Yet the president’s own businesses have not yet stepped into the breach, a fact Trump's critics were quick to pounce on but that most state and local officials didn't want to directly address.

“It’s entirely unsurprising,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a House Oversight Committee member who has pushed for investigations into whether Trump’s businesses are illegally profiting from U.S. taxpayers and foreign governments. “It never occurred to me the business would engage in philanthropic activity.”

Many of Trump's U.S. businesses have either partially or completely shut their doors, likely costing his family millions of dollars even as they laid off or furloughed thousands of employees. Forbes estimated last week Trump’s net worth dropped $1 billion because of the coronavirus. About three-quarters of his revenue in 2018 came from his hotels, resorts and golf clubs, according to his most recent financial disclosure.

It’s the same fate that has met the hospitality industry more broadly, as government officials have urged most of the country to stay at home for the foreseeable future. Most properties have had to lay off or furlough large swaths of their workforce and hope that emergency government funding can help weather the economic downturn. Half of all hotel jobs in the country will be lost during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Executives of leading hotels recently met with Trump at the White House to ask the federal government for $150 billion in emergency funds.

In the meantime, some properties have started working with the government to see how they might be able to assist with the space shortages that have arisen during the coronavirus pandemic. While far from being a moneymaker, it’s a move that could help the struggling businesses possibly blunt some losses while offering a public service during a moment of crisis.

“We are … always looking for other hotels that would be interested in participating should the needs of our community change,” said Jared Elli, director of communications at Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, which is working with the Honolulu government.

The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment. But in a previous statement to POLITICO, Trump’s son Eric Trump, the company’s executive vice president, said: “The safety of our members and guests are of our utmost importance. We are monitoring all of our businesses closely and are following the guidelines provided by the CDC.”

The Trump properties that have chosen to stay open are not doing so to make money.

“There’s no business reason for” staying open, said a union official familiar with the situation. “They’re trying to support what the president is pushing from the podium.”

Before Trump was sworn into office, he ignored calls to fully separate from his namesake company, which comprises more than 500 businesses. Instead, he placed his holdings in a trust designed to hold assets for his benefit. He can withdraw money from it at any time without the public’s knowledge.

Some Trump properties were initially slow to respond to government calls to limit business activities that involved large gatherings of people. In some places, there were still ongoing promotions for large group activities, such as rounds of golf, banquets and spa services, even after social distancing rules guidelines were widely adopted.