Put simply the constitution prohibits the President from taking “emoluments” from either foreign or domestic governments. An emolument is essentially any type of payment or profit, and the constitution includes roles of honor, like a knighthood, from foreign governments. This means that it is illegal for the federal government to spend money at a Trump property, like paying for rooms at Mar A Lago, for Trump or any other federal employee. This means it is illegal for foreign governments from spending money at Trump properties, for the G7 to be at “The Dural”.
Congress could make an exception. But even doing so at a cost or at a loss is not allowed, it’s just no payments at all. More marketing advantage.
I believe this is one of the most important violations. Have you ever known how the dictators of even the poorest nations become ultra-rich, billionaires. Imagine if in the USA that type of direct self-dealing was allowed. Over time you’d have a multi-trillionaire ruling family. The profit motive is too great, our hopes of truly democratic representatives would be dashed and set back. Profit seeking could never be driven from the parties.
I also think it should be put before the american people, this self-dealing, the self-bribery, the profitable conflict of interest, and it’s just been getting worse since Reagan. The W Bush administration was full of this type of violation too, and I think it’s related to why the republic party is getting worse and worse and more corrupt. That’s a big prize to dangle in front of America’s least ethical business people.