Melania Trump is set to continue her entrepreneurial activities as she serves as First Lady once again.
According to Mail Online, Melania Trump's business ventures remain unregulated by ethical laws, despite her role in the White House.
During her spouse, Donald Trump's second term in office, Melania Trump plans to capitalize on various business opportunities without facing legal restrictions normally applied to elected officials. She will persist in promoting and selling products ranging from her memoir "Melania," NFTs, Christmas decorations, and jewelry, to a unique, digitally marketed photo collection.
While elected officials are curtailed by the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution which prohibits them from benefiting financially through their official capacities, the First Lady is exempt from such constraints. The Office of Government Ethics has confirmed that the ethics standards binding federal employees do not apply to her since her position, though high-profile, is deemed honorary rather than governmental.
A spokesperson from the Office of Government Ethics clarified the unique position Melania occupies within the White House, saying, "As first lady, the ethics rules don't apply because that person is not a government employee." This distinction allows her to continue operations without the usual conflict of interest concerns applicable to other members within the administration.
Walter Shaub, previously leading the Office of Government Ethics, illuminated potential ethical blur lines, stating, "Because the first lady is not a federal employee, the conflict of interest law does not apply to her.” He highlighted that it's crucial to consider how such activities might reflect on the presidency even if legally permissible.
“The president is not covered by the conflict of interest statute, but the Department of Justice has advised presidents to conduct themselves as though the conflict of interest law applied to them,” Walter Shaub added, underscoring expectations of integrity set for the highest offices.
The business inclinations of Melania Trump have spawned concerns regarding the ethical optics they may generate. A CREW spokesperson discussed proprietary issues linked to the unique brand the First Lady might utilize: "If anyone else were to sell items that said First Lady and White House with the First Lady's image, the White House counsel likely would send them a cease-and-desist letter that bars the use of her image for commercial purposes."
Meanwhile, Demian Brady from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation speculated on the unrestricted nature of Melania's product lines: "I guess that the answer is that there is nothing to stop Mrs. Trump from selling a 'First Lady in the White House NFT.'"
Despite her business engagements, Melania Trump has expressed a dedication to continue supporting charitable causes benefiting foster children with a portion of her earnings, although details regarding the sum and distribution remain vague. Furthermore, she is contemplating reinitiating the Be Best initiative focusing on children's well-being.
Melania is planning a part-time commitment to her First Lady duties, sharing her time between official presidential residences and other properties owned by the Trumps. Her absence in recent key presidential engagements and reluctance to engage with the current first lady, Jill Biden, underscores her unconventional take on the traditional roles.
Despite not responding to inquiries about her ongoing ventures, Melania's strategies include maintaining a separate financial landscape from her husband to minimize potential conflicts. This tactic aligns with advice that revenues earned during her time in the White House would be mentioned in official financial disclosures.
In sum, Melania Trump's continuation in her business activities as First Lady represents a unique intertwining of public stature and private enterprise, bringing to light both legal exemptions and ethical considerations.
With no regulations directly restraining her entrepreneurial engagements, the First Lady's role in the political spotlight remains as personally profitable as it is publicly controversial.
