One thing about life under an autocracy: it spawns a particular kind of black humor. Among the various telling memes and cartoons making the rounds, one especially has captured (at least in my mind) the essence of our current situation. The cartoon shows Nixon and Trump; Nixon is famously saying “I am not a crook.” Trump is saying “I am a crook. So what?”
I think that sums up how far we’ve traveled–and in what direction.
I’m willing to believe that some of our former Presidents have been less than honest. But those who failed to meet social expectations of honor and virtue did work to hide their bad behaviors–to deny dishonesty or venality, to appear to be the sort of leaders Americans had the right to expect. Trump doesn’t bother.
Most of us who find this administration horrifying have focused upon the damage being done to the federal government and Constitution, and on the out-and-proud racism and misogyny motivating so much of that damage. Only recently has the media turned to what has been the elephant in the room: the immense corruption that Trump makes no effort to hide.
In the Contrarian, Norm Eisen recently addressed the enormity of that corruption.
As a former White House Ethics Czar, I have been stunned by the sheer number of ethics issues afflicting Donald Trump’s first 100 Days. But Trump and his cronies’ ethics violations have been overshadowed by his other frequent and flagrant transgressions. For example, in his first term, there was heavy mainstream media attention from day one of his selling hotel rooms to foreign governments and the like. This time around, not so much–although they have been a steady theme here on The Contrarian and for the Democracy Movement.
This should be a national scandal, which is why I co-authored this major report on Trump’s crypto corruption. It is the single most profound Presidential conflict of the modern era: a POTUS who has almost 40% of his net worth in his crypto ventures, at the same time as he is regulating the digital currency industry–and, for good measure, has substantial foreign government cash pouring into those ventures!
Eisen is not alone in highlighting the unprecedented corruption. Senator Mark Kelly–among others–recently blasted what he called Trump’s “corruption in broad daylight.”
Kelly is one of the sponsors of what is called the “End Crypto Corruption Act,” which would prohibit the president, vice president, senior executive branch officials, members of Congress and their immediate families from issuing, endorsing or sponsoring crypto assets, such as meme coins and stablecoins.
As Kelly put it in a news release, “Trump is cashing in on his presidency and making millions from his own crypto coins — this is corruption in broad daylight. I’m supporting this bill to make it illegal for the President and other government officials to make a profit from crypto assets. It’s time to put a stop to this.”
A number of other lawmakers and media outlets have reported on what can only be called Trump’s open invitation to bribe him. The most egregious example: he has invited the 220 largest holders of his personal $TRUMP “memecoin” to a dinner at which the top 25 will get “exclusive access” to the president.
As the official in charge of crypto policy for the Securities and Exchange Commission during the Biden administration put it, “This is really incredible. They are making the pay-to-play deal explicit.” The executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics was even more blunt.
“I’m not sure we ever saw anything as blatant as this meme coin dinner. This is over the top — even for Trump — because while the practice of putting money in his pocket and subsequently gaining access to the presidency is far from new, it is more shameless than it has ever been.”
The entire Trump crime family is participating in the grift. Several media outlets have reported that an Abu Dhabi state-backed investment firm is making a $2 billion investment in the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial– the latest example of a foreign entity making a major investment in a Trump family business. Anyone who thinks that such an “investment” doesn’t give that foreign entity leverage with the administration is smoking something strong.
As the extent of the Trump corruption becomes more widely known, the question will be whether it matters to the MAGA cultists. After all, they are getting exactly what they voted for: an administration promoting White Christian nationalism.
Thus far, there’s no evidence that they care about the honesty or competence of those they’ve elected, or about the America the Founders bequeathed us.
I just saw the local Indy CBS station report of the Trump trip. They continue to report it as a NORMAL trip. No mention of the corruption and self dealing. Nothing to see hear.
The corruption we see coming from the Trump Administration is simply the corruption that permeates our society and has been here for decades. To me, the most disheartening aspect of our situation today is the fact that a majority of voters in this country knew what Trump was, knew he was a liar, a thief, a convicted felon and a rapist and still voted for him to be their president.
Something fundamental has gone terribly wrong with America, and I doubt that the promise it once held out to the world can be revived any time soon.
There was a reason Trump’s first foreign jaunt occurred in the Middle East. He’s lining up business deals for himself and his family. Eric and Donald Jr. had already visited the rich oil states. Qatar has a fascinating background and can’t possibly be approved by Israel. Trump called the Democrats “losers” for flipping out over a $400 million luxury jetliner given to Donny for his personal and official business.
“But, but, Dear Leader is donating his $400K salary to the government.” LOL
Justin Sun, the rich crypto dude who bought the banana art for millions and then ate the banana, was the top prize winner of the $Trump stablecoin investment. He also had an SEC investigation pending against him for fraud, but that investigation has magically disappeared. Trump’s company made millions of dollars from just the transaction fees on the sales of his stablecoin.
