Trump’s Philippines Business Partners In Room As Trump Discussed Potential Cabinet Picks (TWEET/VIDEO)

What do you get when you elect a nepotistic, narcissistic, international businessman who doubles as a reality TV star and who also has a nonexistent relationship with the truth to be the next president of the United States? You get conflicts of interest the likes of which the nation has never seen.

Before the starting whistle has even blown, the United States of Trump is already shaping up to deliver huge benefits to Trump, Inc.

Jose E B Antonio
Image via YouTube screengrab

Bloomberg News is reporting that one of Trump’s business partners in the Philippines, Jose E.B. Antonio, has been appointed by unhinged Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, to serve as a special government envoy to the U.S.

According to the report, Antonio said:

“My role is to enlarge the relationship between the two countries.”

He also said of his close relationship to President-elect Trump:

“I guess it would be an asset.”

I guess that statement hinges on who is benefiting from said “asset.”

The report said that Antonio is the chief executive and controlling stakeholder of Century Properties Group Inc. of Manila. Guess what Century Properties Group, Inc. is building in the Philippines. If you answered that they are building a new $150 million “Trump” tower that’s set to open next year, you win the prize.

As if that isn’t enough, Bloomberg is also reporting that Antonio was privy to Trump’s cabinet picks prior to the rest of us. It says:

“Antonio said that he visited New York days after Trump’s Nov. 8 victory. He said he went to Trump Tower, where he saw the president-elect talking with several ‘cabinet contenders,’ including Michael Flynn, his eventual choice to become national security adviser.”

As for Trump’s take on these enormous and likely illegal conflicts of interest, we can merely skim his twitter feed:

I have to admit he does have a point about it being well known that he has interests in properties all over the world. It’s too bad so many American voters were too lazy or dumb to bother noticing this might be an issue for a president.

Here’s a video of Trump lauding the opening of Trump Tower Manila:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHsoQbKrDRA

Featured image via YouTube screengrab.

R.L. Paine is a writer, activist, and science lover. We all need to find a bit more Hitch in ourselves. “Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself...Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence...” - Christopher Hitchens