The Trump Presidency: Self-Enrichment and Corruption Galore
Increasing levels of alleged corruption surrounding Trump result in heightened immunity.
Talk about a Complicated Chief! Donald Trump's presidency, in its second term, is, to put it mildly, questionable. His deals and interests are deeply intertwined with government work and economic policies, often blurring the lines beyond recognition.
On his foreign trips, Trump's attitude is like a royal rockstar, and his business ventures don't seem to be left behind. In the Middle East, heads of state bend over backwards for him, and his speeches are laced with references to his own rallies and even "YMCA". It's not just about diplomacy, folks. There's moolah involved too!
Let's face it, Trump owns businesses, not just in the USA, but also overseas. And who gives a damn about campaign ethics, right? Since he took office, billions have flowed into his and his family's pockets through his shady deals abroad, some of which are with autocrats and kings. It's all kinda legal... for now.
A New Era under the Court's Blessing
Thanks to the Supreme Court's immunity ruling last year, Trump no longer has to tread carefully. Essentially, this means he and his cronies are shielded from the law as long as he can claim his actions fall under presidential jurisdiction. In simpler terms, the more Trump mixes politics with his personal interests, the more protected he becomes.
- Legal Firms on Their Knees: Trump's executives have targeted big law firms representing Democrats and NGOs with an executive order. These firms have been ordered to kneel down and service Trump pro bono, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.
- Pardon Party: Trump loves handing out pardons, and he's been doing it like it's his favorite show. Remember the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, just days after he was re-elected? Well, Trump pardoned them all on his first day in office. His message? Loyalty to him matters more than adhering to the law.
- Media Intimidation: Trump isn't just a real estate mogul. He's also got his fingers in crypto and media pies. He's sued media groups, like ABC News, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for billions over alleged fabrications. Guess who settled out of court? You got it, the big media giants.
Politics: The Shady Side of Power
It's not just media that's caught in Trump's web. He's been suing competitors left and right, damaging their reputation and profits. His close connections with the White House have given him an unfair advantage, forcing some to cave and sign out-of-court settlements.
And let's talk about stock trading! While it's been explicitly banned for members of Congress and the government since 2012, it's not stopping Trump and his allies from buying and selling stocks based on insider knowledge.
The Dangerous Game of Cronyism
Trump's second term is marked by backroom deals, where tariff exemptions seem to be up for sale. All of this is happening behind closed doors, leaving the door wide open for cronyism.
"We're witnessing a revolutionary shift, a sweeping departure from transparency and accountability," says Anne Applebaum, author of "Autocracy, Inc.". Whether you like it or not, whatever Trump does has a political and often economic dimension.
It's All About the Benjamins
Trump's ventures in the Middle East are no secret. Rumor has it there are six real estate projects brewing with a Saudi firm, a crypto deal with a state-owned UAE company, and a golf course and villa project involving Qatar's government. And what's a luxury jet worth $400 million thrown in for good measure? Some say it's Qatar's gift to Trump, but the Constitution begs to differ.
In essence, Trump, his family, and his allies are getting richer, while others live in fear of crossing the White House. And protected by a favorable court ruling, Trump seems to be skating through the psychological storm, unscathed.
Source: ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- USA
- Corruption
- Republican
- The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission have shown concern about the potential impact of Trump's business deals on general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice, given his intertwining of government work and personal finance during his presidency.
- In the debate on Trump's self-enrichment, some point out the business aspect, like Trump's executive order targeting law firms representing Democrats and NGOs, which has allegedly cost tens of millions of dollars in pro bono services.
- Trump's presidency is also associated with controversial stock trading, as some accuse him and his allies of buying and selling stocks based on insider knowledge, drawing comparisons to the prohibition for members of Congress and the government since 2012.
