Trump Family Made Billions. But is it Illegal?
The news media is giving a lot of negative attention to President Trump’s latest legally required financial disclosure statement. Judging from the reporting you would think that Trump had embezzled the money from an orphan’s fund. Or that he was a key player in the welfare fraud schemes being uncovered across the nation.
What the media reports do not do is determine if Trump has done anything illegal. Most reports dodge that issue – and for good reason. It does not appear that Trump has done anything illegal.
That does not mean that raising all the money – and the manner in which it was raised – is commendable. The tens of millions he raised from royalties on the watches he hawks in television commercials is, to say the least, tacky – boarding on vulgar.
Presidents – and their families – making big money off the presidency is not new. Had he not been President, Obama’s multimillion dollar book sales, and other deals, would not have been worth a trip to Disneyland. President Biden’s family raked in tens of millions of dollars only because he was Vice President and President. His son, Hunter, would not have had e million dollar seat on the Ukraine energy company – and his overpriced paintings would not have been worth a place on the family refrigerator. If it were not for his presidency, Bill and Hillary Clinton would never have made millions of dollars by just appearing at an event or received huge foreign gifts to the Clinton Foundation. And if President Carter had not been in the Oval Office, we never would have had Billy Beer.
Let us face it folks. Modern day politics is a huge money generator. The more prominent the office, the greater the take. Even socialist Senator Bernie Sanders – who rails against the so-called “one percenter” — is a multimillion, a one percenter. And he acquired all those homes and fancy cars that serve in Congress. If he were not in the Senate – and a one-time presidential candite – would not have those lucrative book deals and those high honoraria for speaking engagement. Without once having been House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi would not have had all that insider information from which she and her husband made millions upon millions of dollars.
While we can concede that personal enrichment is a key component of politics, we can also concede that no past President has engaged in the game as effectively as Trump and his family.
The criticism being heaped on Trump is not because he has done anything illegal. No doubt, he has broken traditions and norms – but that has been Trump’s modus operandi since he came down the escalator as presidential candidate more than ten years ago.
Let me be perfectly clear. I strongly disapprove of Trump’s obsession with wealth — and the lengths he goes to gain wealth. I wince every time I see Trump peddling those watches on television. It is crass. It is unseemly. It betrays greediness. It is not what we like to see in our presidents.
On the other hand, the media attention being given to Trump’s finances is excessive and overly negative. CNN’s Jake Tapper spent an entire half-hour segment a condemnatory soliloquy of Trump’s finances. While Tapper was myopically focusing on Trump’s finances, Russia was bombing Kiev, Iran was firing missiles, thousands were dying in the Venezuelan earthquake, the United States was winning soccer games and hardcore left-wing socialists were taking over the Democratic Party.
Yes, Trump’s recent financial disclosure was newsworthy, but the excessive coverage and the hyperbolic negative spin are largely due to two things. First and foremost is the hatred that has resulted in Trump Derangement Syndrome. TDS has corrupted the media.
The second reason for the attacks on Trump is class warfare. In attacking Trump’s wealth, those on the left are pandering to a presumed jealousy we common folks have for the wealthy. Class warfare is part of the Democratic Party playbook.
Trump’s critics compare his economic situation to those of average Americans. That is a false comparison – and they surely know it. Trump’s wealth and my economic condition are not connected in any way.
One of America’s most enduring promises is the ability of any to achieve great success – fame and fortune. Those on the left do not believe in that except for themselves. They amass wealth for themselves but condemn the average citizens to an equality of mutual deprivation.
Like most Americans, I would like to see Trump conduct himself with more dignit and be less pugnacious – but that is not in his DNA. But that does not mean the answer is total divisive and derisive resistance.
As long as nothing is illegal, this writer is not bothered by Trump’s wealth – or that of any of the past presidents. I am bothered more by his inability to bring the Iran conflict to a successful conclusion. I am upset more by his lack of support for Ukraine. I am concerned more by a sluggish economy. Conversely, I am more interested in immigration, sanctuary cities, crime, men in women’s sports, DEI hiring, and the administrative state in Washington – to name a few.
Unless Trump has broken laws – and not just traditions and norms – the increase in his wealth is a newsworthy footnote – a one-day story — but not the cudgel used by hypocritical Democrats and their media cronies.
So, there ‘tis.
