Our View: Influences should concern U.S.

The CIA recently concluded Russia likely had a hand in making sure Donald Trump got elected, according to reports from The Washington Post.

The above sentence should worry any patriotic American, regardless of what side of the political spectrum they lean. The idea a foreign nation would attempt to influence the electoral process should be concerning in itself, but when the foreign nation in question is one the United States has had a rocky relationship with, one can only question how it wasn’t dealt with sooner.p g;

Russia stands to gain a lot with Trump as President. Already, the incoming administration’s choice of Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil, as Secretary of State brings with it a face friendly to Moscow. With Trump’s previous statements regarding NATO and other ideas friendly to a Russian political agenda, it comes as no surprise Russia would want Trump as President.

It isn’t just Russia either. A report in Newsweek Tuesday, the government in Turkey is using Trump’s business relationships as leverage for support from the United States. Turkey recently arrested a businessman, Barbatos Muratoglu, who has close ties to Trump. Newsweek alleges this was done to leverage extradition from the U.S. of an Imam (a person who leads prayers at a mosque), Fethullah Gulen, for allegedly masterminding a coup against the Turkish government earlier this year, a charge Gulen denies. Trump and his children receive payments for having a pair of buildings in Istanbul bearing the Trump name, which the Muratoglu had a hand in. If what Newsweek alleges is true, Turkey may have found a way to force Trump to accede to their demand.

Donald Trump won the election fairly, regardless of the influence Russia attempted to exert during the election.

However, Trump’s international business ties may result in situations where his business interests, despite being officially dissolved, may come into play and potentially influence foreign policy decisions. What would the U.S. stand to gain from decisions primarily influenced to benefit Trump’s family and his buddies?

Those of us living in Wyoming may be far removed from the international political scene, but it’s important to remember decisions made in Washington, D.C., Moscow or any other political hub can influence life in the Cowboy State. We’re waiting for our economic fortunes to change, but decisions made elsewhere can cause that change to be potentially postposed if someone close to Trump stands to benefit from a deal that could hurt Wyoming.