The rank corruption of Donald Trump, his family, and his associates is clear for anyone with eyes to see. Trump has figured out how to turn politics and ultimately public policy into the family business.
Politics should be about public service, not self enrichment and personal power. But, you know, the fish rots from the head.
As if this isn’t bad enough, this deep and abiding corruption is an actual clear and present danger to the country we all love.
Look at any failed state, and you’ll find deep corrpution.
Corruption & Failed States
You don’t have to take my word for it. Foreign policy experts have known this for many years.
Sarah Chayes and Thieves of State: On her official site detailing her book Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security, Chayes explicitly outlines how kleptocratic governments operate as criminal syndicates, driving populations toward extremism.
Afghanistan: She documents how the predatory corruption of the US-backed government pushed Afghans to return to the Taliban.
Nigeria: She directly links the rise of the Islamist terror group Boko Haram to populations reacting against systemic, unpunished state corruption.
Egypt: She cites Egyptians overthrowing the Mubarak government as a primary example of public outrage over elite economic exploitation leading to a systemic uprising.
Robert H. Bates: In his analysis of political economy and state collapse (most notably in his book When Things Fell Apart: State Failure in Late-Century Africa), Bates famously described state failure as the “implosion of the state,” diagnosing that it occurs when the state transforms into an “instrument of predation” rather than a provider of public goods.
Robert I. Rotberg: In his seminal text When States Fail: Causes and Consequences, Rotberg establishes the framework for how states collapse, explicitly noting that as a state weakens, levels of “venal corruption are embarrassingly high and escalating”.
44 Instances Where Trump, His Family, or His Associates Have Exploited His Presidency For Financial Gain
Until yesterday, when Republican Senator John Curtis requested an investigation into Donald Trump, Jr., you would have barely heard a peep from Republicans about Trump’s glaring corruption.
Better late than never, I guess?
Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebrations were financed by Umar Kremlev. The Russian businessman and International Boxing Association president reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for celebrations in the Bahamas, including private-island expenses and fireworks. Trump Jr. and his wife acknowledged that Kremlev hosted two nights of celebrations, describing them as a wedding gift. This represents a personal financial benefit through expenses paid on their behalf. Republican Sen. John Curtis subsequently requested a Senate Judiciary investigation and a subpoena for Trump Jr., seeking scrutiny of whether presidential family relationships were used for private financial benefit.
President Trump said his son had repaid (or was repaying) Kremlev. ABC reported that neither the president nor the Trump Organization had provided evidence of repayment. We’ve seen this movie before.
World Liberty Financial token sales. Trump and his family receive proceeds from sales of the venture’s cryptocurrency tokens. His disclosure reported approximately $526 million from token sales in 2025. The venture also financially involves the family of Trump’s diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff.
Selling a World Liberty stake to UAE-connected investors. An investment vehicle backed by UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon agreed to purchase 49% for $500 million shortly before the 2025 inauguration. Reporting identified $187 million for Trump-family entities and at least $31 million for Witkoff-family entities from the initial payment. The company and White House denied that the deal influenced policy. Heh.
World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin. The business earns income connected to reserves backing its dollar-linked cryptocurrency. Reuters estimated approximately $50 million for the Trump family through June 2026. UAE-backed MGX’s use of USD1 for its Binance investment helped expand the product.
The $TRUMP meme coin. Trump’s disclosure reported a $635 million licensing agreement for 2025 associated with the coin. This directly commercializes his name and political following.
ALT5 Sigma, subsequently renamed AI Financial Corp. This public company raised money and bought World Liberty tokens. Reuters estimated that more than $500 million from its purchases flowed to the Trump family. This overlaps with World Liberty token income and should not be counted twice.
American Bitcoin. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. obtained interests in the bitcoin-mining venture. Reuters reported that Eric’s restricted shares were worth more than $70 million at the end of April 2026, despite substantial declines.
Trump and Melania digital collectibles/NFTs. Their licensed digital collections generated disclosed income. For 2024, Trump reported approximately $1.16 million, and Melania approximately $216,700.
