urging the club’s ownership to move away from short-term head coaches and interim appointments and instead bring in a proper manager with full control over the squad
Speaking on his most recent podcast, Mikel said:
“I am glad the owners listened to me, and listened to the fans.
“Forget about coaches, what we have always had are managers, and what we need is a manager who decides on the players he wants out and the players who can stay.
“We need a strong personality, and that is what we have got now in Alonso.
“That title has been changed from coach to manager, but I hope it’s not just words and he is actually allowed to manage the squad. But I am very happy with the appointment.”
Chelsea are still in the hunt for Europa League football, and a win over Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season would go a long way in determining whether Alonso inherits a European stage to build on next season.
Enzo Maresca is believed to have signed a three-year deal to replace outgoing Man City manager Pep Guardiola, after it was revealed that the legendary head coach will be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season.
Speculation around Guardiola’s departure date has been rife as the season draws to a close, despite the Catalan having one year left on his contract.
According to report, Man City’s sponsors were among those to have been told that Guardiola will be calling time on a remarkable trophy-ladened spell on Sunday.
The report also shared that Maresca, Guardiola’s former assistant, was a front-runner for the vacant spot at the dugout, with Fabrizio Romano confirming on Tuesday morning that the ex-Chelsea manager will be taking over.
The Italian head coach has been out of work since his mutual departure from Stamford Bridge under strained circumstances on January 1.
But even before his acrimonious mid-season exit, Maresca has been viewed as a long-term successor to Guardiola following their stint working together at Man City.
The 46-year-old served as Guardiola’s assistant between 2022 and 2023 after previously coaching Man City’s youth sides, before departing to earn Championship promotion with Leicester.
Maresca then went on to win the Uefa Conference League and the Club World Cup with Chelsea during his 18-month spell in west London.
Guardiola is set to celebrate his time in English football with an open-top bus parade in Manchester after winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, but until Monday night, the manager had been notably vague over his future plans.
But before news broke of his shock exit, Guardiola had been keen to tamp down any suggestions that he would be commemorated with any fanfare.
‘The club don’t have to do anything, honestly,’ Guardiola, who has yet to officially confirm his departure, said. ‘The important thing in our lives is that when you look back, you can look with a big smile and say “that was good”.
‘Bernardo (Silva) and John (Stones) can feel that. We spoke about it over the last few days. When you’re old, a grandfather, you can look at the memories. That is the most important thing in life.’
Tired of addressing his contractual situation, Guardiola added with a dose of sarcasm: ‘Whatever happens at the end of the season – and when I extend my contract for three more years – I can look back and say, “how nice has that been?”
‘That is the most important thing by far. Most of the people who lived this time here together can feel it.’
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