Saturday, May 10, 2025

The djt kleptocracy


TNR reports about djt's shameless, deep corruption and how MAGA propagandists deal with it. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected questions about whether djt uses his office for personal financial gain, particularly regarding his family's expanding business ventures in the Middle East. Reporters asked about the potential for Trump to profit personally, Leavitt cynically claimed that the suggestions is "absurd." She also said that the American people reelected Trump because they trust he puts the country's interests above his own. Sadly, that may be mostly true.

MAGA's propaganda claims are contradicted by recent financial reports and expert commentary. According to NYU professor Scott Galloway, the Trump family's wealth has grown by $3 billion in the first months of djt's second term, and Forbes reported that his net worth nearly doubled to $51 billion over the past year or so. His wealth increase has been about $1 billion per month. One expert calls the djt administration a "kleptocracy that would make Putin blush."

The TNR article notes that it is unconstitutional for presidents to profit from foreign governments. That doesn't faze him at all. As expected White House propaganda cynically says there's no conflict of interest because Trump's assets are managed by his son Eric. What an insulting lie. Experts argue that djt is likely to benefit from these deals, even if he needs to wait until after leaving office, assuming he ever leaves office.

Some other evidence of djt's corruption:
  • In May 2024, he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal $130,000 in hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.
  • He disguised reimbursements to Michael Cohen as "legal expenses" via nine monthly checks totaling $420,000, which also covered manipulated online polls.
  • Since 2023, the Trump Organization pursued $7.5 billion in foreign projects, primarily in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.