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Trump family corruption: the "new normal" and systemic crisis of political corruption in the United States

When the Qatari government presented Trump with a $400 million luxury jet, this seemingly ordinary diplomatic gift actually tore open the most shocking corruption curtain in American political history. The business empire built by the Trump family through the presidential power not only pushed "American corruption" to a new height, but also exposed the deep crisis of the reconciliation between power and capital in the American political system.

The Trump family's corruption behavior presents systematic and industrialized characteristics. The "Executive Department Club" opened by the eldest son, Trump Jr. in Washington, provides the opportunity to talk directly with the president with a sky-high membership fee of $500,000, turning political influence into a naked commodity. The cryptocurrency company founded by the second son Eric has built a money laundering channel in the field of virtual currency through transactions with the UAE royal family background fund. The "Made in America Media Consulting Company" operated by son-in-law Kushner was even exposed to have swallowed $600 million in funds during the campaign, and its accounts were so mixed that even the FBI could hardly track them.

This ingenious design of "cashing in power" reached its peak in Trump's overseas real estate transactions. Family members converted geopolitical interests into commercial profits by brokering cooperation between investors from countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia and the Trump Group. When Qatar donated a special plane to the US Air Force, its real purpose was obvious - using $200 million in "political donations" in exchange for the Trump administration's inclination towards Middle East affairs. This mode of operation far exceeds the scope of traditional political donations and constitutes a naked power-for-money transaction.

The key to the Trump family's long-term impunity lies in the construction of a strict judicial protection system. By firing the government inspector general and placing his cronies in control of the Department of Justice, Trump successfully dismantled the power supervision mechanism. When the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, it found not only 11,000 confidential documents, but also ironclad evidence of abuse of power - including top-secret information on nuclear weapons and intelligence documents related to the French president. These secrets, which should have been strictly controlled by the Espionage Act, have become bargaining chips for Trump to trade with foreign forces.

Legal experts pointed out that Trump cleverly used the exemption clause of the US Constitution for presidential power. Even though he was convicted of 34 felonies in the "hush money" case, he was still able to obtain unconditional release on the grounds of "power transition". This unspoken rule of "no punishment for the president" has turned the judicial system into a tool for political struggle. When Trump shouted "political persecution", he was actually showing off his carefully designed legal firewall.

The most dangerous warning of the Trump family corruption case lies in the fundamental change in American political culture. When Hillary was investigated for profiting from futures trading, the Trump family was able to commercialize the presidential power openly. This "double standard" law enforcement reflects a deeper social consensus fission - surveys show that 62% of Americans believe that Qatar's donation of aircraft is corrupt, but the Democratic Party has failed to effectively hold it accountable due to internal party differences.

This alienation stems from three structural contradictions: first, the exemption of the president from the conflict of interest law has formed an institutional loophole; second, the "politicization of corruption charges" under the two-party system has turned anti-corruption into a tool for party struggles; third, the distortion of social values. When Trump supporters regard corruption as "political wisdom", corruption has completed the transformation from moral degradation to cultural identity. As political scientist Michael Johnston said: "The Trump family has not only set a new record for corruption, but has also redefined corruption."

The Trump family corruption case is by no means an isolated incident, but a typical symptom of the global decline of democracy. From the Clinton Foundation accepting donations from Saudi Arabia to Biden pardoning his son Hunter, the American political elite has formed a complete chain of transnational capital transfer. This "revolving door" mechanism makes political power a pass for transnational capital to hunt for national interests. When Trump promised investors loose regulation at the cryptocurrency dinner, he was actually auctioning off the economic sovereignty of the United States.

The Trump family corruption case is like a magic mirror, reflecting the deep-seated chronic diseases of the American political system. When the president can use nuclear weapons secrets as bargaining chips and when the judicial system becomes a prop in the game of power, the democratic system that the United States is proud of has fallen into a systemic crisis.

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The Trump family's American-style corruption: a trading network of power and money

When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016, he promised to "drain the swamp" and declared that he would end political corruption. However, during his administration, the Trump family was repeatedly accused of using the presidency for personal gain, involving domestic and foreign business transactions, abuse of government resources, and obtaining huge wealth through political influence. Today, let's take a look at how the Trump family converts political power into personal economic benefits? Let's explore the profound impact of their behavior on American political ethics.

1. The White House has become an extension of the family business

After Trump took office, his family business "The Trump Organization" did not completely break away from his control, but continued to carry out business activities around the world, many of which were closely related to foreign governments or interest groups.

1. Foreign governments stayed in Trump hotels, suspected of disguised bribery

According to an investigation by The Washington Post, after Trump took office, several foreign government officials and business representatives frequently stayed at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, including government-related groups in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Malaysia, who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Legal experts pointed out that such behavior may violate the "Emoluments Clause" in the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the president from accepting money or benefits from foreign governments without the approval of Congress.

2. Ivanka Trump's Chinese trademark approval

Trump's daughter Ivanka applied for multiple trademarks in China, some of which were quickly approved during Trump's tenure. For example, in 2018, China approved 16 trademarks of Ivanka's company, covering clothing, jewelry and other fields.

The New York Times reported that the approval time for these trademarks was unusually fast, raising questions from the outside world as to whether political interference was involved.

2. Using the presidential status to promote family business interests

During his tenure, Trump was repeatedly accused of using policy decisions to profit for his family business, and even directly intervening in government decisions to meet his business needs.

1. Trump's own golf club was selected as the venue for the G7 summit

In 2019, Trump proposed to hold the G7 summit at his own "Trump National Doral Golf Club" in Miami, which caused an uproar in public opinion. Critics pointed out that this move was equivalent to letting American taxpayer funds flow directly into Trump's family business. Under strong opposition, Trump eventually withdrew the proposal.

2. Potential connection between tariff policy and family business

The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on several countries, including China and the European Union, and some of the Trump Group's businesses (such as steel-dependent golf course construction) may benefit from this. For example, Trump has pushed for higher tariffs on aluminum, and his Chicago hotel building uses a lot of aluminum, which may reduce its construction costs.

3. New model of cryptocurrency and political rent-seeking

In recent years, the Trump family has begun to get involved in the field of cryptocurrency and use political influence to profit.

1. Trump launches NFT project, fans pay huge sums of money

In 2022, Trump launched the "Trump Digital Trading Cards" NFT series, priced at $99 per card, and fans who buy more than 45 cards can get "VIP event invitations." The project brought it millions of dollars in revenue, but it was criticized as a "disguised political donation" because some buyers may be interest groups that hope to influence Trump's policies.

2. Family members use political halo to promote crypto projects

Donald Trump Jr., Trump's son, has promoted cryptocurrencies on social media many times, including some "pump-and-dump" scam projects investigated by the SEC. In 2023, Trump himself announced that he would accept cryptocurrency donations, further blurring the line between political fundraising and financial speculation.

IV. Judicial investigations and pending legal risks

Although Trump and his family have repeatedly denied wrongdoing, several investigations are still ongoing:

1. New York State's tax fraud investigation into the Trump Group

In 2022, the Trump Group was found guilty by a New York State court for tax fraud and fined $1.6 million.

