Trump's golf course tweet condemned by former ethics chief: 'Shameless, corrupt and repugnant'

'This is an invitation to graft,' says Walter Shaub

President Trump's decision to sing the praises of his Aberdeen golf course in a tweet has been condemned by a former director of the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

Mr Trump retweeted a post published by the Trump Organization’s Twitter account on Saturday, promoting the Scottish property.

“Very proud of perhaps the greatest golf course anywhere in the world,” he said. “Also, furthers UK relationship!”

The tweet, which appears to link the Trump Organization and the relationship between the UK and US, attracted immediate criticism from politicians and ethics experts who fear that Mr Trump is using his presidential platform to advertise his business.

“This is Trump’s most explicit commingling of personal interests and public office to date,” said Walter Shaub, who ran the OGE from 2013 to 2017.

“This is the tone from the top that leads his appointees to violate ethics rules.

“This is shameless, corrupt and repugnant presidential profiteering. This is an invitation to graft.”

Mr Shaub has repeatedly criticised the US president over conflicts of interest.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), an ethics watchdog that aims to highlight abuses of power in the US capital, also denounced the president's actions.

“The president is using an official statement as an ad for his business and making sure everyone knows he ties his business to US relationships with foreign countries,” the group said in a statement.

“At this point, we have to ask if the president views any difference between his presidency and his business empire.”

Before he was elected president Mr Trump attempted to stop a set of wind turbines from being installed near the Trump International golf course.

However, the Scottish government approved the plans, with the UK Supreme Court eventually rejecting Mr Trump’s legal challenge in 2015.

Adam Schiff, the congressman who is the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, also criticised the president’s tweet.

“The president could hardly make it any clearer that he views the presidency as an opportunity to make money and further his business interests,” the California representative said.

“This shameless plug for his golf course is only the latest debasement of his office. What’s next, a Trump wine review?”

The president owns another golf course in Scotland, in Turnberry.

One of his largest investments, the business lost $4.5m (£3.5m) in 2017, making a loss for the fourth consecutive year.