A Glaringly Corrupt Trump Presidency: The More He Profits, the More He Thrives
Increasing corrupt actions by Trump lead to escalating protection.
Taking a straightforward, unapologetic look at the US presidency, we can't help but label Donald Trump's conduct as reckless, self-serving, and borderline corrupt. In his second term, it's clear that the lines separating office duties and financial gains are not just blurry, they seem to have vanished entirely.
During his multi-day foreign trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Trump's actions raised eyebrows and questioning about the mixed motives underlying his deals with autocrats and kings. As he proudly enters into private business ventures with foreign governments while holding significant political influence, the conflict of interest is undeniable. More details about Trump's entanglements with Middle Eastern states can be found elsewhere.
Since Trump's inauguration, billions of dollars from abroad have already flowed into his pockets through his questionable business dealings—an act that's already prohibited in election campaigns. In the United States, those boundaries, too, often disappear.
In his second term, Trump enjoys unprecedented protection thanks to a Supreme Court ruling last year that grants him immunity. This immunity effectively means that the more Trump mixes his interests with his office, the more he is safe from the judicial system. So, he uses his power, and corruption becomes the norm. Here are a few examples:
- Large law firms representing Democrats and NGOs in cases against Trump's administration were targeted by the president through an executive order, which triggered investigations by the Department of Justice. Firms caved, some even promising Trump free services worth tens of millions of dollars.
- Trump is not shy about using his power to grant pardons generously, especially to loyalists. On his first day in office, he pardoned all 1500 rioters involved in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump has also appointed a pardon advisor, leading to lawyers and lobbyists swarming Washington to seek a presidential pardon.
- Trump, not just a real estate tycoon, is also a media mogul. Competitors who criticize him face lawsuits, lies, and threats of license revocation. Many back down to avoid further damage to their business. After Trump's election, ABC News (owned by Disney) and Facebook's parent company Meta settled with him out of court.
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- Trump sued the media group Paramount for $20 billion in damages over an allegedly manipulative interview with Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, during the 2024 campaign. Despite the lawsuit likely being baseless, Paramount is trying to reach a settlement with Trump, paying him part of the claimed amount[1]. Ironically, the FCC, whose chief was replaced by Trump, is currently reviewing Paramount's proposed merger with production company Skydance.
- Money can buy you access to the White House and more. Trump's sons are offering membership in their Washington private club, "Executive," for an initiation fee of $500,000. Membership includes Trump's crypto special envoy David Sacks and other tech leaders.[3] The opening party was attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and several CEOs.[4] Privacy is emphasized to prevent details from leaking.
- The president is using his own cryptocurrency, "$TRUMP." Top investors may be buying influence with Trump. He promised a gala dinner at Mar-a-Lago to the top 220 investors and direct access to him and the White House to the top 25.[5]
- The Chinese company "GD Culture Group," with no revenue last year and only active on TikTok, recently received a massive financial boost through a stock sale in the British Virgin Islands. The mysterious company announced plans to invest $300 million in Bitcoin and $TRUMP. The source of the money is unclear. Despite Chinese government influence and national security risks, Congress voted last year to ban TikTok. Trump has so far delayed this with decrees.[6]
- In April, Mexican logistics company Fr8Tech announced plans to spend $20 million on Trump's memecoin to "fight for fair, balanced, and free trade between Mexico and the U.S." Are tariff exemptions for sale? This time, all of this is happening behind closed doors, potentially fostering cronyism.
- Speaking of tariffs: "IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BUY," Trump announced on social media in April, just hours before a tariff cut that sent stock prices soaring. Afterwards, the president boasted in the Oval Office that investment banker Charles Schwab had made $2.5 billion thanks to him, and another investor $900 million[2]. Insider trading has been explicitly banned for members of Congress and the government since 2012. There's no official investigation known into government members and advisors buying stocks before or after Trump's tariff cut announcement.
"We are witnessing a revolutionary shift, a sweeping departure from the transparency and accountability that most modern democracies prescribe, and a turn towards the opaque practices and corrupt dealings of the autocratic world," writes Anne Applebaum, author of "Autocracy, Inc." Whatever Trump does, it has political and often economic dimensions. In the case of tariffs, the impact is global.
It's All About the Money
In the countries he has visited, Trump's organization can conveniently profit from several large-scale projects: U.S. media reports six real estate projects with a Saudi firm, a cryptocurrency deal with a state-owned company in the UAE, and a golf course and luxury villa project involving Qatar's government.[6] One of these was only announced two weeks ago.
- Alleged $400 Million Luxury Jet for Trump? Here's What It Could Look Like
From Qatar, Trump is reportedly set to receive a luxury jet worth $400 million, supposedly without any quid pro quo. The "flying palace" could potentially be converted into a new Air Force One. The decision is not yet final, but the Constitution is clear: presidents are prohibited from accepting "any gift from a king, prince, or foreign state." U.S. media has extensively and critically covered this case, even facing backlash from Trump's MAGA base. So far, the president remains unfazed, claiming that the jet would go to the Department of Defense, not him personally.
Trump, his family, and those who align with them or pay them can make money, while others must fear the wrath of the White House. Those who ally with him profit. Protected by an immunity ruling, he is shielded like no president before him. What would have sparked a major government crisis and congressional investigations for his predecessors largely flows by in the constant news cycle during his second term as a Republican.
Source: ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- USA
- Corruption
- Republican
Enrichment Data:
- Impeachment Proceedings: The introduction of an impeachment resolution by Michigan Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar includes allegations of "bribery and corruption" against President Trump [1].
- Anticorruption Laws: Experts note that even without FCPA enforcement, other anticorruption laws remain in effect [4].
- Legal Actions on Pardons: The potential conflict of interest in Trump's pledged pardons to individuals convicted of crimes related to actions at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, is a cause for concern [3].
- China-TikTok Case: Despite Chinese government influence and national security risks, Congress voted last year to ban TikTok, but Trump has so far delayed this with decrees [6].
- The European Union, the European Parliament, and the Council are currently discussing stricter regulations on insider trading, taking note of the alleged rise in insider trading during the Trump presidency in the United States.
- Businesses and politicians from various nations, including the Middle East and Asia, have been accused of engaging in corrupt practices, such as offering bribes and favors, to gain access to the Trump administration and profit from their deals.
- The mixed motives and blatant conflicts of interest in Trump's business ventures have led to investigations by the Department of Justice, as well as calls for more transparency and accountability in politics and business, not just in the US, but globally, in areas such as finance, general news, and crime and justice.
