Trump to leave businesses to focus on US presidency

Donald Trump has said he will leave his businesses in order to focus on running the US as president and to avoid conflicts of interest.

In a series of tweets sent out on Wednesday, Mr Trump said he will hold a news conference in New York on December 15 to "discuss the fact that I will be leaving my great business in total in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

The president-elect has faced questions over the potential for a conflict of interest between his role in the White House and his business empire.

He added: "While I am not mandated to do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as president, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses.

"Hence, legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The presidency is a far more important task!"

In a sign that Mr Trump is strengthening Washington's ties to Wall Street, he has nominated former Goldman Sachs banker Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary.

Billionaire Wilbur Ross, another ex-banker, has been nominated for Commerce secretary.

Mr Trump's vast array of business interests takes in property, hotels and golf courses.

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