May 6, 2025

John Keller, Chief                                                       Jamieson Greer, Director
Public Integrity Section                                              U.S. Office of Government Ethics
Department of Justice

Dear Officers,

This is getting absurd.

On Feb. 5, 2025, Public Citizen asked you to investigate whether President Donald J. Trump has violated 18 U.S.C. § 201, as implemented in 5 C.F.R. §2635, barring the president from soliciting gifts.

Absent any further guidance from your offices, Trump has now escalated his solicitations for personal gifts into full-color advertisements on his web page encouraging potential donors to out-do themselves in the generosity of their gifts to the President in exchange for various prizes, including an intimate dinner and White House tours. All the gifts will personally enrich Trump and provide no other value for the public at large.

Trump’s gift solicitation is nothing short of over-the-top, something akin to selling a spot on a game show. It is even doctored with artificial intelligence to increase its salesmanship. A photo follows with a headline reading:

“Have Dinner with President TRUMP

The most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the World.

Only for the TOP 220$TRUMP Meme Coin Holders.”

Federal law strictly regulates payments to government officials, including gifts. Although the president may receive gifts, he may not “solicit” gifts. These prohibitions begin with the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause and are reiterated in the anti-bribery statute, 18 U.S.C. § 201, and federal regulations, 5 C.F.R. § 2635. Although section 2635.205 lists several exemptions from the prohibition, none exempts soliciting purchases for personal gain.

Before President Trump further demeans the Office of the President into a for-profit game show for those who are willing to give Trump lavish gifts, Public Citizen again requests that your offices intervene and end these gift solicitations.

For questions, please contact Bartlett Naylor at bnaylor@citizen.org; and/or Dr. Craig Holman at cholman@citizen.org,

Sincerely

Bartlett Naylor                                   Dr. Craig Holman
Public Citizen                                     Public Citizen