Trump To Leave Businesses To Focus On US Presidency

Trump To Leave Businesses To Focus On US Presidency
|

Donald Trump has said he will leave his businesses in order to focus on running the US as president and to avoid conflicts of interest.

In a series of tweets sent out on Wednesday, Mr Trump said he will hold a news conference in New York on December 15 to "discuss the fact that I will be leaving my great business in total in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

The president-elect has faced questions over the potential for a conflict of interest between his role in the White House and his business empire.

He added: "While I am not mandated to do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as president, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses.

"Hence, legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The presidency is a far more important task!"

In a sign that Mr Trump is strengthening Washington's ties to Wall Street, he has nominated former Goldman Sachs banker Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary.

Billionaire Wilbur Ross, another ex-banker, has been nominated for Commerce secretary.

Mr Trump's vast array of business interests takes in property, hotels and golf courses.