Adam Schiff accuses Trump of 'putting his own wealth' above US Interests in Saudi Arabia deal

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Adam Schiff has accused President Donald Trump of putting "his own personal interests" ahead of Americans.

In his latest broadside, the California Democrat took to X and posted a video of himself claiming the president is "putting his own wealth and his own personal interests ahead of everything else" when it comes to his deals with Saudi Arabia. 

Adam Schiff's latest Trump tirade

"So you have to say this about Saudi Arabia," Schiff began.

"All these Trump hotels that will now litter Saudi Arabia, all the crypto deals, that's a lot of money, but boy has it paid off. Paid off in the form of America's best aircraft, paid off in the form of a new defense deal with the United States, paid off in the form of rehabilitation of their leader after the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi. So that is a lot that Saudi Arabia is getting from the deal."

"The question is, what are you, the American citizen, getting from this deal?" he asked. "You're not getting more national security. You're risking American technology going to China. You're not getting your own hotel deals or anything like that. No, all the enrichment goes to Trump and his family. No, you're just getting a bill of goods."

"The president is not putting America first here. He is putting his own family, his own wealth, his own personal interests ahead of everything else, ahead of you," Schiff added. 

Saudi Crown Prince MBS visit that triggered Democrats

This comes on the heels of a two-day visit to Washington by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week. It was his first trip since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Officially, the meetup was about strengthening cooperation between the US and the world’s top oil exporter. 

But Schiff and his fellow Democratic critics pounced on the timing. Just as MBS was packing his bags for Washington, the Trump Organization announced a shiny new luxury Maldives resort built with London-listed Saudi developer Dar Global. 

Schiff tossed more gasoline on the fire before the visit even began, accusing the president of putting “national security for sale.” He added, “Looks like Trump and the royal family will both win . . . The only losers? The American people.”

Trump distances himself from family business

It's worth noting that Trump hasn’t personally signed any hotel deals with Saudi Arabia or its entities during his current term. Instead, the Trump Organization, which is run by sons Donald Jr and Eric, has been cutting licensing deals with Saudi developer Dar Al Arkan (via Dar Global).  

These are branding agreements and not ownership stakes, but they do involve the Trump brand slapped on towers and hotels. That said, these deals have definitely been lucrative. More than $20 million poured into Trump Org coffers in the past year, including $15+ million via the Saudi-specific entity DT Marks KSA. 

Still, Trump brushed off questions about the family’s Saudi entanglements during his November 18 White House talk with MBS, insisting his family has "done very little" with Saudi Arabia and that he has "nothing to do" with the business.

However, ethics watchdogs such as CREW have pointed out that foreign governments (including Saudi Arabia) dropped almost $8 million at Trump properties during his first term. In the past, Trump sold the Plaza Hotel to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in 1995 and offloaded condos to the Saudi government in 2001.

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