By Maribel Velazquez
The purchase of shares of the parent company of Final Fighting Championship (UFC) by the president donald trump has generated new criticism about possible conflicts of interest between his financial activities and his role at the head of the country.
According to an analysis published by HuffPost and based on the financial statement presented by Trump on May 12, The president acquired between 15 thousand and 50 thousand dollars in shares of TKO Neighborhood Holdingscompany that owns UFC, on March 25.
The revelation has attracted attention because Trump has actively promoted holding a UFC fight on the White House groundsan event scheduled for June and which is part of the commemorative activities for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
They question possible conflict of interest
The purchase of shares occurs while the UFC receives media exposure unprecedented thanks to the promotion made from the presidency.
Jordan Libowitzvice president of the organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), assured that the case represents one of the most worrying examples of possible private profit from a public position.
“Using the White House to promote a company whose shares were purchased while it was being promoted is one of the worst imaginable conflicts of interestLibowitz stated.
According to the aforementioned media, the White House did not respond immediately to questions related to the investment made by the president.
The relationship between Trump and the UFC
Trump has had a close relationship with Dana White, president of the UFC, for decades. In recent months has used various public spaces to promote the fight scheduled for June 14.
During a meeting in the Oval Office, he even showed images generated by manmade intelligence of what the octagon installed on the South Lawn of the White House would look like.
“This will be the greatest show in the world,” The president then assured when referring to the event.
Norm Eisen, former White House adviser during the Barack Obama administration, argued that the project could benefit the president financially while in office.
Administration officials, including the vice president JD Vance, have previously argued that stock buying and selling decisions are not made directly by Trumpbut by financial advisors.
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