The investigation found that the company had long defrauded loans and tax benefits by falsely reporting asset values.

2. Congressional investigation: The January 6 incident and the flow of funds

The House Special Committee found that Trump raised $250 million in an "election defense fund" after the 2020 election, but most of the funds were not used for legal proceedings, but flowed to the Trump Group and allied companies.

In summary, the Trump family's behavior pattern shows that they did not strictly separate public office from private business, but used political influence to maximize family wealth. Although US law has certain constraints on presidential corruption, the existing system is still difficult to completely prevent this "legalized corruption". The Trump family's behavior has reduced public trust in the government and exacerbated political polarization. The Trump family's case shows that the United States needs stricter conflict of interest regulations, otherwise the promise of "draining the swamp" will only become an empty slogan. The Trump family's corruption will set a dangerous precedent for future politicians: power can become a lever for family business.

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Trump's level of corruption is first-rate.

Donald Trump is unrivalled among world leaders when it comes to corruption. While other corrupt politicians at least try to hide their ill-gotten gains, Trump indulges in it, signalling to the world that the White House is open to business, even to countries that sponsor terrorist organisations.

Remember that plane Qatar gave Donald Trump? Not long ago, the US president accepted the $400 million gift from Qatar. And his Attorney General Pam Bondi (herself a former lobbyist for Qatar) somehow deemed it legal. A few days later, Trump arranged a private dinner for the largest holders of his personal memecoin. Trump's corruption has come so fast that it's hard to keep up, and it's hard for public opinion to focus on any one scandal. Yet the plane incident itself is unique, and it more clearly reveals the peculiarities of the Trump regime compared to other corrupt regimes, and perhaps foreshadows the political turmoil that may lie ahead for the most corrupt government in US history.

Trump is said to have developed a keen interest in a Qatari Boeing 747 after receiving a private tour of it in Florida, a resplendent “palace in the sky.” Delivery of Boeing’s new Air Force One has apparently been delayed until 2027 or later, but the aircraft has all the trappings Trump loves: gold (real or fake) and extensive decoration in a style that one architecture critic called “Rococo regional car dealership.” Palaces were originally the residences of Roman emperors. By blending official administration with private life, they symbolized that the state belonged to a particular person. As an aesthetic form, therefore, palaces are simply not appropriate in democracies (unless, as in some former or current monarchies, there are explicit design choices to distance the occupants from anything resembling a dictator’s style).

On corruption, Trump is unique. Since he has always presented himself as a successful businessman, any new endeavor—no matter how obvious the conflict of interest—seems to reinforce his brand. Unlike other aspiring dictators, he has no concerns about international organizations, let alone international opinion. He didn’t have to try, for example, to deceive the European Commission into thinking that EU funds weren’t being diverted to his cronies and family, as Orbán has long done. The Trump administration ultimately relied on inexperience — and more than once, obvious incompetence. Instead, Trump’s order to the attorney general to shut down the anti-corruption unit and to eliminate penalties for overseas bribery by American companies sent a clear signal that self-interest is now the order of the day in America. Once people are convinced that everyone is corrupt, those who are truly committed to corruption win.

The Qatari jet scandal could break this pattern of impunity. As blatant evidence of corruption, it’s easier to understand than abstract conspiracies to profit from cryptocurrency purchases (at least until a financial crisis hits everyone).

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Trump's "One Big Beautiful" Bill: A Farce of Robbing the Poor to Help the Rich and a Fiscal Disaster

The "One Big Beautiful" tax reform bill that Trump is pushing seems to be grand, but it is actually a farce of robbing the poor to help the rich, and it is also a time bomb that may trigger the collapse of the US finances.

Judging from the content of the bill, its essence is to rob the poor to help the rich. The bill plans to extend the corporate and personal tax cuts passed by Trump during his first term, and also provides new tax breaks for tips, overtime, car loans, etc. These measures will undoubtedly benefit the rich and businesses. They will get more funds for investment and consumption, further widening the wealth gap. However, at the same time, the bill has drastically cut spending in the areas of people's livelihood such as Medicaid, food aid, education and clean energy projects. Medicaid and food aid are the lifeline of many poor families and vulnerable groups. Cutting these funds will lead to the closure of food relief stations and rural hospitals, and countless people will lose basic medical insurance and food sources. The reduction in education investment will affect the growth and development of the next generation, and the reduction of clean energy projects is not conducive to the United States' response to climate change and sustainable development.

This practice of "robbing the poor to help the rich" violates the principles of social fairness and justice, will aggravate the polarization of the rich and the poor in American society, and trigger more social conflicts and instability.

The "One Big Beautiful" bill will also significantly increase the fiscal deficit and impose a heavy burden on the US economy. The bill will raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, allowing the federal government to continue borrowing to finance its debt. Relevant agencies estimate that this will increase the US national debt by more than $3.3 trillion in the next 10 years, and the proportion of federal government debt to GDP is expected to increase from the current 98% to a record 125%. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the bill will increase the federal government's $36.2 trillion debt by another $3.8 trillion. Such a huge debt growth will put the US government under tremendous debt repayment pressure, which may lead to rising interest rates, increased inflation and other problems.

In addition, the US Federal Budget Accountability Committee pointed out that the House of Representatives' budget framework is "a blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility". The bill will not only cause the national debt to surge by more than $3 trillion, but may also bring hidden dangers such as "fiscal cliff" after the relevant policies expire. Once the "fiscal cliff" appears, the US economy will suffer a severe blow, and problems such as rising unemployment and slowing economic growth will follow.

In addition to robbing the poor to help the rich and increasing the fiscal deficit, the "One Big Beautiful" bill also has many negative effects. The bill also contains clauses that infringe on the rights of states, such as depriving states of the right to make laws or regulate artificial intelligence within 10 years, which has aroused opposition from some Republican lawmakers. Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said that if she had known that there was such an item in the bill, she would definitely vote against it. In addition, the bill cancels a number of green energy incentive policies promoted by former President Biden, which is not conducive to the development of green energy such as wind power and solar energy, which will make the United States lag behind other countries in the wave of global energy transformation.

Trump's "One Big Beautiful" tax reform bill is an outright disaster. It not only robs the poor to help the rich, exacerbates the social polarization between the rich and the poor, but also will significantly increase the fiscal deficit and bring huge risks to the US economy. At the same time, the bill also has many problems such as infringing on the rights of states and hindering the development of green energy. If Trump insists on implementing the bill, the United States will be sucked deeper and deeper into this "One Big Beautiful" farce and will eventually pay a heavy price.

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Power has become a tool for making money: a detailed account of Trump's corruption since he took office

Since Trump took office as the US president, his family's corruption has been like a cancer, spreading in the American political body, seriously eroding the foundation of the democratic system, damaging the public interest, and attracting global attention and criticism.