I told you before the election that ProPublica did a great deal of investigative journalism into Trump’s company, which began trading publicly and owns Truth Social, which is losing millions a month but has billions in cash. The “investments” in the company came from Caribbean banks used primarily by the underworld to launder their money, so the investments are anonymous.
Bribery and extortion are the rule under Trump, and the spineless Congress is just taking advantage of it themselves. I mean, MTG made a small fortune off the “Liberation Day” tariffs, and she’s barely able to speak in complete sentences. She’s not the only one cashing in on Trump’s presidency.
Those who compare Donny to a crime boss are precisely right, but that is the norm, NOT the exception. As Sheila pointed out, all our POTUSs have been corrupt, but they were much better at hiding it. Donny isn’t brilliant, and he loves the cameras too much for his own good. His MO is psychological projection. He spots the flaws in others that he possesses. He tells on himself all the time—just listen.
p.s. The James Comey story was all over X last night because he posted a picture of seashells in the sand outlining the numbers, 8647. I guess the Trump administration is taking that as a specific threat on Donny’s life. Comey deleted the post, but the Intelligentsia isn’t amused.
To comment on the question: “As the extent of the Trump corruption becomes more widely known, the question will be whether it matters to the MAGA cultists. After all, they are getting exactly what they voted for: an administration promoting White Christian nationalism.”
Trump has NEVER been held to account for his lifetime of cheating, lying and stealing. He is the ultimate mob boss and, as has already been stated above, not giving a single shit who knows about it. He is certain he can escape this great rape of the world’s finances. It’s all he knows. It’s part of his family’s architecture and history from when the first one of these rats stepped off the boat.
We, as a society, have only ourselves to blame for allowing this monstrosity to continue. Karl Marx warned the world in his 2,000 word epic, “Das Kapital” that something like this would happen if capitalism was allowed to run rampant and unchecked by the rule of law.
Guess who is making the laws.
We as individuals rely upon our emotions, not intellect. Fear- hated- othering of those not close to us – are our ways. Most of us focused on ridicule of DT for a long time, not looking at the horrible things he promised. We hate his Destoying the Economy because it our jobs, our Medicare and similar. Immigrants- Muslims are a Great Target so Far- Until we listen- and follow the Serious Efforts of those who can’t hide their heads in the Sand- we will collectively Flounder- Choose Your Cause- Racism, Women – reproductive Justice, the Climate and kick in a little to other great causes- act Locally and Nationally.
We have work to do that should have been done 250 years ago, but our founders were facing a dilemma about how to complete the Union when several areas of the country relied on slaves to support them. Those slave owners were the first American Robber Barons.
Our work is to complete their undone tasks by ensuring that Donald J. Trump is the last American Robber Baron.
No need for Tolstoy’s War and Peace rant here. We are being strategically pounded to accept a new normal with intentional rapid insurrection so that the headlines of one is drowned out by the headlines of another. When the headlines end, the balance sheet is exposed. Trump has no card left to play. Cosmic atrophy. Trump will be forced to concede the table.
The Supreme Court has deemed Trump’s corruption to be above our Rule of Law and has also included his administration’s Aiding and Abetting Corruption to be above our Rule of Law. The Constitution of the United States of America is now nothing but a historical document which has no more meaning than the abolishment of slavery by lawmakers who owned slaves and indentured servants to buy and sell at will.
When our lawmakers are the only ones to turn to for righting these wrongs and they are the wrong doers…we have no protection under democracy, Rule of Law or the Constitution. The weak and corrupted Republicans AND Democrats have allowed this nation to be purchased and trashed to suit their financial wants…NOT their needs except to fatten their egos. A South African is in charge of who will and who will not work and is using anti-DEI to turn this country to apartheid status by simply changing the title of “racism”.
As long as the MAGA cultists keep watching Fox and Newsmax they will continue to be unaware of tRump’s grift and crimes. The talking heads on those media outlets are most likely working extremely hard to impress tRump by lying to their viewers to keep them completely unaware of his dangerous corruption because they could potentially be invited into his inner circle of corrupt Cabinet. Our bastard president has more than three and a half years left to continue his criminal grift thanks to this country’s evil right-wing supreme court members’ decision that he would be completely exempt from criminal prosecution while in office as the president.
I would bet that most of Orange Jesus’s followers have no idea that he has violated his oath to protect and defend the Constitution at least once a day since he’s been in office. Reporting like that just doesn’t happen in local news, and you know Gannett hasn’t printed news in so long nobody can remember a time they did.
Theresa, they simply voted for him because he hates who they hate, and their dumbness keeps them thinking that he’ll protect them. They chose to ignore his comment that “I don’t care about you, I just want your vote.” And, I’m sure, his corruption does not bother them one bit. If it were, somehow, taking money out of their pockets, that might be different.
I’m sorry, but the world is not made of quarks, leptons and bosons, atoms, it’s made out of stupidity…it is everywhere one looks!
JoAnn, you have it so right!
Just a warning. Trump WANTS the populace to openly revolt against him because then he can invoke the Insurrection Law and call out the US Military against us!