Trump Media & Technology Group/Truth Social. The public listing created a valuable, highly volatile ownership stake for Trump. Transferring shares into his revocable trust did not eliminate his beneficial interest.
Gulf real-estate licensing. Trump-branded projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Qatar generate licensing income. Reporting on his 2025 disclosure identified $38 million in fees from Gulf projects. Some developments involve government-owned land or government-linked partners.
Other overseas property deals. His 2024 disclosure included $5 million from a Vietnam development and $10 million in development fees from an Indian project.
Foreign-government spending at Trump properties. House Oversight Democrats, using accounting records, documented at least $7.8 million from 20 foreign governments during his first presidency. Payments included hotel stays and property-related expenditures.
Secret Service spending at Trump properties. Protecting Trump and his family generated payments to his businesses for accommodations and related services. CREW’s records-based investigation identified roughly $1.75 million, while noting incomplete records. These are YOUR TAX DOLLARS going into Trump’s pocket.
Campaign and Republican political spending at his businesses. Campaign committees, fundraising organizations, and the RNC paid Trump businesses for aircraft, lodging, rent, catering, and events. FEC-based reporting documents millions in such payments across election cycles.
Mar-a-Lago membership and hospitality. The club monetizes memberships, events, and accommodations at a location closely associated with presidential access. Reported revenue rose from approximately $50 million in 2024 to $77 million in 2025.
Saudi-backed LIV Golf events. Trump courses receive money for hosting LIV tournaments. An income statement examined by Forbes showed approximately $800,000 for one 2022 tournament; that is not a total for the relationship.
Sale of the Washington hotel lease. The Trump Organization sold its leasehold interest for $375 million in 2022. Reporting before closing estimated a potential profit around $100 million.
Branded merchandise and publishing. Bibles, watches, sneakers, fragrances, books, and other licensed products generate royalties. His 2024 disclosure included $1.3 million from the Greenwood Bible, $2.8 million from watches, and $2.5 million from sneakers and fragrances.
Melania Trump’s Amazon documentary deal. Amazon agreed to pay $40 million for documentary and related project rights.
Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund committed $2 billion to the firm. Senate investigators reported approximately $157 million in management fees from foreign clients through the period examined in 2024, including $87 million from Saudi Arabia.
The Kushner family’s 666 Fifth Avenue lease transaction. Brookfield took a 99-year lease on the troubled property, providing a major financial rescue for the family’s investment. Congressional documentation identifies approximately $1.1 billion in prepaid rent.
Donald Trump Jr.’s Executive Branch private club. The Washington membership business commercializes an exclusive social environment associated with administration insiders. Memberships were advertised at prices reaching $500,000.
Political fundraising used to pay legal expenses. Trump-aligned committees paid extensive legal bills for Trump and associates, reducing expenses they otherwise might have needed to fund. Save America had spent more than $55 million on legal bills since early 2023 by March 2024.
Vulcan Elements and Donald Trump Jr.’s 1789 Capital. After 1789 invested, the magnet manufacturer received a $620 million conditional federal loan commitment, alongside a proposed $50 million Commerce incentive.
Other 1789 Capital defense investments. A Senate inquiry identified awards to portfolio companies including Cerebras Systems, $45 million; PsiQuantum, $10.8 million; and Firehawk Aerospace, $4.9 million.
Unusual Machines. Trump Jr. became an adviser to this drone-component company. It subsequently received Army orders for motors and other components. Its business also benefits from policies favoring domestic drone supply chains.
Powerus and related Trump-son investments. Donald Jr. and Eric have financial connections to the drone venture through the announced corporate combination and investment vehicles. By September 2026, reporting documented a Pakistan military agreement and an initial order.
Polymarket and 1789 Capital. Trump Jr.’s investment firm acquired a stake in the prediction-market company, which benefited from the closing of a federal investigation and regulatory developments reopening U.S. access. Congressional investigators are examining the relationship.
Vaping Company Juul and 1789 Capital. Congressional investigators reported that 1789 acquired a stake before the FDA authorized five Juul products for marketing.