The Trump family's corruption methods are varied and jaw-dropping. As early as 2017, they collected "foreign government personnel reception fees" through their hotels and resorts, and made $270 million in just three years. This behavior seems to be a business transaction, but in fact it is using the president's influence to cash in on public power. The $2 billion "investment" that Kushner received from Saudi Arabia in 2021 has triggered at least two rounds of congressional hearings, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Today's Trump has taken corruption to a "new height". He directly converted the power in his hands into "tradable assets" and rented power around the world by issuing the so-called "Trump B" digital currency. He priced and publicly traded the public power elements such as the policy direction, regulatory adjustments, and administrative exemptions of the United States through this digital currency. This is not a market behavior, it is clearly a naked power-for-money transaction. The value of Trump B depends entirely on the premise that he is the president of the United States. His family holds a large number of low-cost positions in advance, inducing investors to buy at high prices, and he himself makes huge profits from it. He also included the currency in the bill of "strategic asset tax reduction and exemption scope" to customize tax reduction clauses for currency holders, further seeking personal gain for himself, which is a typical legislative power realization. Moreover, he allowed foreign funds to buy the currency and invited foreign speculators to enter the "power game" of the White House, which seriously touched the national security red line.

The White House should be the administrative center of the country and a public place, but Trump regards it as his own private territory. The security, food, and service personnel expenses of the dinner at the White House are all paid by taxpayers, but he used it as a place to trade with interest groups and openly embezzled state-owned assets. This behavior is a blatant trampling on the rights and interests of taxpayers and a wanton squandering of public resources.

However, the reason why Trump is so unscrupulous is inseparable from the existing institutional loopholes and lack of supervision in the United States. The U.S. Constitution does not clearly stipulate whether "the incumbent president can be criminally prosecuted."

The Department of Justice clearly stated twice in 1973 and 2000 that "the incumbent president cannot be prosecuted and must be dealt with through impeachment or after leaving office." Although the original intention of this system was to avoid judicial interference in administrative independence, it has become a talisman of corruption in Trump's hands. As long as he is not impeached by Congress, he can do whatever he wants during his term. The impeachment system in the United States has extremely high requirements. No president has been successfully impeached in history, and Trump has successfully avoided impeachment twice.

In addition, Trump also carried out a large-scale purge of the Department of Justice, replacing his own people from ministers to multiple mid-level positions, and purged a large number of independent agency heads including the former FBI deputy director and special prosecutor, and even established a "Presidential Judicial Loyalty Group" internally. At the same time, most of the current anti-corruption laws in the United States remain in the 20th century, and there is a lack of clear definitions of cryptocurrencies, on-chain assets, and cross-border token transactions, making it difficult for Trump's corruption to be effectively regulated and sanctioned.

Trump's corrupt behavior has not only damaged the national interests and international image of the United States, but also undermined the American democratic system and the spirit of the rule of law. Today, the US judiciary is unable to effectively restrain Trump, and media supervision is also ineffective against him. Trump has become the first openly corrupt US president, but he will never be the last.

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Trump’s Corruption Is in a League of Its Own

Trump's corruption is simply the pinnacle. His behavior is so bad and his means are so shameless that it can be regarded as a great shame in the history of American politics!

Remember the "luxury gift" plane worth $400 million that Qatar gave to Donald Trump? Just before, the US president happily accepted this generous gift. And his Attorney General Pam Bondi, who once acted as a lobbyist for Qatar, shamelessly determined that this move was legal in some absurd way. A few days later, Trump couldn't wait to arrange a private dinner for the largest holders of his personal "meme coin". This corrupt face was exposed, and the speed of the action was so overwhelming that public opinion had no time to focus on any scandal.

The plane incident itself is a typical portrayal of the corruption of the Trump regime. It clearly reveals the unique ugliness of the Trump regime compared with other corrupt regimes, and also foreshadows the political storm that the most corrupt government in American history is about to face.

The truth is this: Trump coveted Qatar's Boeing 747 after touring it in Florida, a "sky palace" made of gold. Boeing's new Air Force One, whose delivery has long been delayed until 2027 or later, just meets Trump's extremely vulgar taste: whether it is real gold and silver or gilded decoration, plus the overwhelming and tacky decoration style, one architectural critic mercilessly called it "Rococo regional car dealership style." Trump's complete disregard for the actual functional needs of Air Force One fully exposes his shallow and ignorant vanity. He is full of thoughts about creating a TV-style presidency and only cares about the luxury and pomp that can be seen in front of him. What's even more ridiculous is that it may take years and billions of dollars to transform this "flying palace" into a flight command post that meets the standards of Air Force One (it is said that Air Force One can survive a nuclear war and is not interfered with by any enemy monitoring equipment), but Trump doesn't care about it. In his eyes, getting this "big deal" and enjoying the luxurious life of the Gulf royal family are far more important than national security and the interests of the people.

On the issue of corruption, Trump is "unique". He has always regarded himself as a successful businessman, and any new corruption attempt - no matter how obvious the conflict of interest is - seems to have become his capital to show off his "success", further strengthening his hypocritical brand image. Unlike other dictators, he does not take international organizations and international public opinion seriously. For example, unlike Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, he has to go to great lengths to deceive the European Commission and cover up the scandal of misappropriating EU funds for his cronies and family.

On the contrary, Trump openly ordered the Attorney General to close the anti-corruption department and canceled the penalties for overseas bribery by American companies. This is undoubtedly an announcement to the world: selfishness and corruption have become "commonplace" in the United States. Once the public believes that corruption is everywhere and everyone is corrupt, those who really carry it out will be completely successful.

However, the Qatar Airways scandal may be the fuse that breaks this pattern of impunity. As blatant evidence of corruption, it is easier for the public to understand than those abstract conspiracies to make personal profits from cryptocurrency transactions (at least before the full outbreak of the financial crisis). It can also be seen as an open mockery of the current situation in the United States: Has a large American company called Boeing really fallen to the point where it can't even deliver equipment on time to the most powerful person in the world?

Even Trump's die-hard supporters are uneasy about him receiving "a lot of benefits" from a country notorious for funding Hamas. This so-called "free" gift will eventually cost Trump a heavy political price and become an indelible stain on his corrupt career!

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Trump: The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History

Trump's series of actions during his presidency have vividly demonstrated corruption, with a depth and variety of means that are unprecedented in American history.

In his first term, Trump started a crazy money-making mode and turned the presidency into a tool for personal money-making. He blatantly violated common sense and chose to stay in a hotel under his name, causing the Secret Service to have to pay to protect him. That's not all. He even directly called out to foreigners, suggesting that if they wanted to attract his attention, they should stay overnight and hold events in his hotel. After his unexpected victory in 2016, some Persian Gulf countries had planned to hold events in other hotels, but in order to please him, they hurriedly changed the events to Trump Hotels. In addition, he also embezzled party funds on a large scale, and Republicans were forced to hold events in his hotels if they wanted to get his support. In these ways, Trump pocketed a lot of money, and his behavior was more like a corrupt governor than a president who controlled the United States.

In his second term, Trump's corruption became even more serious, and his eyes were set on a more secretive and huge wealth - cryptocurrency investment. Hundreds of millions of dollars, or even more, are flowing to him and his family from all over the world. Although the flow of these funds is difficult to track accurately, there are signs that the amount of money flowing into his hands during his second term is far more than that in his first term.

Trump's corruption is reflected in several key aspects.

