Nations that have bestowed lavish gifts to President Trump — or enriched Trump and his family by striking business deals with Trump-connected companies — have later received extraordinary benefits from the Trump administration.
What are the legalities of this report today? Is there no oversight of these deals? Doesn’t Congress have some responsibilities? As a country we seem to say, “that’s Trump”. That’s what he does and there is nothing we can or will do about it. I’m tired of watching these things happen blatantly and having no recourse. “Oh, that’s Trump, that’s just what he does.” Is there no way to stand up against these actions? Or is this just how government operates?
It's not "Congress." It's the *party* that currently controls both houses of Congress, the Presidency and the Supreme Court. *They* decide on what legislation will or will not advance out of committee. They decide if and when there will be floor votes.
Just like this current shutdown, the GOP are unwilling and unable to negotiate with the Dems, because they've all left Washington and returned to their districts. Presumably because Trump ordered it.
My question precisely! Is there no check on all of this quid pro quo and enriching the Trump organization? I guess with no Congress or SCOTUS to question is, anything goes. It is definitely not how the US government has ever operated, but now the attitude is the administration (read DJT) can do virtually anything it wants and dares anyone or anything to stop it.
Do the six Supreme Court justices beholden to Trump not have children and family they care about? Do they believe the power and money gained by loyalty to Trump/Putin will protect them? Do they think grandchildren will be better off without democracy? Someone explain how people who studied law allow this. Do they fathom that once this cohort is in absolute power the Supreme Court - along with all courts - will be obsolete? Short term gain for long term misery? ???
Someone once questioned how a bad-actor colleague slept at night after misbehaving so badly. My response: He sleeps just fine because he's the king of his realm and always right! I'm sure the whole DJT regime feels pretty well cushioned and insulated from any problems, other than how to spend the billions they are raking in.
The people who claim to love the Constitution seem to conveniently ignore the Emolument Clause and the daily breaking of it. They don't seem to be huge fans of the 1st Amendment either.
What people? Outside of Congress and the Supremely Corrupt Court?
I bet predator Thomas is so jealous of Trump as poor black robe just gets vacations w Crow. No gold plated plane, no cool $5 B in crypto profits. Let’s hope his dirty black deeds are done and his profits from his position minimal. I wish Jane Mayer would write a sequel to Dark Money all about the graft since Trump reigns I and II ….
I wouldn't be surprised if those shiny new American arms that are sent to Saudi Arabia end up murdering school children and wedding parties in Yemen within a year.
Of course Trump is corrupt. He's a felon, right? What's the point of being president if you can't make money from it. I really hope this Gaza peace plan works out, but let's remember that Trump copied the Biden plan, and that two things motivated Trump to put the pressure on Netanyahu. One, he thought he could get the Nobel. Two, he was protecting the family investments in Qatar, so much so that he told Netanyahu never to attack Qatar again despite it being a refuge for Hamas, and he pledged US military security as if Qatar was a NATO ally. And he even allowed Qatar to have a military base on US soil, which is what is happening despite Hegseth's attempt to walk that back. What the world knows is that you flatter Trump and bribe him, and you get what you want.
Well, given that SCOTUS has ruled that bribery isn't bribery if a Republican is involved, why would anyone be surprised that Trump is making bank? As for the plane, I couldn't care less if he takes it with him when he goes as long as all the top secret shit is removed and as long as he, or the cultists he cons, pay all of the expenses for upkeep and operations.
But the idea that Trump will even have a library is beyond absurd. Maybe they can call it something else, because certainly there will be no books and papers.
It will be the Trump Miami Hotel Casino and Whorehouse. All documents will be at Mierdalardo in the public bathrooms, the classified documents will be in the Spa.
I feel like this would be more scandalous if today's politics didn't already feel so transactional in nature. Instead, these are drops in the bucket of the Trump administration's numerous ethical and legal violations. Big drops, yes, but drops nonetheless.
