CREW: Trump using visit to Scotland as ‘infomercial’ for golf club

The head of the ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is warning against President Trump’s trip to his private Turnberry resort in Scotland, calling it “a forced subsidy of an infomercial for his properties.”

Norm Eisen, who served as the chief White House ethics lawyer during the Obama administration, told The New York Times that he believes Trump is trying to use the trip to the report “to get beneficial PR.”

CREW has been highly critical of ethics by Trump officials and has filed several lawsuits against administration leaders, including Trump.

{mosads}

“Through this trip to Turnberry, the president is forcing his foreign hosts and the United States to spend enormous amounts of money so that he can get free advertising for his resort,” Eisen told the Times.

“He’s the master of earned media,” he continued. “It’s an important part of the way he won the presidency, and that’s what he’s doing here.”

Trump has mentioned the private golf resort several times during the trip, calling it “beautiful” during an interview with the British newspaper The Sun published Thursday.

He also tweeted early Saturday that “this place is incredible,” referring to the luxury resort.

Trump is currently golfing at Turnberry, where he has been met with protesters. His son Eric Trump is also at the resort and is golfing with his father.

I have arrived in Scotland and will be at Trump Turnberry for two days of meetings, calls and hopefully, some golf – my primary form of exercise! The weather is beautiful, and this place is incredible! Tomorrow I go to Helsinki for a Monday meeting with Vladimir Putin.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2018