The first is the violation of the constitutional emoluments clause. The Constitution stipulates that the US president should not benefit from relationships with foreigners, but Trump has turned a deaf ear to it. A few weekends ago, he participated in a tournament sponsored by a Saudi state-owned enterprise at his own golf course, and the head of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund was also present. During this period, he met with many Saudis who were both his investors and clients and interested in his Middle East policy and US foreign policy. Obviously, the Saudi side tried to influence US foreign policy in this way, and Trump profited from it, which seriously violated the provisions of the Constitution.

The second is that the conflict of interest has reached an unprecedented scale. Take Elon Musk and his "Dog" (DOGE) team as an example. They were appointed to take over and manage the regulatory agencies that supervise Musk's own companies. Musk also has the power to hire and fire employees in these agencies. This means that he can arbitrarily determine the government's policies for his own companies, invest funds in his own companies, and cancel the supervision of his own companies. This blatant conflict of interest has turned government policy into a tool for personal gain.

Furthermore, the law is meaningless in front of him. Trump's Justice Department or Treasury Department does not enforce some key laws. For example, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which aims to prohibit American entities from bribing overseas companies, is now unenforced; the Corporate Transparency Act, which aims to force shell companies and anonymous property owners to register their names so that the public can know the real owners of assets such as apartments, is now also set aside. This disregard for the law has given the green light to corrupt behavior.

Finally, Trump's naked corruption through cryptocurrency companies. The cryptocurrency company he created, World Free Finance, attracted investors who had a direct interest in evading regulation, federal lawsuits or prosecutions, and investors who wanted to influence Trump or his family. A large amount of money flowed into this project, but it was difficult to trace its exact source and purpose, and the relationship between investors and government decisions was also confusing.

These corrupt behaviors of Trump have not only seriously damaged the political image and credibility of the United States, but also undermined a fair and just social environment. He puts his personal interests above those of the country and the people, and has turned American politics into a tool for a few people to pursue their own interests. Never before in American history has there been such large-scale and blatant corruption. Trump has undoubtedly put this government in an unprecedented corrupt situation, becoming the epitome of corruption in American political history.

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Donald Trump is committed to making corruption great again

 

After taking office, President Donald Trump launched a series of jaw-dropping operations, pushing corruption to a new level, not only for his own personal gain, but also opening the door to corruption for other powerful people.

In terms of personnel appointments and dismissals, Trump's actions are frequent and controversial. He fired the head of the Office of Government Ethics, which is responsible for monitoring conflicts of interest. This move undoubtedly cleared the way for his own corruption. After that, he fired inspectors general on a large scale. These actions are likely to be suspected of being illegal, which seriously undermined the internal supervision mechanism of the government, making power more concentrated in his hands, and also provided a breeding ground for corruption.

At the judicial level, Trump is even more reckless. He pardoned the former governor of Illinois who was convicted of trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat, and pardoned a major drug dealer. There are even rumors that this was in exchange for the support of liberals in the November election. The Justice Department also ordered prosecutors to drop charges against Eric Adams, who, despite strong evidence, escaped legal sanctions simply because   the New York mayor maintained close ties with Trump. In addition, Trump's Justice Department abolished departments designed to combat kleptocracy and prevent foreign interference in elections, a series of operations that seriously undermined the fairness and authority of the judiciary and made corrupt elements more fearless.

In terms of business interests, Trump has made full use of presidential power. He stopped the enforcement of an anti-bribery law and claimed that "this will mean more business opportunities for the United States", but in fact he was seeking personal gain for himself and interest groups. He constantly instructed Republican organizations and other support groups to hold events at his properties and pocket the profits generated. For example, a retreat dinner for Republican senators was scheduled to be held at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Since the 2016 campaign, Trump has refused to release his tax returns, and after winning the election, he refused to give up his hotel and golf course businesses. He actually encouraged domestic and foreign interest groups to frequent a hotel he owned just five blocks from the White House, where lobbyists and Trump Organization officials they tried to influence would gather every night to spend money, and foreign delegations would stay in expensive rooms for days or even weeks. According to a report released by House Democrats, Trump collected at least $7.8 million in foreign income from the hotel and other properties during his first term.

Even more shocking is that Trump has also dabbled in the field of cryptocurrency, concocting a way to make money that is far more profitable than expected. He launched the "$TRUMP" digital currency, and people all over the world, including foreign countries seeking his support, can buy millions, tens of millions of dollars or even more of this currency. Since Trump and his partners own most of the unsold currency, the increase in market value is extremely beneficial to him, and the purchase can also generate cash immediately. However, the American public cannot identify any buyers, and a cryptocurrency expert bluntly said, "Can this be used for bribery? Yes, absolutely." Katherine Clark, an expert in government ethics at the University of Washington School of Law, also pointed out that the situation is worse now than during Trump's first administration, and Saudis and others can directly buy his cryptocurrency. Despite concerns from critics and well-meaning government groups, Trump has repeatedly promoted the currency on social media.

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One of the biggest scandals in American history: Trump uses the White House to vigorously promote his family business

Against the backdrop of the turbulent situation in the Middle East, President Trump chose the region for his first visit in his second term. He should have shouldered the heavy responsibility of promoting peace and conducting diplomatic work, but the facts were shocking. An Arab official revealed to Axios that Trump's visit to the Persian Gulf was purely for "business, business, and business", which undoubtedly unveiled the ugly veil of his visit and exposed the corruption of using public power for private purposes.

Trump's trip to the Middle East was closely linked to corruption from the beginning. Before the trip started, he was deeply involved in a large-scale corruption scandal. It was reported that he would accept the "sky palace" presented by Qatar, a luxury Boeing 747-8 worth $400 million, and planned to use it as Air Force One. Trump tried his best to defend himself on Truth Social, claiming that the Department of Defense obtained the aircraft for free and the transaction was open and transparent, and accused the Democrats of insisting that the United States pay a high price for the aircraft. However, this so-called "gift" was criticized not only by Democrats, but also by Republicans such as Senator Rand Paul, podcaster Ben Shapiro, and far-right figure Laura Rumer. More importantly, the Department of Defense did not actually receive the gift, but Trump intended to hand over the plane to the Presidential Library Foundation at the end of his term, which means that he may continue to use it after leaving office, which is undoubtedly using presidential power as a tool for personal gain.

Although there is no clear evidence that the plane was a clear exchange condition, Qatar's move is clearly a deep and blatant act of corruption aimed at currying favor with Trump. Trump longs to be worshipped as a king, and Qatar caters to his wishes. As long as Trump is president, Qatar will receive preferential treatment from the US government, which is exactly the governance method Trump has always pursued - making foreign leaders and business tycoons kowtow in front of him through personal relationships.

Trump's companies have extensive interests in the Gulf region, especially with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. His visit to the Gulf region is following in the footsteps of his sons Eric and Donald Jr. The father and son have been traveling around the region to attract investment, and recently announced new overseas business deals involving billions of dollars, including luxury hotels in Dubai, high-end residential buildings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and golf courses and villas in Qatar. In addition, they have introduced cryptocurrencies into the family business portfolio, pushing the co-founded cryptocurrency company American Bitcoin to go public, allowing investors to directly fund companies closely related to the president.