That's part of the strategy: just keep it coming and dare anyone to stop him. He said he wanted to change Washington and America, which he undeniably has done. If everything's an outrage, then nothing is.
If I ask myself how the U.S. came to quickly circle back to supporting kings and princes, I come back myself to the fact that the U.S. never really left.
By establishing itself with slavery intact, our country kept the flame of social hierarchy alive while amassing and concentrating White wealth and privileges never really given up to this day.
After WWII, the U.S. did tax wealth at a high rate, but the benefits such as the G.I. bill were strategically closed to Black veterans. The high tax on wealth then disappeared.
Now billionaires everywhere, who all share a terror of being swarmed by the less wealthy/unwashed beneath them, are going for keeps, worldwide. Forget national boundaries, laws or oversight.
Preventing fair elections cannot even be questioned as a necessary step.
O.M.G. Letting foreign countries establish military bases in the U.S.!!!! That's just the craziest, most worrying action the orange man has done. He most definitley will not make it to heaven, as he has been wondering.
What are the legalities of this report today? Is there no oversight of these deals? Doesn’t Congress have some responsibilities? As a country we seem to say, “that’s Trump”. That’s what he does and there is nothing we can or will do about it. I’m tired of watching these things happen blatantly and having no recourse. “Oh, that’s Trump, that’s just what he does.” Is there no way to stand up against these actions? Or is this just how government operates?
Congress literally no longer exists. Unless some Republicans start turning on Trump it will continue to serve no purpose
They have gone on vacation for 6 weeks and no one noticed.
Except the federal employees who aren't getting their paychecks.
It's not "Congress." It's the *party* that currently controls both houses of Congress, the Presidency and the Supreme Court. *They* decide on what legislation will or will not advance out of committee. They decide if and when there will be floor votes.
Just like this current shutdown, the GOP are unwilling and unable to negotiate with the Dems, because they've all left Washington and returned to their districts. Presumably because Trump ordered it.
My question precisely! Is there no check on all of this quid pro quo and enriching the Trump organization? I guess with no Congress or SCOTUS to question is, anything goes. It is definitely not how the US government has ever operated, but now the attitude is the administration (read DJT) can do virtually anything it wants and dares anyone or anything to stop it.
Once you cave to the bully, you can't stop. This is the golden era for Trump and his buddies.
A Poem for the Moment
Back in the day, foreign thought used to be
My friend’s enemy is my enemy. But there’s
So much more money, let’s update our brand-
You give me gold airplanes, I’ll give you our land.
"No permanent enemies, no permanent friends, just permanent interests" - leads to, antidemocratic and authoritarian regimes.
Green 💰 land…
Do the six Supreme Court justices beholden to Trump not have children and family they care about? Do they believe the power and money gained by loyalty to Trump/Putin will protect them? Do they think grandchildren will be better off without democracy? Someone explain how people who studied law allow this. Do they fathom that once this cohort is in absolute power the Supreme Court - along with all courts - will be obsolete? Short term gain for long term misery? ???
I always wonder this as well. I guess they all feel like they are privileged and this new world won’t affect them
Clarence Thomas better take a good long look in the mirror.
It’s hard to take a good long look at Clarence Thomas even if you are Clarence Thomas.
Someone once questioned how a bad-actor colleague slept at night after misbehaving so badly. My response: He sleeps just fine because he's the king of his realm and always right! I'm sure the whole DJT regime feels pretty well cushioned and insulated from any problems, other than how to spend the billions they are raking in.
Precisely!
Yes, they think they're safe. Even in spite of Trump's record of eventually throwing everyone under the bus if it's to his advantage.
What an enigma. The fantasy of what could be over the reality of what will be. Unfortunately, these people have sway, power, and an agenda.
The people who claim to love the Constitution seem to conveniently ignore the Emolument Clause and the daily breaking of it. They don't seem to be huge fans of the 1st Amendment either.
