Trump’s firm sought to profit from Iran war chaos, UK report reveals

2026-03-23 - 08:49

The Middle East conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran has not only disrupted regional tourism but also opened what critics describe as a commercial opportunity for Donald Trump’s business empire. According to a report by the Mirror newspaper, managers at Trump’s Turnberry resort in Ayrshire, Scotland, sent emails to golf tour operators urging them to divert clients originally bound for Dubai to their property instead. The correspondence suggested that travel plans disrupted by “events in the Middle East” could be redirected to the Scottish venue. The revelation has drawn sharp condemnation in British media, with one outlet stating: “Trump’s company told tour operators: ‘Don’t go to Dubai, come to us.’ Dubai is empty, and millions of dollars are going to the US president.” Emails reveal profit from conflict The emails emerged as the Trump administration continues its military campaign against Iran, which began Feb. 28 with joint US-Israeli attacks. The offensive has claimed thousands of lives and destabilized Gulf nations, leading to a sharp decline in regional travel. While many tourism-dependent economies in the Middle East are suffering, the Trump Organization appears to have sought to capitalize on the chaos by marketing Turnberry as an alternative luxury destination. British media characterized the move as “scandalous,” noting the apparent conflict between the president’s military decisions and his company’s commercial pursuits. Critics argue the situation highlights ethical concerns about Trump’s continued involvement in private business while overseeing US foreign policy in the region. ‘Trumpflation’ sparks UK emergency response The economic fallout from the war has reached European shores. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly called an emergency COBR meeting to address surging energy costs linked to the conflict. British economists have warned of “Trumpflation”—inflation driven by Trump administration policies—as oil prices spike following attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure and disruptions to Gulf shipping routes. The UK, like many European nations, is already grappling with cost-of-living pressures, and further energy price hikes threaten to deepen the crisis. Türkiye, which maintains close economic ties with both the UK and Gulf states, is closely monitoring these developments, as regional instability and energy market volatility have direct implications for its own economy and foreign policy.