Editing Openai/691ddc3d-ded4-800f-ab09-06b4313d81f7 (section)

==== What we know ====

===== 1. Licensing and real-estate deals =====
* The Trump Organization (the family real-estate & brand business) has entered into licensing/branding deals for projects in Saudi Arabia. For example, a recent deal: a Saudi developer (Dar Global) announced plans for a “Trump Plaza” development in Jeddah in partnership with the Trump Organization. AP News<ref>{{cite web|title=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/539989a563d8f7eb949be2e10ee18d0a|publisher=AP News|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
* Earlier reports show the Trump Organization leased its brand to two new real-estate projects in Riyadh through Dar Global, announced in December 2024. AP News<ref>{{cite web|title=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/cb3bf4f03e32690e7fb65b3da336b0e1|publisher=AP News|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
* These deals are described as part of a broader Gulf/Middle East expansion of the Trump family’s brand/licensing business. Le Monde.fr<ref>{{cite web|title=Le Monde.fr|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/05/12/the-trump-family-s-lucrative-business-deals-in-the-gulf_6741163_4.html|publisher=Le Monde.fr|date=2025-05-12|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>

===== 2. Investment-fund ties via in-laws =====
* Jared Kushner (Donald Trump’s son-in-law) founded a private-equity firm, Affinity Partners, after his White House tenure. That firm attracted a large commitment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affinity_Partners|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
* Specifically: PIF invested about $2 billion in Affinity Partners six months after Kushner left the White House. Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Kushner|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
* Ethics observers have flagged this as creating the appearance of pay-off or influence: because Kushner as a senior White House advisor had been deeply involved in Middle East diplomacy (including Saudi relations) and then soon after receives large Saudi money. Democracy Forward<ref>{{cite web|title=Democracy Forward|url=https://democracyforward.org/lawsuits/uncovering-trumps-ties-to-saudi-investment-funds/|publisher=Democracy Forward|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>

===== 3. Diplomatic/business overlap, and ties to Saudi Crown Prince =====
* The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), is a central Saudi figure. The U.S.–Saudi relationship under Trump was described in articles as “very cozy” and transactional. TIME<ref>{{cite web|title=TIME|url=https://time.com/7334666/trump-mbs-saudi-crown-prince-f-35-fighter-jets-white-house-visit/|publisher=time.com|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
* The Trump family business deals in Saudi Arabia (licensing, real estate) and the Kushner fund investments have raised scrutiny for overlap with U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic engagements. For example, Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit seeking to uncover communications between U.S. agencies and Saudi investment funds tied to MBS. Democracy Forward<ref>{{cite web|title=Democracy Forward|url=https://democracyforward.org/lawsuits/uncovering-trumps-ties-to-saudi-investment-funds/|publisher=Democracy Forward|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
* There is commentary that these business dealings may influence, or appear to influence, U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia. For example, during a Saudi Crown Prince visit, there were arms deals, nuclear cooperation, large investments announced. opb<ref>{{cite web|title=opb|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2025/11/18/saudi-crown-prince-to-visit-the-white-house-to-discuss-trade-and-security-deals/|publisher=opb.org|date=2025-11-18|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>

===== 4. Trump’s own statements / avoidance of involvement =====
* In one recent (Nov 2025) Reuters article, Donald Trump stated he “has nothing to do with the family business” regarding a proposed Trump hotel in the Maldives and said the Trump family had “conducted minimal dealings with Saudi Arabia” though acknowledged their independent business activities. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/trump-says-he-has-nothing-do-with-family-business-2025-11-18/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
* Nonetheless, the documented licensing/branding deals and the close timing of business & diplomacy suggest that even if Donald Trump himself claims non-involvement, the family business and his administration’s diplomacy overlap in ways that raise questions.