Trump turned the presidency into a lucrative billion business

When Donald Trump promised to “drain the swamp” in Washington, many expected the end of the old politics. What followed, however, was a presidency that turned the most powerful position in the world into an extension of a business empire – with figures and practices that, according to journalist Peter Baker do New York Timeshave surpassed all the ethical and legal limits known in US history.

In recent months, the Trump family has earned about $ 320 million with a cryptocurrency launched on behalf of the president, promoted billionaire developments abroad and started a private club in Washington with quotas of $ 500,000. All this while Trump occupies the White House again.

Much more than Arab jewels, and institutional silence

The most notorious case came from Qatar: A $ 200 million luxury jet was formally donated to the Air Force, but assigned to personal use of Trump, including his future presidential library. This goes beyond the value of all gifts received by previous presidents – added.

The White House denied any irregularity. “The president is fulfilling all the laws of conflict of interest that are applicable to the president,” said Karoline Leavitt, the presidential spokesman. But as Trump himself has already said publicly, these laws do not apply to him.

There are no investigations ongoing-the president himself has removed inspectors, emptied regulatory agencies, and ensured that the Republican Congress will not promote hearings. For experts, it is a systematic disarticulation of ethical control mechanisms.

The ethics that went out

In other times, much lower profits generated commotion. When Hillary Clinton earned $ 100,000 with future cattle investments even before her husband took over the presidency, the reaction was fierce and the White House had to open a review. Today, Melania Trump can pocket $ 28 million with a documentary sponsored by Jeff Bezos without further repercussions.

“Or the audience never cared about corruption,” said Paul Rosenzweig, Ken Starr’s investigation counselor against Bill Clinton, “or is too exhausted to react now.” He bets on a mixture of both.

Gulf money, republican silence

Much of the new richness of the Trump family comes from the Middle East. In addition to the jet donated by Qatar, Trump and his allies closed business with Arab monarchies – the same countries he criticized Hillary Clinton for accepting donations, although, in that case, to a philanthropic foundation.

Now the profits go straight to personal accounts of Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Jared Kushner. Even so, Congress, which dedicated years to investigate Hunter Biden for much lower values, ignores the new commercial arrangement of the presidential family.

“Walled corruption” – and public indifference

The accumulation of episodes led jurist Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21 to a hard conclusion: “There is nothing in American history that approaches the use of the presidency for massive personal gain.” According to him, Trump occupies “the top ten” in any presidential corruption ranking.

But the lack of institutional or popular response is still the most alarming aspect. Even when a Harvard/Caps Harris survey revealed that 62% of Americans see ethical problems in Qatar’s gift, the reaction was mild.

Ben Shapiro, Laura Loomer and even Tucker Carlson – Trump’s influential supporters – expressed discomfort. But it was not enough to mobilize action yet.

Will the account arrive?

Peter Baker ends his analysis with a note of hope. For administration critics, abuse size may eventually be their ruin. “It will take some time,” says Wertheimer, “but it will reach it.”

Trump, who once promised to clean American politics, may actually have redefined what it tolerates. If this new normality will be reversed – or consolidated – is still uncertain. But the presidency as a private business seems, for now, to have come out victorious.