Conflict of Interest? Diplomats Clamoring to Stay in DC Trump Hotel: Report

WASHINGTON, DC — The election of businessman and hotelier Donald Trump to the highest office in the land already may be creating a massive conflict of interest: diplomats are reportedly scrambling to book rooms in his new Trump International Hotel in D.C.

The Washington Post reports that while foreign diplomats initially avoided the newly opened hotel over fears of backlash if Hillary Clinton won, it is now a hot destination spot for people looking to curry favor with the new president.

The Post further reported that about 100 foreign diplomats from all around the world gathered at the Trump International Hotel a little more than a week after election to be wined and dined by the hotel's staff with Trump-branded products.

It's leading to concern among the left that outsiders may attempt to influence the president through his businesses and even buy access to him. Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue is at the forefront of that conversation, and it sits just a few blocks down the street from Trump's new residence: the White House.

Reince Priebus, Trump's newly anointed chief of staff, dismissed the concerns, arguing that Trump would avoid all conflicts of interest during his administration, he said to CNN "State of the Union" host Jake Tapper in an interview.

“Obviously we will comply with all of those laws and we will have our White House counsel review all of these things,” he said. “We will have every 'i' dotted and every 't' crossed, and I can assure the American people that there wouldn’t be any wrongdoing or any sort of undue influence over any decision-making.”

While there is no law against having financial interests while serving as president that could create a conflict of interest, it has led to worries -- mostly from the left -- that Trump may draw the kind of corruption he spent his entire campaign preaching against.

Image via Trump International Hotel