Trump's ethics agreement has been released, but...Concerns over the pursuit of interests even after taking office

The family of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, a former real estate businessman, is facing mixed signals over whether to refrain from expanding profits related to existing businesses after Trump's return to the White House.

The "Trump Group," which is headed by Trump's second son, Eric Trump, has announced an ethics agreement stating that Trump will not be involved in the group's day-to-day management since taking office.

It also added that during Trump's tenure, he would not even sign new contracts with foreign governments at the group level.

The agreement also included a plan to donate profits generated by foreign government officials using hotels or other businesses run by the group to state coffers.

Trump's investments will be managed independently by outside agencies, and Trump will not be briefed on the profit status of certain businesses or assets of the group, but only on the overall business status.

However, unlike the announcement, the U.S. media reported Trump's move to expand his business.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump Group is negotiating to regain the leasehold of the Trump International Hotel (now the Waldorf Astoria Hotel) in Washington, DC, which it sold for $375 million (W552.2 billion) in 2022.

Recently, Eric Trump reportedly met with a bank official in charge of the hotel's long-term lease at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, which is Trump's mansion.

The Trump International Hotel building is a 19th century renovation of a post office built, owned by the U.S. government.

The Trump Group signed a long-term lease contract with the U.S. General Administration for $3 million (4.4 billion won) per year in 2013, renovating it and opening it as a luxury hotel just before the 2016 presidential election.

Throughout Trump's first term, the hotel has been crowded with foreign government figures seeking to be seen by Trump and his supporters, continuing to raise conflicts of interest.

"If the Trump Group buys back the lease on the hotel, legal and conflict of interest issues are likely to recur following the first term in power," the Wall Street Journal noted.

It is unclear what regulations the Trump Group or the White House will operate to avoid potential conflicts of interest, and Trump did not say much about how to operate.