Your Views
Divestiture of Trump empire is not realistic
Since the election, the political class has been chattering endlessly about the problems the nation will face because the electorate has chosen a billionaire businessman to lead it. The concern is that he will use his new position to enhance his business assets and fortune or that others will patronize his businesses to curry his favor. These folks are demanding that Mr. Trump divest himself of his assets and put the proceeds in a blind trust.
This isn't going to work in Mr. Trump's case, because he will be the first modern-era president not coming out of a career made up largely of public service. His predecessors had, in relative terms, modest and uncomplicated assets that could be entrusted to others for management during presidential terms. Apart from owning hundreds of properties and other assets, Mr. Trump is, uniquely, a highly-successful brand - with the Trump name appearing on buildings, golf courses, resorts, and entertainment properties -- and that brand cannot to boxed up and sent to others for management.
His brand may be helped or hurt by his actions as president
Related considerations: First, Mr. Trump is not required to do this. Second, his assets cannot be made "invisible." Third, it would take years to dispose of the assets. Fourth, divestiture could have unreasonably horrible effects for his heirs - whose futures lie with the Trump Organization.
The Trump haters will certainly want to use this unique situation to file weekly lawsuits and monthly demands for Mr. Trump's impeachment because of perceived conflicts. I suggest that everyone back off and accept the reality that this toothpaste cannot be put back into the tube.
Voters knew of all this when they selected Mr. Trump. The Clintons and the Obamas came into the office with very little, leveraged influence, and emerged as multi-millionaires. Mr. Trump simply has the money to begin with.
Charles F. Falk
Schaumburg