What people? Outside of Congress and the Supremely Corrupt Court?
I bet predator Thomas is so jealous of Trump as poor black robe just gets vacations w Crow. No gold plated plane, no cool $5 B in crypto profits. Let’s hope his dirty black deeds are done and his profits from his position minimal. I wish Jane Mayer would write a sequel to Dark Money all about the graft since Trump reigns I and II ….
They never loved the Constitution. To them, it's just a piece of paper.
I wouldn't be surprised if those shiny new American arms that are sent to Saudi Arabia end up murdering school children and wedding parties in Yemen within a year.
Of course Trump is corrupt. He's a felon, right? What's the point of being president if you can't make money from it. I really hope this Gaza peace plan works out, but let's remember that Trump copied the Biden plan, and that two things motivated Trump to put the pressure on Netanyahu. One, he thought he could get the Nobel. Two, he was protecting the family investments in Qatar, so much so that he told Netanyahu never to attack Qatar again despite it being a refuge for Hamas, and he pledged US military security as if Qatar was a NATO ally. And he even allowed Qatar to have a military base on US soil, which is what is happening despite Hegseth's attempt to walk that back. What the world knows is that you flatter Trump and bribe him, and you get what you want.
Yep, I think that’s pretty much what happened.
Well, given that SCOTUS has ruled that bribery isn't bribery if a Republican is involved, why would anyone be surprised that Trump is making bank? As for the plane, I couldn't care less if he takes it with him when he goes as long as all the top secret shit is removed and as long as he, or the cultists he cons, pay all of the expenses for upkeep and operations.
But the idea that Trump will even have a library is beyond absurd. Maybe they can call it something else, because certainly there will be no books and papers.
It will be the Trump Miami Hotel Casino and Whorehouse. All documents will be at Mierdalardo in the public bathrooms, the classified documents will be in the Spa.
I guess his "library" will be at a major airport? 🙄
This Trump/Arab coalition should scare the hell out of everyone. The Idaho airbase agreement without a whisper from Congress is eerie.
Great reporting Judd! I’ll be on the lookout for national media picking up this reporting.
The rich get richer the poor get poorer and ole black joe keeps picking cotton for your ribbon and bows.
I feel like this would be more scandalous if today's politics didn't already feel so transactional in nature. Instead, these are drops in the bucket of the Trump administration's numerous ethical and legal violations. Big drops, yes, but drops nonetheless.
That's part of the strategy: just keep it coming and dare anyone to stop him. He said he wanted to change Washington and America, which he undeniably has done. If everything's an outrage, then nothing is.
If I ask myself how the U.S. came to quickly circle back to supporting kings and princes, I come back myself to the fact that the U.S. never really left.
By establishing itself with slavery intact, our country kept the flame of social hierarchy alive while amassing and concentrating White wealth and privileges never really given up to this day.
After WWII, the U.S. did tax wealth at a high rate, but the benefits such as the G.I. bill were strategically closed to Black veterans. The high tax on wealth then disappeared.
Now billionaires everywhere, who all share a terror of being swarmed by the less wealthy/unwashed beneath them, are going for keeps, worldwide. Forget national boundaries, laws or oversight.
Preventing fair elections cannot even be questioned as a necessary step.
So appreciate your detailed reporting.
Evidently, the Foreign Emoluments clause of the Constitution has been de-clawed.
Is it legal to have foreign bases in American soil??
PH says it's not actually their base. It's our base. They just get to "use"/run it. So there you go! Problem solved.
The scale and blatancy of the corruption is staggering.
We give the guy access to a military base and he can’t even wear a suit for the occasion.
Or socks.
O.M.G. Letting foreign countries establish military bases in the U.S.!!!! That's just the craziest, most worrying action the orange man has done. He most definitley will not make it to heaven, as he has been wondering.
More information here:
https://idahonews.com/news/local/things-to-know-about-the-qatar-training-facility-planned-for-an-idaho-air-force-base