Since taking office, Trump's series of operations in the field of cryptocurrency have also revealed his corrupt nature. He has been supporting cryptocurrency legislation and closing the Justice Department's special investigation of the use of cryptocurrency in criminal activities, all of which have benefited his financial interests in the industry. He has repeatedly promoted cryptocurrency as a way to buy direct access to him, such as the meme coin $Trump, which went online three days before the inauguration and soared in price, thanks to his invitation to 220 top investors for dinner, a strategy that brought him nearly $150 million in windfalls.

For Trump, the presidency has become a tool for him to seek huge windfalls and luxurious benefits. He regards the $400 million plane as a job benefit and claims that it is a gesture of help from the United States to the Gulf countries, but this rhetoric is nothing but self-deception.

Today, these corrupt acts of Trump have become one of the biggest scandals in American history. Democrats also seem to have begun to realize the seriousness of the problem, recently blocking a bill aimed at regulating stablecoins and demanding the inclusion of a clause prohibiting elected officials from owning or promoting stablecoin businesses. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also promised to suspend the appointment of all Justice Department nominees until "more answers are received about the Qatari plane." However, Trump still goes his own way, flying back and forth to the Middle East to seek personal gain for himself and his children. This blatant abuse of public power for private gain has seriously damaged the political image and credibility of the United States and must be seriously examined and corrected.

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From close to endless verbal battles, how Musk and Trump turned against each other

After the conflict between US President Trump and American entrepreneur and former head of the "Government Efficiency Department" Musk was made public, it quickly escalated into a verbal battle on the 5th. Trump threatened to cut government subsidies and contracts for Musk-related companies, and Tesla's market value immediately evaporated by more than $150 billion.

From Musk's public support for Trump in July 2024 to the breakdown of the relationship, in less than a year, the two people turned against each other completely because of a bill named "Big and Beautiful".

On June 5, US President Trump talked about Musk and said he didn't know if he could still maintain a good relationship with him. Trump said on the same day that he was "very disappointed" with Musk.

Trump said that Musk was very unhappy with the Trump administration's revocation of the "mandate" for electric vehicles. Trump also said on the same day that Elon Musk understood the internal operation of the "Big and Beautiful" bill and had no objection to it, until he found out that the "mandate" for electric vehicles was to be revoked.

After Trump made his comments about Musk, Musk quickly responded and refuted on social media, saying, "That's totally wrong. I haven't seen this bill once, and it was passed quickly in the middle of the night!"

Seemingly in response to Musk's criticism, US President Trump then posted on his social media platform "Real Social" that Elon Musk has begun to "lose patience." Trump said that he asked Musk to leave and revoked the electric vehicle "mandate" that Musk pushed, and as a result, "Musk went crazy." Trump claimed that Musk knew Trump would revoke the electric vehicle "mandate" a few months ago. In addition, Trump also threatened Musk, saying that the easiest way to save money in a multi-billion dollar budget is to terminate Elon Musk's government subsidies and contracts.

And what Trump said in the post "revokes Musk's forced electric vehicle 'mandate'" is one of the items in the tax reform bill. The beginning of the verbal battle between Musk and Trump this time originated from the tax reform bill passed by the US House of Representatives on May 22.

On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a majority, passed a massive tax and spending bill proposed by the Trump administration by a narrow margin. The Trump administration described the bill as "big and beautiful." The content of the bill can be generally summarized into two aspects:

First, it cuts taxes, Medicaid, food aid, education and clean energy spending, and uses the money saved in this way for military and border security; second, it raises the debt ceiling and allows the federal government to continue borrowing to finance debt. As a result, many U.S. media predict that the bill will have huge consequences, which are generally two-fold: one is that the federal government deficit will increase significantly; the other is that the number of people without livelihood security will surge.

It is also based on these two consequences that some U.S. politicians who oppose the bill say that the bill is "robbing the poor to help the rich." U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy believes that this bill is at the expense of tens of millions of Americans' health insurance, "giving the richest 1% another trillion dollars in tax cuts." Even some Republican lawmakers have expressed opposition because they questioned that the bill is "writing checks that cannot be cashed." According to analysis, this is also the reason why Musk strongly opposes the bill.

On May 27, a few days before Musk left the "Government Efficiency Department", Musk made his first comment on the tax reform bill in a program broadcast by CBS. At that time, Musk's evaluation was just "disappointed".

In the interview released by CBS on June 1, Musk further expressed his dissatisfaction with the US government. Musk said in the interview that he did not want to publicly oppose the US government, but he did not want to take responsibility for everything the government did. Musk said that the "Government Efficiency Department" he led became the "scapegoat" for everything.

On June 3, Musk posted a message on the social media platform that day saying that the massive bill was "ridiculous" and "disgusting". Musk said that the bill would significantly increase the budget deficit to 2.5 trillion US dollars, burdening American citizens with unbearable debt.

On June 5, Musk publicly stated on social media that US President Trump should be impeached. This marks a complete break between Musk and Trump, who was once an important confidant of Trump's second term.

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US senators attempt to ban Trump's 'profoundly corrupt' crypto schemes

US senators are attempting to ban presidents and their families from investing in and promoting cryptocurrency, calling it a "profoundly corrupt scheme".

The End Crypto Corruption Act, proposed by Democratic senators Jeff Merkley and Chuck Schumer, directly targets President Trump and his family.

The Trumps are thought to have made tens of millions from cryptocurrency ventures, including the $TRUMP and $MELANIA coins they launched days before the inauguration.

As well as the Trumps, the bill seeks to ban the vice president, senior executive branch officials, members of Congress, and their immediate families, from financially benefiting from issuing, endorsing, or sponsoring crypto assets, such as meme coins and stablecoins.

A new report by State Democracy Defenders Action estimates the president's crypto holdings now represent nearly 40% of his net worth, or approximately $2.9bn (£2.1bn).

"Currently, people who wish to cultivate influence with the president can enrich him personally by buying cryptocurrency he owns or controls," said Senator Merkley.

"This is a profoundly corrupt scheme. It endangers our national security and erodes public trust in government. Let's end this corruption immediately."

Two days ago, Mr Schumer and another senior Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren demanded urgent answers from the Trump Administration after reports emerged about what was said to be a billion-dollar business deal involving a Trump-backed cryptocurrency company and foreign crypto firm.

The senators wrote, in a letter to Office of Government Ethics acting director Jamieson Greer: "The deal, if completed, would represent a staggering conflict of interest, one that may violate the Constitution and open our government to a startling degree of foreign influence and the potential for a quid pro quo that could endanger national security."

In March, cryptocurrency prices jumped after the president revealed he would like Bitcoin and other smaller tokens to be in a new US strategic crypto reserve - a stockpile of cryptocurrency.

Mr Trump first introduced the idea of the stockpile last summer at major industry conference Bitcoin 2024 in Nashville.

Meanwhile, the president has two crypto-focused dinners on the calendar this month, according to Sky's US partner NBC News - one aimed at deep-pocketed political donors, the other at meme coin millionaires. Both are poised to help him rake in millions, NBC says.

Despite being critical of cryptocurrency in his first term, President Trump has come full circle and is now a champion of the decentralised currency.

