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Calendar 2025
$2 million development fee from South Korea's Base Group Copy link
Trump's 2025 financial disclosure lists a $2,000,000 "non-refundable development fee" received by Trump Acquisition, LLC under a letter of intent with South Korea's Base Co. Ltd. Base Group's affiliate Korea Aluminium was fighting U.S. Commerce Department anti-dumping penalties at the time, the New York Times reported. Senators Warren, Blumenthal and Kim wrote to Base Group's chairman on August 6, 2026 asking for an explanation.
Paid by Base Co. Ltd. (Base Group), South Korea
Not part of the $59.5 million foreign licensing line: the disclosure books this as a development fee under Trump Acquisition, LLC, not as a license fee, and CNBC's country breakdown of the $59.5 million does not mention South Korea. The New York Times found no evidence that Trump or his family intervened with U.S. officials for Base Group.
DeniesThe Trump Organization and Base Group Both told the New York Times the payment is for an unannounced golf course project in South Korea and has nothing to do with the trade case; Trump Organization chief legal officer Alan Garten called any other explanation "pure fiction." A White House spokesperson denied any conflict. The Deep Dive, citing The New York Times
- RecordU.S. Office of Government Ethics · Donald J. Trump, annual financial disclosure (OGE 278e), 2026 · 30 Jun 2026
- ReportKorea JoongAng Daily · Korean firm under U.S. trade probe paid $2 million to Trump family business, report says · 15 Jul 2026 · Archived
- ReportThe Kyunghyang Shinmun · Base Group paid $2 million to Trump family business · 15 Jul 2026
- ReportThe Asia Business Daily · US Democrats probe Korea's Base Group over $2 million payment to Trump · 07 Aug 2026
$2MNot counted
Cite this line item
Follow the Grift, “$2 million development fee from South Korea's Base Group,” line item for Donald J. Trump, https://followthegrift.com/items/trump-base-co-development-fee/ (added 25 Oct 2026; accessed 01 Nov 2026).