A Comprehensive Accounting of Trump’s Culture of Corruption 

June 7, 2025.  NYT. By the Editorial Board 

 

Trump and Cryptocurrency

 

1. Trump Crypto Gala: At a recent Trump crypto gala, entrepreneur Justin Sun spent over $40 million on Trump coins, having already invested $75 million previously.

2. SEC Case Paused: After Trump took office, the SEC paused its fraud case against Sun.

3. Conflict of Interest: Trump and his family profit from their crypto ventures regardless of investor losses, with Forbes estimating $1 billion in crypto revenue over 9 months.

4. Policy Reversal: Trump once condemned crypto but now promotes it; he shut down DOJ crypto investigations, pardoned crypto criminals, and nullified IRS crypto-tax rules.

 

“The message seemed obvious enough: People who make Mr. Trump richer regularly receive favorable treatment from the government he runs.” 

 

Corruption Framework

 

5. Systemic Self-Enrichment: Trump isn’t necessarily bribed directly but creates systems that reward those who enrich him.

6. Normalization of Corruption: Historian Matthew Dallek calls Trump “the most brazenly corrupt national politician in modern times.”

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Foreign and Domestic Deals Benefiting Trump

 

7. Middle East Deals: Trump Organization has major real estate deals in Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia; Qatar gifted a $200 million Boeing jet for Trump’s personal use.

8. Georgetown Club: Trump Jr.'s new “Executive Branch” club charges $500,000 to join; founding members include crypto executives previously sued by the SEC.

9. Vietnam Projects: Trump-linked projects in Vietnam were fast-tracked during trade negotiations with his administration.

10. Serbian Hotel: Serbian officials used a forged document to greenlight a Trump hotel, demolishing a cultural site.

11. PGA–LIV Merger: Trump helped force a merger between PGA and LIV Golf, which holds tournaments at his courses.

  

Transactional Pardons and Favor Trading

 

12. Pardon for Donor’s Son: After a donor paid $1 million to attend a Trump fundraiser, Trump pardoned her son for tax crimes.

13. Media Company Lawsuits: Trump filed dubious lawsuits against regulated media companies, receiving multimillion-dollar settlements amid merger fears.

14. Melania Documentary: Amazon paid $40M for a Melania Trump documentary—an unusually high amount; her cut exceeds 70%.

15. Inaugural Fund: Trump’s inaugural committee raised $239M—much more than predecessors—and used the funds with minimal oversight.

  

Foreign Investment in Trump Ventures

 

16. Workaround to Campaign Finance Laws: Foreign donors can’t fund campaigns but can join private clubs or invest in Trump crypto.

17. Foreign Crypto Backers: The UAE invested \$2B and a Chinese-linked tech company up to $300M in Trump meme coins.

 

Accountability and Threats to Democracy

 

18. Congressional Republicans Silent: Despite their past criticisms of Democratic improprieties, Republicans have mostly stayed silent on Trump’s corruption.

19. Legal Barriers: Trump’s DOJ won’t investigate him; the Supreme Court has made prosecuting a president for official acts nearly impossible.

20. Use of Pardons: Trump signals he’ll protect supporters with pardons, regardless of the criminality involved.

 

Impact on Governance and Society

 

Some nations and business leaders “want to shift government policy to benefit them, often at the expense of the American people”.

 

 21. Normalization of Kleptocracy: Trump’s actions turn the federal government into a tool for personal profit, damaging faith in democracy.

22. Dangerous Precedent: If Trump’s corruption is accepted, other politicians may follow suit, eroding democratic norms and institutions.

23. Economic Risks: Corruption harms economic growth and investor confidence; the U.S. risks becoming a kleptocracy.

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Call to Action: Voters must recognize and reject this corruption; otherwise, the damage to American governance and credibility will deepen.

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