In what seems like brazen advertisement for foreign interference, Trump has said he has the right to ask other countries to help him investigate corruption.

Jesse Byrnes reported that “President Trump on Thursday night defended his push for foreign governments to investigate allegations of corruption, asserting he has an “absolute right” to call for such help from a foreign power amid blowback over his push for probes into former Vice President Joe Biden.” Read more here.

This has raised more controversy following the political turmoil over a whistleblower’s complaint. How does investigating corruption fit into the President’s duties? What is the role of the Justice Department of America? Whatever the case, while it may be ok for the President to seek foreign assistance to fight corruption at home, it becomes problematic when he seems to be doing so for self-serving political motives, such as undermining a political rival.

Therefore, Trump’s argument sounds more like a brazen presidential advertisement for more of what has become foreign interference since Trump came to power in a 2016 poll marred by allegations of Russian interference. Jonathan Chait then argues that the only issue left is trump’s ‘absolute right’ to solicit collusion. According to Chait,

“The president exerts unilateral control over the most powerful government on Earth. He is announcing to every foreign state that American relations with his government — and, should he prevail, every future government — can and will be influenced by their willingness to put their judicial or quasi-judicial systems at the disposal of his re-election campaign”. Read more here.