By Gloria Ogbonna
Left-leaning critics have long accused the family of Donald Trump of benefiting financially from his time in office. But following the president’s recent high-profile trip to China, his son, Eric Trump, is now pushing back forcefully — and in court.
On Friday, Eric Trump announced that he intends to sue MSNOW — formerly known as MSNBC — along with host Jen Psaki, after she suggested during her program The Briefing that his participation in the China trip posed a potential conflict of interest.
During the broadcast, Psaki referenced reporting from the Financial Times and discussed a Las Vegas-based fintech company, ALT5 Sigma. She stated that the firm — for which Eric Trump previously served as a board observer — was exploring a possible deal with a Chinese computer chip manufacturer. According to her remarks, the potential agreement could involve building artificial intelligence data centers and pursuing additional AI-related projects connected to China’s government.
The implication, as presented on the show, was that Eric Trump’s presence on the trip alongside his father could represent a conflict of interest or an opportunity to benefit from business negotiations tied to U.S.-China discussions.
Eric Trump responded swiftly and emphatically on the social platform X, denying the allegations and disputing what he described as factual inaccuracies.
“I intend to sue @jrpsaki and @MSNOWNews over the below clip,” he wrote. “To be clear: Contrary to her monolog and blatant lies, I have NEVER been on the board of ALT5 — not now, not ever.”
He further argued that publicly available corporate filings contradict the claims made on air. “Any person with basic access to Google and willing to open a company’s annual report or proxy statements would know this,” he said.
In additional posts, Eric Trump denied having any involvement in merger talks or business negotiations related to Chinese entities. “I have no involvement in any merger discussions involving any public entity I do not run or control,” he wrote. “I have zero business interests in China. No properties, no investments, nothing!”
He also clarified why he attended the China trip in the first place. According to Eric Trump, his presence was personal rather than professional. “I joined this trip for one reason: as a loving son who adores my father and wouldn’t miss being by his side for this incredible moment,” he explained. He added that during the bilateral meetings, he and Lara Trump visited the Great Wall of China while official talks were underway.
Earlier in the week, Eric and Lara Trump were photographed departing Air Force One alongside a group of prominent U.S. business leaders. The delegation reportedly included Elon Musk of Tesla, Tim Cook of Apple, Larry Fink of BlackRock, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, Jane Fraser of Citi, Jensen Huang of Nvidia, and David Solomon of Goldman Sachs.
Scrutiny of the Trump Organization and the president’s family business dealings has been a recurring theme during both of Donald Trump’s terms in office. Critics have argued that the family’s global business footprint presents potential conflicts of interest, while supporters maintain that no evidence has demonstrated improper conduct.
Supporters of the Trump family often counter that scrutiny over business ties was also directed at the family of former President Joe Biden. Hunter Biden faced extensive criticism and investigation over his foreign business dealings, including matters examined by the House Oversight Committee in 2022. Allegations of financial gain tied to overseas connections became a frequent talking point during Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
As the legal battle unfolds, Eric Trump’s lawsuit signals that the family is prepared to challenge what they view as defamatory reporting in court, setting the stage for another high-profile clash between political figures and the media.
Source: Breitbart
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