It is imperative that we keep our protests peaceful (i.e. keep our powder dry) until we can legally vote the bastards out!
the republicans are complaisent in all the corruption. its blaintant and in your face. We in America demanded better. now we watch how corprate America and the billionaires rule and grants like members a lifetime of screwing anyone who is holding a mere buck. as the people here,we expected it,but hoped for better. many here seen first hand in courts the powerbrokers demand and then get hung. now the court is divided and many judges compaisent in this takeover. were fooling ourselves to believe that constitutional crisis isnt here. its live and in color. bought forth by proud right wing groups and media supported by the like$ of the heritage foundation and the like,$$$$..as we saved our comments to keep from finger pointing and conspiracy talk, we found we didnt talk loud enough. we forego the language and sat back and watched. social media made free ink to a point of talking points being oversaid. instead of in your face. Im in a new job,my old one sold out/retired to cut throating and greed. My former Boss lost little but gained respect for her high standards of work ethic,and never saying no to those who deserved better. now i get to a new group of workers and continue my talks. seems now since trump is being a greed on steroids, im making sure to point out whos really pulling the strings like miller and lutnick,and why. trump has dumped on the working class he conned. im not backing off on that one. tell all to read the news, not just listen to easy cons and feel good moments. no democray,no freedom.. keep the free press free..
It just goes back to yesterday’s post. Of course they don’t care about the means. They just care about the outcome. Because they want us lefties to _hurt_ it’s actually even better when the means are such that they upset us.
It follows the same route as “lying is bad!” Unless you’re lying for Jesus. Then it’s totally fine.
We all know there’s a convicted felon in the white house, convicted by judiciary in the United States. And the supreme Court allows him to be sitting in the white house! A criminal! What does that say about the entire chain of authority in this country. They are willing to allow criminality at the highest levels of government. But why? Power? Treasure? Just because? I mean really!
All of this junk is just Kabuki theater to reach a particular goal and then everything is Frozen in that particular period of time. It’s like the Michael Jackson moonwalk, he looks like he’s moving forward but actually going backwards! It’s pathetic. And we have people here continuing to blather about let’s storm the Bastille. Storm the Bastille, and end up in a mass grave. You think that can’t happen? It already has happened here over the centuries, why not now? Have we advanced? Absolutely not. Are there blotches in history that seem decent? Of course there are. They just don’t last very long. And those folks that actually seemed to be trying, our bulldozed by those looking to undo everything that anyone else has done to make things better in this country. Look at Nixon demolishing the mental health institutions! Look at the resistance at healthcare for all! Look at the assault on birthright citizenship. Which, could be used for every single person born in this country. They claim they’re just using it for this particular foray into immigration! But what’s to stop them down the line of just picking and choosing people to deport out of the country. Wasn’t Australia started that way? Maybe that’s why Trump wants Greenland so bad. Everyone will get shipped to Greenland.
The wheels were turning for a long time, and everybody just went to sleep at the sound of that squeaking wheel. Now, there really isn’t much to do about it. Things might seem better for a moment, but believe me, those who have their teeth sunk deep into the criminal infrastructure of power and wealth, are not going to ever let go. They’ll drag everything into the abyss with them.
JoAnn.
Bingo!
How in hell can half the country support this criminal? And what is wrong with the press – and I’m not including Fox or Newsmax or other faux “news” outlets – who are only minimally taking this administration to task. Even CNN’s Kaitlin Collins, in an attempt to conduct “fair” reporting I suppose, lets her guests on the right get away with inaccurate (at best) talking points, rather than answer any tough questions (she does try though). For example, with tariffs topping off most news reports, the fact that tariffs = taxes on the consumer is not brought up. It has to be brought up! This is not some free money from foreign products brought in to our country, money that flows into the government coffers so trump can look good. Any dough coming into the coffers that way is passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices. The consumer ends up paying for it, period. It is becoming nearly impossible to have a conversation with a maga-ite because one side is using factual data and the other, lies, untruths, fake assumptions, fairy tales. Is our country divided so clearly in half? I’m beginning to fear so, and that doesn’t look good by any measurement. We’re down to the courts for now (we just can’t seem to break through enough GOPers to make anything happen in Congress) – and are now facing the fact that perhaps there aren’t any teeth attached to their decisions.
@CGH – The brown shirts will make sure that there IS violence. Peaceful protests don’t serve their purpose. He will use the emergency powers to cancel elections.
Also, if the crypto currency actions are already against the law, why is Kelly introducing a law to make it illegal? It gives Trump et al the impression that it is not against the law … yet. He should be loudly calling for the arrest of the perpetrators. Chances are THAT would make the news. Introducing legislation is rarely newsworthy.
As to Magats not knowing about the corruption, Ben Shapiro, Joe Rogan, and Anne Coulter have all been vocal about their distaste for the open graft. Many GOP lawmakers have also expressed disdain. It is not unnoticed. We have to press our media to report facts and not allow them to pretend it’s normal.
Right On JoAnn. Kiss kiss