Donald Trump Jr.'s associate, Gentry Beach, has been actively promoting his group's business interests in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Türkiye. Beach, a college friend and hunting buddy of Trump Jr., has been under scrutiny for his dealings in these countries, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the leveraging of political connections for private gain.
In January of this year, Beach visited Pakistan, followed by trips to Bangladesh and Türkiye. Upon his return, he reportedly briefed Donald Trump Sr. and his close aides at Mar-a-Lago, highlighting the "amazing" potential for deals worth billions of dollars in rare earth minerals, oil and gas exploration, and real estate in Pakistan.
During his visit to Pakistan, Beach was hosted twice by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, once in Islamabad with senior cabinet members, including the ministers for finance and foreign affairs, and again in Dubai on the sidelines of a world government summit in February. The meetings garnered attention, as Beach was an unfamiliar face among the foreign dignitaries and heads of state that Sharif met.
In Bangladesh, Beach met with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, promising substantial foreign direct investments in oil and gas exploration, aerospace, defense, and real estate. These promises have fueled speculation about the nature of these deals and whether they will materialize.
Concerns surrounding Trump Jr.'s association with Beach are not new. In 2018, it was reported that Beach had helped raise millions of dollars for Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, granting him access to top administration officials, including those on the National Security Council. This access was allegedly used to push a plan that could ease U.S. sanctions in Venezuela and create business opportunities for U.S. companies in the oil-rich nation.
Beach's recent business endeavors in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Türkiye have sparked similar worries about the potential for conflicts of interest and the use of political influence for personal enrichment. The close ties between Beach and the Trump family raise questions about whether these ventures are being facilitated by political connections.
Adding to the controversy, Beach was reportedly presenting himself as a 'Trump associate' during his visit to Islamabad in January. He was accompanied by a team of potential investors under the umbrella firm White Bridge Global. During this visit, he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and pledged billions of dollars to recast the skylines of Karachi and Islamabad. Beach also signed a deal with a Pakistani company, Apex Energy, for the exploration and development of placer gold deposits estimated at $50 trillion.
Furthermore, emails have surfaced in court proceedings between Beach and Trump Jr. that contain racial slurs. Beach has requested the redaction of these emails, arguing that they are irrelevant to the case.