World Liberty’s banking authorization. In August 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved a bank charter for the Trump-connected business. This is a direct regulatory advantage enabling its operations.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and military-space spending. SpaceX received a $4.16 billion satellite award in May 2026, following another $2.29 billion communications-network contract that week. These support Musk’s business, including capabilities relevant to Golden Dome.
Peter Thiel’s Palantir and expanded government software procurement. Palantir benefits from military and other federal contracts. The Army’s 2025 enterprise agreement established a $10 billion ceiling, consolidating existing procurement arrangements.
Larry Ellison’s Oracle and the TikTok restructuring. The administration-supported arrangement gave Oracle a 15% interest in the new U.S. venture, plus a central security and data role.
Howard Lutnick’s family and Cantor Fitzgerald’s cryptocurrency businesses. Cantor’s Tether relationship and subsequent crypto ventures provide business opportunities for the firm now led by his sons. Lutnick transferred his Cantor interest as he entered government.
Trump-connected lobbying firms. Brian Ballard’s firm reported approximately $88.3 million in lobbying revenue in 2025. Clients sought help navigating the administration’s tax, trade, regulatory, and other decisions.
Pass-through business tax deductions. The 2017 tax law created a deduction of up to 20% of qualifying business income, relevant to the kinds of entities used by Trump and other wealthy business owners.
Estate and gift-tax advantages. Higher exemptions favor wealthy families transferring assets. The 2025 legislation established a $15 million estate-tax exclusion for 2026. This is a potential wealth-transfer benefit to Trump-family members and wealthy associates.
Opportunity Zone tax incentives. The 2017 law created preferential capital-gains treatment for qualifying investments. Cadre, the real-estate investment business co-founded by Kushner, pursued investments using the program.
Crypto-friendly legislation and reduced enforcement. The administration’s regulatory changes and the GENIUS Act’s stablecoin framework benefited the industry in which the Trump and Witkoff families operate. The policy overlap is documented.
The $MELANIA meme coin. The venture generated substantial trading activity and revenue, but its ownership and revenue-sharing arrangements do not establish how much Melania personally received.
Chinese trademarks for Donald and Ivanka Trump. China granted valuable intellectual-property protections while they held office. .
Media-company settlements. Paramount’s $16 million settlement and substantial portions of other settlements were designated for Trump’s presidential library or other purposes. YouTube’s settlement directed $22 million toward the White House ballroom through the Trust for the National Mall.
Qatar’s aircraft. The aircraft was accepted by the U.S. government. As of August 2026, the White House said no final decision had been made about its post-presidency disposition. Whatever.
Kushner’s additional acquisitions and development projects. Affinity’s participation in the Electronic Arts acquisition is confirmed.
As I argued in the article below, the only way to end this corruption is to reject Republicans up and down the ballot. From the top to the bottom. From the bottom to the top.
I Want the Grand Old Party Back
In 1974, Republican senators walked across the White House lawn and told a Republican president his time was up.
David
Chaska Protests
Every Friday from 3:00–4:00 p.m. at the corner of Chaska Blvd. and Chestnut Street (Highway 41) [Map]
Every Saturday from 1-2 pm at the corner of Hazeltine Boulevard and Highway 41 (Chestnut) [Map]
Chanhassen Protests
Every Saturday: 1st & 3rd Saturdays from 10-11am at Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 5.
Park at Discovery United Methodist Church. We have permission to park there.
2nd, 4th and 5th Saturday from 10-11am at W 78th and Kerber Boulevard.
Sign library is available.
Norwood Young America
Every Sunday, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. (Line up at the bike path south of Highway 212 and Faxon.)
Victoria
Every Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 pm on the corner of Highway 5 and Victoria Drive/County Rd 11.
Waconia
Every Saturday from 11:30-12:30 pm at Highway 5 and County Road 10 in front of the Starbucks and Jersey Mike’s. [Map]
SW Protectors
Every first and third Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. It’s no cost and come and go as you like.
Please do buy something to eat or drink, though, to support our venue, which is The Golden Kitchen and is located at 207 N Chestnut Street #110 in Chaska. [Map]