Trump Heckled at Rally Over Foreign Payments

At a rally in Iowa, Donald Trump was heckled by a member of the audience over receiving millions of dollars from foreign nations, including China, during his presidency.

Trump was in the middle of a speech when a woman shouted at him.

“You’ve taken millions, millions—” the woman began before she was shouted down in turn by the Trump supporters in attendance.

“Thank you,” Trump said. “That’s all right.” 

As the Trump supporters continued to drown out the heckler, Trump took parting shots at the interrupter: “Go home to mommy. Your mommy’s waiting. Go home to mommy.”

The age of the heckler and the relevance to her mother is unclear.

The interruption is a reference to a recent report published by Congressional Democrats that Trump received at least $7.8 million during his presidency from foreign nations, including China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

Because Trump did not divest himself of his businesses when he assumed office—itself a violation of longstanding tradition—these transactions are a violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which forbid the president and other officers from receiving funds, payments, and gifts from foreign nations without getting permission from Congress first.

Trump made no such request from Congress during his time in office. 

The report is an incomplete picture, referring to only two years of Trump’s presidency and a mere handful of his more than 500 businesses. 

Congressional Democrats’ attempt at an extensive investigation into this corruption was stalled when Trump’s associates challenged their subpoenas in court; after the battles were won, Democrats lost the majority in the 2022 midterms.

The incoming House Committee Chairman, Republican James Comer, assured the subpoenaed parties that they need no longer comply, effectively killing the investigation in its crib.

Video credits: C-SPAN