On Tuesday in an interview with The Telegraph, President Donald Trump's son, Eric Trump, called nepotism a "beautiful thing," further cementing his stance on the issue and lending insight into how the Trump family perceives the intersection of business, family, and public service.
During his father's administration, Eric, along with his brother, Donald Trump Jr., have been tasked with overseeing their father's portfolio of hundreds of Trump Organization properties. In reflecting on his new role at the helm of his father's business, Eric also lent insight into his view on nepotism, saying to The Telegraph:
You trust the people who are closest to you. Who is he going to trust most to run a company? He is going to trust somebody who he trusts implicitly ... He knows I care about the family. He knows I care about the brand ... And he knows I’m going to do everything I can humanly possible to take care of that. Is that nepotism? Absolutely. Is that also a beautiful thing? Absolutely. Family business is a beautiful thing. The same applies for Ivanka. Ivanka is by his side in Washington.
Tuesday's interview with The Telegraph does not constitute the first time Eric has made public comments on the issue of nepotism.
During an interview with Forbes earlier this month, Eric commented that "nepotism is kind of a factor of life,” and went on to assert that while he believes nepotism secured the Trump siblings their respective roles in their father's business empire and presidential administration, he believes that their talent and dedication keep them in these positions.
Social media and news outlets took Eric to task for his initial comments to Forbes. The Washington Post commented that Eric "may not understand" the concept of "privilege." The Post's article also highlighted the problems posed by nepotism, particularly in governmental service, citing an interview with Robert Jones, a nepotism expert from Missouri State University. Jones indicated that his concern about the Trump children lies in that "you're getting a group of people who are ill-prepared to perform a job and are unaware that they're unprepared to perform this job.” Some Twitter users also agreed with the Post's assessment, critiquing Eric for his seemingly tone-deaf attitude towards nepotism and stressing that governmental anti-nepotism laws are in place for a reason.
Based on reactions to Eric's earlier nepotism comments, it is likely that he will face similar criticisms for his more recent comments to The Telegraph. And it's clear that his views do not sit well with many members of the American public, who are who are concerned about the convergence of Trump family ties, politics, and business—and its implications for the country.
