Donald Trump's presidency has been a litmus test for the country's adherence to rule of law and integrity. In his first term, he skirted around ethics guidelines by entrusting his assets to his children, sparking lawsuits and concerns over conflicts of interest. However, it was during his second term that Trump truly kicked open the door to blatant corruption.
After taking office in November 2024, Trump has continued to flout even the appearance of adhering to ethical standards. The presidential transition process was delayed due to a lack of internal ethics guidance from the campaign team, and the inauguration fund received millions of dollars from corporate donors eager to curry favor with the new administration. These actions set the tone for the administration's approach to governance.
Trump has also taken steps to circumvent accountability by using his power to shield himself from prosecution. A Trump benefactor donated $130 million to stave off a major liability and cover service members' paychecks during the government shutdown, while corporate donations have funded a new ballroom at the former Eleanor Roosevelt office space. These actions have been widely criticized for their lack of transparency and excessive influence by corporate interests.
The Revolving Door Project's Corruption Calendar has documented numerous examples of Trump's administration engaging in corrupt practices, from meddling in the sale of Warner Brothers-Discovery to ensuring that his longtime supporters can expand their media empire. The sheer frequency and scale of these incidents are striking, and it's becoming increasingly clear that this administration is the logical endpoint of a long-standing tradition of elite impunity.
Trump himself is a product of this system, having built a career on evading laws related to bankruptcy, financial fraud, and racial discrimination. In office, he has employed a "blitzscaling" model, which involves breaking the law faster than anyone can keep up with it. This strategy has become a hallmark of Trump 2.0, making it impossible to tackle any single instance of corruption without two more springing up in its place.
The answer to restoring rule of law and integrity is not simply to elect more reasonable politicians or to go back to the halcyon days when everyone knew the legal code was merely a suggestion for corporate titans. The real challenge lies in confronting the systemic problems that have enabled elite corruption for decades. As long as the two tracks of our justice system diverge, the game stays rigged, and Trump's appeal to America's id will remain firmly entrenched.
To dislodge this hold on government and restore the rule of law, Democrats will need to decide who they are – and who they'll fight for. They must be willing to take a stand against corporate influence and corruption, even if it means challenging the status quo. It won't be easy, but the alternative is unthinkable: an authoritarian takeover of the US government that erodes the very foundations of democracy.
As The Intercept continues to cover this story, we urge our readers to join us in demanding greater accountability from those in power. We are independent of corporate interests and rely on your support to continue our vital work. Will you help us?
After taking office in November 2024, Trump has continued to flout even the appearance of adhering to ethical standards. The presidential transition process was delayed due to a lack of internal ethics guidance from the campaign team, and the inauguration fund received millions of dollars from corporate donors eager to curry favor with the new administration. These actions set the tone for the administration's approach to governance.
Trump has also taken steps to circumvent accountability by using his power to shield himself from prosecution. A Trump benefactor donated $130 million to stave off a major liability and cover service members' paychecks during the government shutdown, while corporate donations have funded a new ballroom at the former Eleanor Roosevelt office space. These actions have been widely criticized for their lack of transparency and excessive influence by corporate interests.
The Revolving Door Project's Corruption Calendar has documented numerous examples of Trump's administration engaging in corrupt practices, from meddling in the sale of Warner Brothers-Discovery to ensuring that his longtime supporters can expand their media empire. The sheer frequency and scale of these incidents are striking, and it's becoming increasingly clear that this administration is the logical endpoint of a long-standing tradition of elite impunity.
Trump himself is a product of this system, having built a career on evading laws related to bankruptcy, financial fraud, and racial discrimination. In office, he has employed a "blitzscaling" model, which involves breaking the law faster than anyone can keep up with it. This strategy has become a hallmark of Trump 2.0, making it impossible to tackle any single instance of corruption without two more springing up in its place.
The answer to restoring rule of law and integrity is not simply to elect more reasonable politicians or to go back to the halcyon days when everyone knew the legal code was merely a suggestion for corporate titans. The real challenge lies in confronting the systemic problems that have enabled elite corruption for decades. As long as the two tracks of our justice system diverge, the game stays rigged, and Trump's appeal to America's id will remain firmly entrenched.
