Trump Is Promoting The U.S. Women's Open & Profiting Off It

Over the course of 48 hours, President Trump published three tweets about the U.S. Women's Open and his plans to attend the event on Saturday. Given that the tournament is being held at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, critics have pointed out that the president is once again using his political platform as a tool to promote his businesses and make a profit.

"Will be heading to New Jersey and attending the #USWomensOpen, their most important tournament, this afternoon," Trump tweeted on Friday. Hours later, the president once again brought up the event. "I will be at the @USGA#USWomensOpen in Bedminster, NJ tomorrow," he wrote. "Big crowds expected & the women are playing great-should be very exciting!" Early Saturday afternoon, he reminded his followers of the golf championship for a third time: "Will be at the Women's U.S. Open today!"

Since taking office, President Trump has visited at least one of his properties on 50 different days of his administration, according to The New York Times' tracker. Not including his Saturday attendance at the Women's Open, he'd racked up a total of 65 visits to several of his properties by July 3, with 36 being to his various golf clubs. After 25 visits, Mar-a-Lago, his members-only club in West Palm Beach, Florida, was the president's most frequented Trump property.

The involvement President Trump would have in his business ventures, particularly those involving foreign partners, has been the subject of controversy since before his surprise victory in November. In September, after a Newsweek report analyzed the complicated web of conflicts of interest he and his family could have if he were to win, Trump vowed to put the Trump Organization into a blind trust. He further promised to cut all ties with the company, while also stating that his children would run all of its dealings.

Following his Election Day win, Trump decided to not divest from his businesses, unlike most U.S. presidents. Though he insisted that his two sons would run his company during his time in office and "[would not] discuss it" with him, his son Eric confirmed after Inauguration Day that he would regularly be providing his father with profit reports.

The Trumps and multiple White House staffers have been criticized for potentially crossing the line in promoting Trump businesses. In February, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway faced an ethics review after telling the public to "buy Ivanka's stuff" during a televised interview. The president's promotion of the Women's Open is the latest instance of the Trump brand sparking questions on conflicts of interest.