Donald Trump 'hoping to keep business' when he becomes president

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly hoping to keep a stake in his business when he becomes president. Mr Trump is planning to hand the operational responsibilities of his real estate companies to his two adult sons, Eric and Donald Jr, but is resisting calls to divest, The New York Times reports. Citing sources briefed on the discussions, the paper also said Ivanka Trump would take a leave of absence from the Trump Organization — suggesting she is exploring an advisor or advocate role along with her husband Jared Kushner. Ms Trump is reportedly looking into how to separate herself from her apparel and licencing brands and is planning to appoint a president to run her company's operations. The Trumps are allegedly exploring a "legal structure" allowing Mr Trump and his daughter to separate from the company. Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump I will be holding a major news conference in New York City with my children on December 15 to discuss the fact that I will be leaving my ... 3:39 AM - 30 Nov 2016 11,306 11,306 Retweets 45,160 45,160 likes Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump great business in total in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! While I am not mandated to .... 3:44 AM - 30 Nov 2016 10,721 10,721 Retweets 45,408 45,408 likes Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump 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.. 3:54 AM - 30 Nov 2016 11,330 11,330 Retweets 51,009 51,009 likes Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Hence, legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The Presidency is a far more important task! 3:59 AM - 30 Nov 2016 17,691 17,691 Retweets 77,911 77,911 likes READ MORE Donald Trump slams Carrier union and president in Twitter rant Trump says Obama is giving him advice on Cabinet appointments Donald Trump fossil fuel advocate to lead environmental department People are seeing horns on Donald Trump's TIME cover Last week, Mr Trump tweeted to say he will hold a news conference on 15 December to "discuss the fact that I will be leaving my great business in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" 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!" It remains unclear what Mr Trump will announce at the briefing. The President-elect has faced criticism since he was elected about potential conflicts of interest between his role in the Trump Organization and his job in the White House. Any company he has a stake in and which rose in value as a result of his decisions in office would create a conflict of interest. Follow U.S. OGE ✔ @OfficeGovEthics .@realDonaldTrump Bravo! Only way to resolve these conflicts of interest is to divest . Good call! 9:55 AM - 30 Nov 2016 819 819 Retweets 1,543 1,543 likes Follow U.S. OGE ✔ @OfficeGovEthics .@realDonalTrump As we discussed with your counsel, divestiture is the way to resolve these conflicts. 9:55 AM - 30 Nov 2016 934 934 Retweets 1,586 1,586 likes Follow U.S. OGE ✔ @OfficeGovEthics .@realDonaldTrump - we told your counsel we'd sing your praises if you divested, we meant it. 9:57 AM - 30 Nov 2016 1,143 1,143 Retweets 2,088 2,088 likes The US Office of Government Ethics sent a tweet to Mr Trump last week saying it would "sing your praises if you divested". "As we discussed with your counsel, divestiture is the only way to resolve these conflicts," the office said. "Bravo! Only way to resolve these conflicts of interest is to divest. Good call!" In an interview with The New York Times last month, Mr Trump argued there was a lack of laws governing conflicts of interest for a sitting president. "The law is totally on my side," he said, "meaning, the president can't have a conflict of interest." Unlike any past President-elect in history, Mr Trump is yet to release his tax returns.