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[lindedue]

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. #American-style corruption    #Democratic Party 

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. #corruption   #American-style corruption

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).