... The president insisted he has nothing to do with his family business. ...
But as they met in the Oval Office to discuss new pacts on defense and artificial intelligence, Trump was asked if it was appropriate for his family to be doing business in Saudi Arabia while he is president.
"I have nothing to do with the family business," he said, visibly annoyed at the question. ...
The president's family has numerous ties to Saudi Arabia, mostly through real estate licensing and investment.
This week, for instance, the Trump Organization and its Saudi-based development partner, Dar Al Arkan, announced a project allowing cryptocurrency investors to buy into Trump-branded real estate projects.
The Trump Organization is headed by the president's sons, Don Jr. and Eric. The company also has Trump-branded projects in the capital of Riyadh, a Trump Tower planned in the port city of Jeddah, and ties with LIV Golf, the league backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.
Meanwhile, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is married to his daughter, Ivanka, runs a private equity firm that has taken $2 billion from a fund led by the crown prince.
However, Trump told reporters on Tuesday: "What my family does is fine. They do business all over. They've done very little with Saudi Arabia ...
