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Maddowblog-'Hot mic' catches Indonesian president asking Trump for a meeting with son Eric
The American president was overheard arranging a meeting between Prabowo Subianto and Eric Trump, who runs the Republican's family business.
Trump was caught on a hot mic arranging a meeting between a foreign head of state and Eric Trump, who runs the Republican's family business.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-10-14T12:59:07.264Z
Isn’t this exactly the sort of thing GOP members of Congress used to care about? www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/hot-mic-catches-indonesian-president-asking-trump-meeting-son-eric-rcna237501
There’s always something special about “hot mic” incidents. Most public figures prefer to avoid self-imposed controversies, so they tend to be guarded and cautious in public, recognizing the importance of staying on message......
This week offered a classic of the genre. Reuters reported:
In context, Trump was in Egypt to deliver remarks to an international audience regarding the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. As part of the gathering, the American president interacted with a variety of global leaders, including Subianto — who apparently had a request unrelated to the topic at hand.
......While their collective reluctance to talk about this was understandable, the circumstances were far from ideal: Eric Trump has no role in the United States government. There is no reason why the American president would use an international gathering to help arrange a meeting between one of his adult sons — who, incidentally, runs Trump’s family business — and the head of state of a foreign country.
What’s more, let’s also not forget that just 11 days before the Indonesian president said he wanted to “meet Eric,” Eric Trump posted an item to social media bragging about a resort called Trump International Lido, which he said “offers an unrivaled golf experience set against the most majestic mountains and backdrop in Indonesia.”
What are the odds that congressional Republicans, who practically hyperventilated for years about business deals involving members of Joe Biden’s family, might take an interest in this? What do you suppose those same GOP members would do if a foreign head of state were overheard asking Biden at an international meeting, “Can I meet Hunter?”
This week offered a classic of the genre. Reuters reported:
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto asked U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday if he could meet with Trump’s son Eric, an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, according to comments by the leaders picked up by a microphone after Trump had addressed a Gaza-focused summit in Egypt. Trump and Prabowo, who were also seen on video, appeared to be unaware that a live microphone was recording their conversation.
In context, Trump was in Egypt to deliver remarks to an international audience regarding the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. As part of the gathering, the American president interacted with a variety of global leaders, including Subianto — who apparently had a request unrelated to the topic at hand.
Trump's conversation with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is caught on a hot mic. Hard to tell exactly what they are talking about, but Subianto asks Trump about meeting Eric Trump and Don Jr, who supposedly have nothing to do with government while they run the family business.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-10-13T17:42:35.325Z
......While their collective reluctance to talk about this was understandable, the circumstances were far from ideal: Eric Trump has no role in the United States government. There is no reason why the American president would use an international gathering to help arrange a meeting between one of his adult sons — who, incidentally, runs Trump’s family business — and the head of state of a foreign country.
What’s more, let’s also not forget that just 11 days before the Indonesian president said he wanted to “meet Eric,” Eric Trump posted an item to social media bragging about a resort called Trump International Lido, which he said “offers an unrivaled golf experience set against the most majestic mountains and backdrop in Indonesia.”
What are the odds that congressional Republicans, who practically hyperventilated for years about business deals involving members of Joe Biden’s family, might take an interest in this? What do you suppose those same GOP members would do if a foreign head of state were overheard asking Biden at an international meeting, “Can I meet Hunter?”