 "US President Donald Trump and Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto gesture as they pose for a photo, at a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025 (Reuters)")
A private conversation between US President Donald Trump and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at a high-stakes summit on Gaza peace has inadvertently drawn fresh scrutiny to the US president’s global business ties.
President Prabowo was reportedly caught on a live microphone, seemingly unaware he was being recorded, asking President Trump if he could meet with his son, Eric Trump.
The interaction occurred at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, shortly after President Trump delivered remarks declaring “peace in the Middle East” to world leaders gathered for the summit.
In the brief exchange, the Indonesian leader referenced a region that is “not safe, security-wise,” before directly asking President Trump, “Can I meet Eric?”
President Trump responded, “I’ll have Eric call. Should I do that? He’s such a good boy. I’ll have Eric call.” Prabowo then followed up by suggesting, “we’ll look for a better place,” and later added, “Eric or Don Jr.”
Ties that trade
The purpose of the requested meeting with Eric Trump, who serves as an executive vice-president of the Trump Organisation along with his brother Donald Trump Jr., was not immediately clear.
However, the exchange quickly revived concerns over potential conflicts of interest related to President Trump’s business empire.
Also read | What happens in Gaza after hostage-prisoner swap? Can peace hold?
The Trump Organisation has significant commercial interests in Indonesia, having opened its first Trump-branded golf club there in March in collaboration with a local company. The organisation’s website also lists another property and a resort in Bali as “coming soon.”
While the Trump Organisation states that the President handed over management of his businesses to his children and plays no role in day-to-day decision-making, ethics experts have long argued that this arrangement does not sufficiently prevent conflicts between his presidential duties and his family’s growing global real estate empire.