'A disgrace': Experts slam Trump for admitting to 'doing services' for foreign governments
During a Fox News town hall, former President Donald Trump admitted to accepting $8 million from foreign governments while he was in office, saying they were payments for staying in "beautiful hotels."
"You know, it sounds like a lot of money. That’s small," Trump said. "I was doing services for them."
"I don’t get $8 million for doing nothing," he added.
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?
Trump's candid remarks invited criticism from numerous experts, former elected officials and commentators. Journalist Brian J. Karem summarized the clip by tweeting "a government of, by and for the Trump." MSNBC contributor Ruth Ben-Ghiat was appalled at the former president's admission, posting to her official X (formerly Twitter) account, "'services' for China while President of the US. What a disgrace."
Liberal podcaster Mueller She Wrote noted that Trump's comments effectively undercut the House Oversight Committee's investigation into President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, who is being investigated for foreign business dealings, tweeting, "Trump just threw the @HouseGOP under the bus," tagging House Republicans' official account.
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois) shared that viewpoint, writing, "Cc to James Comer regarding your impeachment inquiry."
The political implications for the 2024 election was also on the minds of experts who weighed in.
Pod Save America host and former Obama White House speechwriter Jon Favreau suggested that Trump's reelection slogan this year could be "keep me out of jail so I can keep taking cash from the Chinese government."
READ MORE: Trump took millions from China, Saudi Arabia, other foreign governments as POTUS: report
Democratic strategist Keith Edwards opined that the former president would "admit to crimes" if someone were to "just tell him the crimes he committed weren't impressive enough."
Anti-corruption watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) tweeted that they "worked on this story for seven years" and Trump "just...said it on live TV."
Trump's town hall was broadcasted at the same time as CNN's Republican debate between former UN ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The former president has repeatedly declined to attend debates, and frequently hosts competing events to drive viewers away from his GOP primary rivals. The first nominating contest of the 2024 election will take place on Monday, when Iowans show up for the Republican caucuses.