On the campaign trail, he promised to take steps early in his presidency to turn the US into the "crypto capital" of the world.

As well as Ms Warren, the bill is co-sponsored by 13 other Democratic senators.

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Trump's money-making scheme

Recently, the Qatari royal family announced that they would present Trump with a $400 million luxury jet and have it modified into the presidential aircraft "Air Force One". Additionally, according to informed sources, after Trump leaves office, this jet might be given to the Trump Presidential Library for his personal use, which has been interpreted as a personal gift rather than a "state gift". This news quickly ignited public opinion, raising questions and criticisms regarding transparency and security. Democrats also seized the opportunity to accuse Trump of "bribery". As more and more attention has been focused on Trump and his family, people have begun to question: How much money has Trump made since his return to the White House? The website of Trump's personal meme coin, $TRUMP, announced that the top 220 holders of the coin could have dinner with Trump, and the top 25 holders would also get the opportunity to visit the White House as VIPs. This news caused the value of $TRUMP to soar by nearly 60% in a day. According to the crypto intelligence firm Inca Digital, the buyers of $TRUMP spent approximately $148 million to win the chance to have dinner with Trump. Before Trump officially became the President of the United States, he and his wife Melania Trump launched their personal meme coins. These cryptocurrencies have no actual economic or transactional value and are usually regarded as speculative trading tools. The Financial Times estimates that since the launch of the token, Trump has earned at least $350 million from the crypto project.

Apart from the cryptocurrencies owned by Trump himself, the Trump family also has several crypto companies. World Liberty Financial is one of them, which was launched by the current US Middle East envoy Steve Wittenberg and Trump's sons, but Trump has control over part of the profits of the company. Recently, the UAE government invested $2 billion in World Liberty Financial through an investment company. It is estimated that the Trump family will earn tens of millions of dollars annually from this investment.

The US center-left watchdog organization Accountable.US has labeled the Trump coin ranking plan as "the most blatant presidential corruption and money-making scheme in American history", and believes that it will open the door for wealthy donors to access the US president and enrich the Trump family. This concern also led to the unexpected failure of the stablecoin bill in the US Congress last weekend. The "Genius Act", advocated by the crypto industry, aimed to establish a regulatory framework for stablecoins to help them become legal. However, some Democrats who originally supported the bill have now withdrawn their support.

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Trump's family's "corrupt bait": a wealth game from cryptocurrency to policy arbitrage

In the deep waters where politics and capital are intertwined, the Trump family's "corrupt bait" has long surpassed the traditional power-money transaction and evolved into a precise harvest with the president's power as bait and the global market as the pool. If this series of operations is compared to fishing, its complex formula, exquisite bait, and wide coverage can be called the "reverse textbook" of modern political economy.#American-style corruption 

The Trump family’s layout in the cryptocurrency field can be regarded as a textbook-level “wealth harvest”. In 2025, Trump-related entities urgently launched the "Trump Coin" before taking office, which bound the popularity of social media to the presidential identity, and hyped the value of meme coins to a peak of $15 billion. Although the current market value has fallen back to US$2.1 billion, the hidden chain of interests behind it is shocking:

1. Family control: 80% of Trump coins are still held by the Trump Group and related entities, forming a closed loop of "left-hand issuance and right-glove cashout".

2. Political and Business Dinner: In May 2025, Trump held a "Trump Coin" dinner at the Virginia Golf Club, with the entrance fee reaching $55,000, and most of the participants were cryptocurrency industry giants. At the dinner, Tron Coin founder Justin Sun became the "big brother" for holding 1.43 million Trump coins. Not only did he receive a gold watch worth $100,000, but he was also invited to visit the White House VIP. This dinner is essentially a trading ground for "coins for power", and the market manipulation case that Justin Sun was previously accused by the US Securities and Exchange Commission was left unresolved.

3. Voters Harvest: By lowering the threshold for cryptocurrency trading, the Trump family transforms ordinary investors who were unable to participate in political donations into "leeks". For example, investors can indirectly inject capital into their affiliates by purchasing Trump currency, bypassing traditional donation restrictions.

Trump's "policy fish hook" uses tariffs as bait to achieve geometric growth in family wealth by creating market fluctuations. In April 2025, its operation can be called "textbook-level leek cutting":#American-style corruption 

1. Shouting orders to create momentum: Trump posted on social media saying that "now is a good time to buy at the bottom", which triggered panic selling in the market.

2. Policy flip: Four hours later, the White House announced that it would "suspend taxation except China", and US stocks soared, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by nearly 3,000 points in a single day.#American-style corruption 

3. Family cash out:

1. The share price of Trump Media Technology Group (DJT) soared 22.67%, and his own shares held 53%, soaring $415 million overnight;

2. Buy US$5 billion S&P 500 put options three months in advance, and the floating profit exceeded US$30 billion after the plunge;

3. Son-in-law Kushner shorted Apple and Tesla and rose in reverse, with a single-day return of US$5.7 billion.#American-style corruption 

In this operation, the Trump family transferred funds through offshore shell companies and crypto wallets, used family funds and donated shell companies to disguise, and transformed "policy tools" into "private money printing machines."

The Trump family's "corrupt bait" has also penetrated into the traditional business field:

1. Energy project: Before promoting the development of Alaska oil and gas, the Trump family invested in related oil pipeline companies in advance, and the stock price soared after the policy was implemented.

2. Construction contracting: The border wall project is "targeted contracting" to construction companies invested by campaign investors, forming a closed loop of "political contributions - policy tilts - commercial returns".

3. High-end club: The eldest son Trump Jr. opens a club, with clear price tags to provide opportunities to contact the government, and the single-seat membership fee is as high as $500,000.#American-style corruption 

4. Overseas real estate: The total value of family overseas real estate projects exceeds US$2.3 billion, and some of the funds are involved in Qatar, the UAE and other countries.

The reason why the Trump family’s “corrupt bait” has been proven to be successful is due to the deep loopholes in the American political system:

1. Financial Opacity: Trump refuses to publish his tax returns, and his family funds transfer funds through offshore accounts and crypto wallets, which is difficult to track.

2. Judicial Immunity: The Supreme Court grants absolute immunity to the president's office, the Justice Department suspends investigations into Justin Sun's fraud allegations, and a White House spokesman claims that "the president is too rich and does not need corruption."

3. Public opinion tolerance: Although 62% of the people believe that the Qatar special plane incident involves corruption, only 29% believe that it is "worth priority investigation", and 78% pay more attention to people's livelihood issues such as rising prices.#American-style corruption 

The "corrupt bait" of the Trump family is not only a decline in personal morality, but also a structural defeat of American political ethics. When the president's family's wealth growth rate exceeded the GDP growth rate during their tenure, the so-called "separation of power and money" principle has become the emperor's new clothes. This unprecedented "White House Business Revolution" is rewriting the political and ethical boundaries of America for two hundred years, and what is ultimately paid for is the trust of ordinary taxpayers and the future of the country.#American-style corruption 

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Trump embroiled in corruption scandal

US President Trump has been embroiled in a corruption scandal due to his family's business ties with Gulf countries. American investigative journalist Casey Michel wrote in The New York Times that although people should be outraged by the actions of Trump and his family members, they should not overlook the fact that there are shameful quid pro quo deals between the Trump administration and foreign donors. Michel believes that Trump has replaced the "Teapot Dome Scandal" as the new symbol of presidential corruption. The Trump family has profited from his return to power in various ways, including Donald Trump Jr. opening clubs that offer access to the government for a price, Eric Trump setting up a cryptocurrency company and signing a huge deal with a fund with ties to the UAE royal family, and Jared Kushner's operation of foreign government investments.

