Will Donald Trump be in breach of the lease on his D.C. hotel 'the moment he takes office'?

President-elect Donald Trump will be in breach of the lease on his Washington D.C. hotel 'the minute he takes office' according to Democrat lawmakers.

A letter from House Democrats Elijah Cummings, Peter DeFazio, Gerald Connolly, and Andre Carson alleges the General Services Administration, which leases The Old Post Office Pavilion, better known as Trump International Hotel Washington D.C., said Trump would violate the terms of the lease unless he divested the asset.

The letter said following a briefing between the deputy commissioner of GSA's public buildings service and Democrat staff, that the lawmakers were made aware of a potential breach of contract between the president-elect and his D.C. hotel business once he takes office.

It read: "Most importantly, the deputy commissioner informed our staff that GSA assesses that Mr Trump will be in breach of the lease agreement the moment he takes office on January 20, 2017, unless he fully divests himself of all financial interest in the lease for the Washington D.C. hotel.

"The deputy commissioner made clear that Mr Trump must divest himself not only of managerial control, but of all ownership interest as well."

The letter cited section 37.19 of the lease agreement, which it said stated: "No member of delegate to Congress, or elected official of the Government of the United States... shall be admitted to any share or part of this lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom."

However, it appears the GSA has issued a statement claiming there are no firm conclusions when it comes to Trump's lease of the hotel, and claiming the House Democrats had misrepresented what they had been told by the GSA.

Concerns over Trump's business dealings were raised during the election, amid fears his dealings overseas could present conflicts of interests with his role as president, regardless of whether he had divested his businesses.