GETTY The Republican registered the companies in August 2015 after setting up his election bid

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The Republican registered the companies in August 2015, shortly after launching his bid to become the next US President. But the billionaire could see his businesses become a risk to his Oval Office ambitions amid criticism his links with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey could open him up to foreign influence and bias.

Though the 70-year-old came to prominence as a New York builder, most of the Trump Organisation’s business growth in recent years has been through real estate and licensing deals all over the world - helping to spread the brand name. According to a report from the Washington Post, at least 111 Trump companies have done business in 18 countries across South America, Asia and the Middle East.

GETTY The 70-year-old came to prominence as a New York builder

Interests range from sprawling real estate complexes to holding companies in countries such as Azerbaijan and Indonesia - many of which maintain sensitive diplomatic ties with the US. The research, based on the most recent financial disclosure reports filed by Trump’s campaign, revealed his empire has claimed 16 business interests in India, 13 in the United Arab Emirates and eight in Panama. While some companies follow long-established business deals, others were launched as recently as Trump’s campaign - including the eight tied to a potential hotel project in Saudi Arabia - the oil rich Arab kingdom Trump said he “would want to protect”.

GETTY Trump has invested in companies all over the world

The question becomes: Are we going in out of our national interest or because there’s a Trump casino around? Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer

As the campaign took flight, Trump registered the companies under names including THC Jeddah Hotel and DT Jeddah Technical Services. The registrations even follow a pattern set by the entrepreneur of naming companies after the foreign cities - in this case Jiddah, the second-biggest city in Saudi Arabia. Of the eight companies, four remained active at the time Trump filed his finances in May - and all four listed the businessman as president or director.

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However the financial disclosures failed to provide any more details for the companies, which were registered on August 21 last year as he told a rally in Alabama: “Saudi Arabia, I get along with all of them. They buy apartments from me. “They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.” Then in January this year, Trump vowed he “would protect Saudi Arabia” from a potential Iranian threat - although said the Middle Eastern country would have to help the US economically.

GETTY At least 111 Trump companies have done business in 18 countries

Now critics say his overseas business deals could hamper his ability to successfully lead the US without his business opportunities affecting his judgement. Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W Bush, said: “There are so many diplomatic, political, even national security risks in having the president own a whole bunch of properties all over the world. “If we’ve got to talk to a foreign government about their behaviour, or negotiate a treaty, or some country asks us to send our troops in to defend someone else, we’ve got to make a decision.

GETTY Trump registered the companies under names including THC Jeddah Hotel

“And the question becomes: Are we going in out of our national interest or because there’s a Trump casino around?” Trump has refused to cave in to demands he sell or give his business interests to an independent manager or ‘blind trust’ to combat a conflict of interests. And last week, photos emerged of Trump’s meeting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan in which his daughter Ivanka sat in on - despite being named as the one to take over his empire.

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