Donald J. Trump’s staff denies it.
Others are saying it happened. What was that? The president-elect took a congratulatory phone call from Argentine President Mauricio Macri and while getting the congrats, Trump reportedly pressed Macri for news about a commercial development Trump has under way in Argentina.
To borrow a word made famous by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry: Oops.
The Wall Street Journal has called for Trump to divest himself of his vast business interests. Others have said the same thing. There appears to be no end to the potential conflicts of interest that lurk everywhere in Trump World.
These questions are going to dog the new president at every turn as he transitions into the presidency … and later.
A local journalist, Jorge Lanata, noted this about the conversation: “Macri called him. This still hasn’t emerged but Trump asked for them to authorize a building he’s constructing in Buenos Aires, it wasn’t just a geopolitical chat.”
Did he or didn’t he make that request of another head of state?
Heads of state shouldn’t mix their personal business interests while dealing with other heads of state. What part of this isn’t clear to anyone with half a brain?
As for whether Trump asked the question, we need to hear from the principals — the U.S. president-elect and the current president of Argentina — about whether such an exchange ever took place.