To dislodge this hold on government and restore the rule of law, Democrats will need to decide who they are – and who they'll fight for. They must be willing to take a stand against corporate influence and corruption, even if it means challenging the status quo. It won't be easy, but the alternative is unthinkable: an authoritarian takeover of the US government that erodes the very foundations of democracy.
As The Intercept continues to cover this story, we urge our readers to join us in demanding greater accountability from those in power. We are independent of corporate interests and rely on your support to continue our vital work. Will you help us?
Trump's presidency is literally a cancer on American democracy 
I'm so done with the excuses about "fake news" or "deep state" conspiracies. It's time for Democrats to own up to their role in enabling this mess and take bold action against corporate corruption 
The problem goes way deeper than just one president – it's a systemic issue that requires a fundamental transformation of our politics and governance 
If we don't address the Revolving Door and its influence on policy, we'll never see real change 
I'm all for holding politicians accountable, but some of these corporate deals are just plain disturbing 
What's next? A government run by billionaires and lobbyists? No thanks! 
We need to fundamentally redefine what it means to be a champion of democracy 
...trump's been playing the game of corruption for years, and now it's come to head. but honestly, i think we're still gonna get away with it...the system's too broken, and we're all just complicit in our own way. i mean, when you've got a president who's basically a billionaire playboy, what do you expect? the idea that he's somehow above the law is just laughable...but at the same time, it's also kinda true 
. and until we acknowledge that this is a systemic problem, not just a trump problem, we'll never really fix it. so yeah, democrats need to take a stand against corporate influence, but they gotta be willing to get their hands dirty too...it's not gonna be pretty, but someone's gotta do it 
Corruption is a major issue in the US 
! Trump's presidency has shown that when rich people have too much influence, shady deals can happen 
. It's not just about Trump, it's about the system that allows this kind of corruption to thrive 
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. The fact that corporate donations can fund fancy offices and salaries is just not right 
. And let's be real, Trump's "blitzscaling" strategy is just a nice way of saying he's breaking the law with reckless abandon 
. Every little bit counts, so let's make our voices heard and demand change! 
. The fact that his team was so clueless about ethics guidelines during the transition process? Yeah, that's not exactly reassuring 
. But let's be real, this is what happens when you've got a system rigged against transparency and accountability 
. The answer lies in confronting those systemic problems, not just electing more "reasonable" politicians 
. We need to stand up to corporate influence and corruption, even if it means rocking the boat 
. The game stays rigged until we take back control! 
newsflash: that's not how democracy works, dude! 
but until then, we're stuck watching this mess unfold and wondering when it'll all come crashing down 
. It's all about who you know and what connections you have, not about doing what's right by the people. The whole thing with corporate donations and shady dealings just reeks of corruption 
. I mean, he's been playing this game for years, trying to get away with as much as possible. The whole thing just seems too cozy with corporate America for me 
. It's like they're all in on it together, and that's what really worries me. We need to take a hard look at how our system is rigged against the little guy and start making some real changes 
. Can't let Trump's crew get away with this stuff forever 
It's like they think the law doesn't apply to them or something. The whole thing is just messed up, especially with all these corporate donations going into the inauguration fund. I mean, what's the point of even having an election if it's just gonna be a rigged game from the start? 
. It's clear as day that he's got no qualms about flouting ethics guidelines and taking money from corporate donors - it's like he's sayin', "Hey, I'm above the law!" 
Not on my watch, buddy! We need to take a stand against corporate influence and corruption - it's time for some real change 
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. We need some real leadership on this issue - not just some empty promises or hand-wringin' 
. We need to start holding those with power accountable and not let corporate interests run the show 
. It feels like no one's holding him accountable for his actions, and it's getting to the point where I think he's more interested in serving his own interests than the country as a whole 
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. But at the same time, I'm not convinced that even their efforts will be enough to take down an administration as entrenched in corruption as this one 
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