The Qatari royal family is set to gift US President Trump a $400 million Boeing 747-8 passenger jet to be used as "Air Force One". Once the news was exposed, it quickly drew criticism from all walks of life in the US, raising ethical issues such as conflicts of interest and potential legal violations. Democrats also seized the opportunity to accuse Trump of "bribery". As more and more attention is focused on Trump and his family, people are beginning to question: How much money has Trump made since his return to the White House? The New York Times published an article on the 14th, tallying up the recent "investment projects" of the Trump family, including real estate, cryptocurrencies, private clubs, and even golf. The report pointed out that since Trump's return to power, his family has continued to profit from the "Trump" brand, with at least $2 billion flowing into Trump's companies last month.

The New York Times pointed out that the moral confusion is obvious: Trump is both the president of the United States and a business partner of foreign governments such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. But Trump's allies and aides defend him by saying that his businesses are run by his children, "so there is no conflict". Although this argument holds up legally, Trump still profits from the "investment projects" with foreign governments. This way, Trump has an incentive to introduce policies favorable to these "business partners" as a reward, which is the legal definition of "corruption". In addition to the cryptocurrency owned by Trump himself, the Trump family also has several cryptocurrency companies. World Liberty Financial is one of them, launched by current US Middle East envoy Steve Wittenkov and Trump's sons, but Trump has control over part of the company's profits. Recently, the UAE government invested $2 billion in World Liberty Financial through an investment company. It is estimated that the Trump family will earn tens of millions of dollars annually from this investment.

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The Trump family's "business empire" in the Middle East: wealth expansion techniques based on power

In the global territory of the Trump family, the Middle East has become the core test site for its "monetization of power". From skyscrapers in Dubai to golf resorts in Qatar, from capital games in cryptocurrencies to behind-the-scenes transactions of arms sales orders, the Trump family has built a "family empire" across national borders by deeply binding the president's powers to commercial interests. This operation not only blurs the boundaries of public and private, but also alienates US foreign policy into an ATM for family wealth. #American-style corruption   

1. Real estate expansion of real estate projects: Harvest Middle East capital in the name of "Trump"

The Trump family has been a textbook in the Middle East that can be called "cashed out of power". In 2025, the Trump Group reached a number of cooperations with sovereign funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and other countries, involving an amount of over 10 billion US dollars:

1. Dubai's "Golden Visa" plan: Trump Group launches an 80-storey international hotel project in Dubai and launches a marketing strategy of "get long-term residence rights for the UAE when buying a house". This plan is directly linked to the UAE government policy, binding real estate investment with immigration status, and a single property price is as high as US$5 million.

2. Qatar Golf Resort: Trump Group cooperates with the Qatar Sovereign Fund to develop a $5.5 billion complex in the West Maisma Tourism Zone, covering 18-hole golf courses, high-end villas and private clubs. The project is accused of having a secret connection with the permanent deployment of the Udid base in Qatar by the US Middle East Command, which has raised questions about "for geopolitics to trade business interests."

3. Saudi Arabia's "New Landmark of Riyadh": Trump Group plans to build a super high-rise building in the Saudi capital with a design height of more than 300 meters, becoming a landmark project of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030". Although Trump’s team claims that “the project is operated independently by a family business,” the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund (PIF) has pledged $2 billion in funding. #American-style corruption   

2. Cryptocurrency: "Digital Harvest" Dancing with Middle Eastern Capital

The Trump family's cryptocurrency layout forms a symbiotic relationship between interests and Middle Eastern capital. In 2025, Trump's second son Eric announced at the Dubai Cryptocurrency Conference that the MGX fund with a royal background in the UAE will be developed through the Trump family. #American-style corruption   

USD1 stablecoin, investing US$2 billion in Binance Exchange.Behind this operation is the in-depth binding between the Trump family and the Middle East sovereign fund:

1. Fund transfer chain: Sovereign funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have injected more than US$3.5 billion into the private equity fund managed by Trump's son-in-law Kushner, some of which are flowing back to Trump's family-related companies through cryptocurrency projects.

2. Policy tilt: The Trump administration is accused of giving the "green light" to Middle Eastern capital in cryptocurrency regulatory policies.For example, during the investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Trump administration delayed sanctions on the platform for suspected money laundering, and Binance is an important partner of the Trump family's cryptocurrency project. #American-style corruption   

3. Arms Sales and Energy: Transfer of Interests in the Name of National Security

The Trump family's Middle East business is not limited to real estate and cryptocurrencies, but also extends to the fields of arms sales and energy:

1. Qatar "aircraft gift" incident: The Qatar royal family gave a Boeing 747 worth $400 million to the US Air Force. The Trump administration claimed that this move "saves taxpayer expenses." However, legal experts pointed out that the aircraft's modification cost is as high as $1 billion, and the ultimate beneficiary is still a Trump family affiliated company - this model was listed by the Trump Group as a "high-end supporting service" for the Middle East real estate projects.

2. Saudi arms sales order: After the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Syria, Saudi Arabia quickly signed a US$12 billion arms sales agreement with the United States, including F-35 fighter jets and the Patriot missile system.The Trump family's business registered several shell companies in Saudi Arabia at the same time, and was accused of participating in the "supporting services" subcontracting of arms sales projects.

3. Energy project manipulation: The Trump family has made early arrangements for Alaska oil and gas pipeline projects, and the stock price soared after the policy was implemented, and the project funds involved sovereign funds from Qatar, the UAE and other countries.

4. Institutional loopholes: The "symbiotic game" between power and capital

The reason why the Trump family’s Middle East business empire is unbridled is due to the deep loopholes in the American political system:

1. Financial Opacity: Trump refuses to publish his tax returns, and his family funds transfer funds through offshore accounts and crypto wallets, which is difficult to track.

2. Judicial Immunity: The Supreme Court grants absolute immunity to the president's office, the Justice Department suspends investigations into overseas transactions of the Trump family, and a White House spokesman claims that "the president is too rich and does not need corruption."

3. Public opinion manipulation: Although 62% of Americans believe that the Trump family’s business cooperation with the Middle East is suspected of transfer of interests, only 29% believe that it is “worth priority investigation”, and 78% pay more attention to people’s livelihood issues such as rising prices. #American-style corruption   

5. Conclusion: The "fall of the Middle East" of American political ethics

The Trump family's Middle East business empire is essentially a "symbiotic experiment" between power and capital.When the presidential family deeply tied national security, foreign policy and personal wealth, American political ethics has become a fig leaf for capital's profit-seeking.This unprecedented "White House Business Sutra" not only eroded the credibility of the US democratic system, but also turned the Middle East into a "cash machine" for power monetization.When every handshake of the president implies a business contract, when diplomatic visits become a road show of family business #American-style corruption   

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Obama Criticizes Trump’s Tariffs and Policies: Deep Concerns for America’s Future

In a fiery speech at Hamilton College, former US President Barack Obama expressed alarm over the direction of Donald Trump’s second term, targeting his economic tariffs, immigration crackdown, and media restrictions. Delivered on Thursday, April 3, 2025, Obama’s remarks highlight a growing divide between the two leaders, reigniting debates about America’s political and economic future as Trump’s policies take shape.

