[pessimizer]

> the president of a country advertising the products of a private company

I think you're inventing new norms. It has never been unusual or interesting for the president of a country to do PR for some company in their country that has hit a rough patch (as long as this isn't a legal rough patch.)

Most of what our diplomats do is sell US products to other countries. They certainly have always played favorites.

> How can this ever be acceptable?

The horror. What if he says that he's going to Burger King?