Vietnam's Controversial Support for Trump Family Golf Project

In a significant intersection of politics and business, Vietnam has fast-tracked approvals for a $1.5 billion golf complex linked to the Trump family. Despite local opposition and legal concerns, government officials expedite the development to counter potential trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

On May 25, 2025, in Hung Yen Province, Vietnam, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for a Trump family golf resort, showcasing the complexities of intertwining political interests and private ventures. Attendees included Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, representatives from the Trump family, and local businessman Dang Thanh Tam. The ambitious project, along with plans for a Trump skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City, marks the family's debut in Vietnam and embarks on an unprecedented global business expansion for a sitting U.S. president's family.

Local residents, like Le Van Truong, faced intense pressure from officials urging them to support the project despite fears of losing ancestral land and farmland vital for their communities. “There’s nothing I can do,” Truong lamented, highlighting the influence of Trump’s power over local decisions.

To facilitate the project, Vietnam has overlooked its own laws and granted concessions unavailable to ordinary businesses, a move described by legal experts as highly unusual. Documents have surfaced revealing that Vietnamese officials underscored the necessity of government support due to the special attention the project received from President Trump. This effort coincides with the high-stakes diplomacy surrounding potential trade agreements, as Vietnam is apprehensive of tariffs threatening its export economy.

As the golf complex progresses, it raises questions about the ethical boundaries of global business as political negotiations unfold, and the implications for international relations remain uncertain.