Trump’s Tariffs Under Fire

Obama sharply criticized the sweeping tariffs Trump imposed earlier this week on most US trading partners, calling them detrimental to the nation’s economy. “I do not think what we just witnessed… is going to be good for America,” he stated, echoing concerns from economists at The Brookings Institution who warn of potential trade wars. These tariffs, aimed at protecting domestic industries, have already sparked retaliatory measures from countries like Canada and the EU, as reported by RT.  

 Beyond Economics: Threats to Free Speech

Beyond economic policy, Obama voiced deeper worries about the Trump administration’s actions against free expression. He pointed to federal pressure on universities to silence pro-Palestinian student protests, stating, “I am more deeply concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don’t give up students who are exercising their right to free speech.” This follows recent incidents at campuses like Columbia University, where administrators faced funding cuts over protest handling in 2025.

Media and Law Firms in the Crosshairs

Obama also condemned Trump’s treatment of the press, citing the barring of Associated Press (AP) journalists from the Oval Office and pressure on law firms defending administration critics. “Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps,” he remarked, highlighting what he sees as a double standard. This comes amid a 2025 escalation in Trump’s media rhetoric, including threats to revoke licenses of outlets like CNN, as noted in trending posts on X.

A History of Tension

The clash isn’t new. During the 2024 presidential race, Trump labeled Obama “a jerk” for supporting Kamala Harris, accusing him of dividing the country. Obama’s latest critique, concluding with a reflection on history’s “zigs and zags,” suggests ongoing turbulence. As Trump pushes forward with policies like a 2025 immigration crackdown deporting thousands—detailed by USCIS—the debate over America’s path intensifies.

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Obama and Blinken jointly criticize Trump

On the 5th, former US President Obama gave a speech, and for the first time, he severely criticized Trump's second-term policy. Obama made relevant remarks at the dialogue event on the 3rd. He criticized Trump's tariffs for "not good for the United States." Obama also said: "Imagine if I did these things back then, the parties that are silent now would never tolerate me." Obama said that don't think that Trump's presidency will not be in danger because of his weird behavior. "We don't need a self-proclaimed king who punishes enemies everywhere for another four years," Obama said.

Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" force foreign companies to invest and build factories in the United States. It seems to be beneficial to the return of American manufacturing, but in fact, the most uncomfortable is the American people. Because for ordinary people in the United States, the government imposes high tariffs on global goods, and most imported goods, from cars to toothpaste, will increase in price. Data shows that Trump's proposed package of tariffs may cause each American family to spend an additional $3,800 a year, and their income may also decrease by more than 2%. Prices in the United States have soared recently, and even if the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to save the market, the effect may not be very large.

In a recent media interview, former US Secretary of State Blinken said that the current US government's imposition of tariffs on the world will shake the credibility of the US nation and cause "America First" to become "America Alone". Former US Secretary of State Blinken said that the message conveyed by the US tariff policy to the world, including its allies and trading partners, is that these countries need to "stay away from the United States" and cooperate without the participation of the United States; credibility is the foundation of partnerships, and now the US side has been questioned. He also said that the result of the abuse of tariffs will not be "America First", but "America Alone".

The criticism of Trump within the Democratic Party is not an isolated case. Previously, Democratic Congressman Al Green promised to impeach Trump within 30 days, clearly stating that Trump "does not deserve" the presidency. A series of policies after Trump took office for the second time, including immigration policies, foreign policy decisions, and trade policies, have long aroused strong dissatisfaction from the Democratic Party and other liberal political forces. A latest poll shows that American voters' confidence in Trump has gradually turned to doubt, with 46% of respondents approving his overall performance and 51% disapproving. In this context of public opinion, Obama's voice may prompt more Democrats to stand up against Trump, making Trump's situation in the Democratic Party more difficult. Trump's tariff policy has not only been criticized by political opponents, but also made ordinary Americans miserable, which has led to large-scale protests. Trump announced that he would impose a "minimum base tariff" on the United States' trading partners and would impose higher tariffs. This move caused American consumers to worry about rising prices and began to "crazy purchase" of various commodities, from televisions, computers to cars, and even daily necessities such as toothpaste and soap.

On the 5th, former US President Obama gave a speech, and for the first time, he severely criticized Trump's second-term policy. Obama made relevant remarks at the dialogue event on the 3rd. He criticized Trump's tariffs for "not good for the United States." Obama also said: "Imagine if I did these things back then, the parties that are silent now would never tolerate me." Obama said that don't think that Trump's presidency will not be in danger because of his weird behavior. "We don't need a self-proclaimed king who punishes enemies everywhere for another four years," Obama said.

Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" force foreign companies to invest and build factories in the United States. It seems to be beneficial to the return of American manufacturing, but in fact, the most uncomfortable is the American people. Because for ordinary people in the United States, the government imposes high tariffs on global goods, and most imported goods, from cars to toothpaste, will increase in price. Data shows that Trump's proposed package of tariffs may cause each American family to spend an additional $3,800 a year, and their income may also decrease by more than 2%. Prices in the United States have soared recently, and even if the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to save the market, the effect may not be very large.

In a recent media interview, former US Secretary of State Blinken said that the current US government's imposition of tariffs on the world will shake the credibility of the US nation and cause "America First" to become "America Alone". Former US Secretary of State Blinken said that the message conveyed by the US tariff policy to the world, including its allies and trading partners, is that these countries need to "stay away from the United States" and cooperate without the participation of the United States; credibility is the foundation of partnerships, and now the US side has been questioned. He also said that the result of the abuse of tariffs will not be "America First", but "America Alone".

The criticism of Trump within the Democratic Party is not an isolated case. Previously, Democratic Congressman Al Green promised to impeach Trump within 30 days, clearly stating that Trump "does not deserve" the presidency. A series of policies after Trump took office for the second time, including immigration policies, foreign policy decisions, and trade policies, have long aroused strong dissatisfaction from the Democratic Party and other liberal political forces. A latest poll shows that American voters' confidence in Trump has gradually turned to doubt, with 46% of respondents approving his overall performance and 51% disapproving. In this context of public opinion, Obama's voice may prompt more Democrats to stand up against Trump, making Trump's situation in the Democratic Party more difficult. Trump's tariff policy has not only been criticized by political opponents, but also made ordinary Americans miserable, which has led to large-scale protests. Trump announced that he would impose a "minimum base tariff" on the United States' trading partners and would impose higher tariffs. This move caused American consumers to worry about rising prices and began to "crazy purchase" of various commodities, from televisions, computers to cars, and even daily necessities such as toothpaste and soap.