What a ridiculous post? (No surprises coming from an ass like Larry). Comparing what the trump crime family is doing to what previous presidents have done is obviously an apples and oranges situation. The examples of money made by Obama and Clinton that you cite were done after leaving office, a major distinction. The fact that that the current President has made billions (not the millions of the prior office holders) by selling goods to individuals wishing to curry favor with him make the graft that he engaged in during trump 1 by owning the hotel at the old post office seem ‘quaint’ by comparison. Not being a lawyer, I can’t rule on whether selling crypto to people wanting to do business with the US government, trading stocks prior to major policy announcements, soliciting donations for pardons, etc is illegal (not mention the 747 he received from Qatar and is expected to go to him when he leaves office) is illegal, but it sure ought to be (can you say impeachable?). To think otherwise, well it makes you sound like a dimwit horist (oh, that’s you isn’t it?)
As long as you waggle your finger saying “tsk, tsk, Don.” I guess it’s OK.
A fool and his money are soon parted; not sure, but might explain Larry’s financial situation no doubt and why he has to sell his book for peanuts.
Larry is hot on Franklin’s: “it’s a Republic, if you can keep it” quip that is always a winner. But wait, there’s more. In the diary of James McHenry (Franklin’s fellow delegate), Franklin expounded on his thought shortly after the famous quote. When asked why it might not be kept, Franklin warned that people are naturally “disposed to eat more of it than does them good, “implying that greed, corruption, and the lust for unchecked power could lead to the republic’s undoing.” I think with Trump we have the trifecta.
In January, the investigations will begin and we will better determine if any laws broken, but Larry is right, why care? Trump as King probably has immunity any way, it would all be for show. Larry continues to suck up, fake rationalize, and ask for more as long as he gets his way. I say: on with the show!
The fact is: there is a huge difference between Larry’s “whataboutism” examples I guess he used to assuage his guilt and Trump’s. The differences I prove are both in magnitude and timing: millions for your defense examples versus billions for the Trump family. On the timing: Trumps are during his time in office, your examples are out of office. I guess if you felt you needed defense, you have none based on your own examples. BUSTED
Further, I am pretty sure the great businessman has never made $2+Billion in so short a time. Previous to the White House, he was probably worth around $4B so he has profited more during his time in office than at any other time in his entire, long, life full of varying degrees of lying, cheating, and gaming the system.
Is it illegal? Tis hard to say at this point especially since there is not much law around crypto.
The preponderance of this windfall tis from his crypto business. Is it immoral? You betcha. From start to finish. Here’s how the scam works. You want Trump access? You want a pardon? You want anything Trump can give you? Buy some Trump crypto, buy a lot. Nobody knows who you are and how much you chipped in. Tis the law. The Trump profit comes from crypto management, load on transactions, not direct deposits or payments. It’s a most excellent loophole for many things, a top one being transparency. Crypto is excellent for cross border payments, America First you know and all the sanctioned countries use it to get around them. Some say it’s the first refuge of mega international criminals in general. The vast preponderance of Trump Presidential revenues, about $1.4B of his $2.2B haul is from crypto dollars. It’s much better for getting his attention than by taking rooms in his hotels. His crypto price sucks, has dropped over 90%, millions have lost over $3.5B and it will go belly up shortly after he leaves office. A few, the rich guys, have prospered, and for some strange reason, some people are still buying huge amounts.
On your facts: you blame Obama and his books. All of his books were published before or after his time in office: BUSTED. Plus, he donated vast amounts of the profits to charity. I am pretty sure Michelle’s were published after his Presidency too.
Does Trump even give to charity beyond our tax dollars? There is no record of him giving $1 to charity in 2024 or 2025. Again, not illegal, just one swell fellow, a boon to all mankind.
For Biden you are vague; I need your specifics on family, not worth researching all your dozen investigations that went nowhere. But Hunter was on the Burisma board in 2014 before his Presidency and quit in 2019 before his Presidency. He and James’s activities were all before 2020 and his Presidency. BUSTED
Bill and Hillary: post his time in office and all Presidents are paid handsomely for speaking out of office. I think it’s a good thing to hear from them. BUSTED
Billy Beer was a financial failure. It tasted bad. BUSTED
“Unless Trump has broken laws – and not just traditions and norms – the increase in his wealth is a newsworthy footnote – a one-day story — but not the cudgel used by hypocritical Democrats and their media cronies.” I can see for a guy who voted for a sex abusing, tax cheating, defamer of women and convicted felon, many times over, does not mind a little immorality even as he LIES to defend him.
Yeah, being called hypocritical by you is a badge of honor. You being Mr. Law and Order, Mr Family Values, Mr. Character and Integrity, your casting disapproval of Democrats is ridiculous. I guess he can just put more in the offering basket, but hey, he never goes to church.
Oye, sigh.