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'Conflict of interest': Trump’s 'hot mic' moment with Indonesian president sparks backlash
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was overheard asking President Donald Trump if he could arrange a meeting with Trump’s son, Eric, during a brief exchange that took place following a Gaza ceasefire summit in Egypt Monday.
The conversation, captured by a live microphone the two appeared unaware of, occurred shortly after Trump delivered remarks at the gathering of international leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, according to video footage and audio recordings of the event circulating on social media.
In the clip, Prabowo can be heard telling Trump about a region that is “not safe, security-wise,” before asking, “Can I meet Eric?”
Trump responds, “I’ll have Eric call. Should I do that? He’s such a good boy. I’ll have Eric call.”
Prabowo then suggests, “We’ll look for a better place,” to which Trump repeats, “I’ll have Eric call you.”
The Indonesian president adds, “Eric or Don Jr.”
Both Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. hold executive vice president roles at the Trump Organization, which manages a range of ventures spanning real estate, hospitality, and blockchain projects.
The company lists a golf course near Jakarta and a planned resort in Bali among its Indonesian developments.
It remains unclear from the recording whether the exchange pertained to official diplomatic matters or business interests involving the Trump family.
Meanwhile, the exchange has sparked ethical concerns over whether the discussion blurred lines between Trump’s political role and his family’s private business interests, especially given the Trump Organization’s active projects in Indonesia. Critics say the conversation, if linked to business matters, could raise potential conflict-of-interest issues, while president’s supporters argue the remarks appear casual and unrelated to official policy.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) wrote on the social platform X: “President Trump was just caught on a hot mic talking with the president of Indonesia. He may have been talking about his business interests in the country — which would be exactly the kind of conflict of interest we’ve been warning about for years.”
