Trump’s Culture of Corruption
Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in U.S. history. The Grant, Harding and Nixon administrations were all marked by rampant corruption. However, those presidents didn’t exploit the power of their office to make themselves, their families and their cronies wealthier.
The Trump I administration was the second most corrupt administration in history. Between 2017–21, Trump profited off special interests and foreign governments holding events at his hotel in Washington. In addition, Trump’s hotels charged his Secret Service protectors exorbitant rates. Trump also made money off his supporters by holding political events at his hotels and golf courses. However, the extent of the corruption in Trump was pretty modest compared to what has occurred since January 20.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) has exposed the staggering level of corruption by Trump since he took office. What follow are excerpts from an opinion piece authored by him that was posted on the Fox “News” website on April 30:
“A Tesla showroom on the White House Lawn. $5 million for 1-on-1 meetings with the president. Illegally firing Inspectors General. Special tariff exemptions for friendly corporations. The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been filled with non-stop acts of brazen corruption, bribery, and favors for Trump’s billionaire friends.
Let’s take one example, which may be the most corrupt of them all: the Trump meme coin. For most people, the crypto industry is an enigma. That’s what makes it a perfect vehicle for corruption.
Right before the inauguration, Trump launched a meme coin called $TRUMP. It has no actual value — its value is simply related to how much demand exists, and as president of the most powerful country in the world, Trump is in a position to use his enormous official power to generate demand for the coin, and in turn, profits for himself and his family.
Last week, the crypto coin scandal went nuclear. Trump posted on the coin’s website: “HAVE DINNER WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP. The most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the World. Only for the TOP 220 $TRUMP Meme Coin Holders.” The price of the coin jumped more than 50%. Its market value soared to $2.7 billion. To juice the price even more, they announced the top 25 coin holders would also be invited to “an Exclusive Reception” before dinner with Trump complete with a “Special VIP Tour” of the White House.
In just two days following the announcement of the dinner, Trump and his allies made nearly $900,000 in trading fees alone. It’s so brazen as to be hard to believe — the president selling access to the White House as a mechanism to enrich himself personally.”
Another alarming feature of this corrupt pay for play scheme is that we don’t know who is purchasing the meme coin and making Trump and his family even wealthier. The purchasers are all anonymous. It could be literally anybody, including foreigners from hostile countries like Russia.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said this about the scheme: “This isn’t Trump just being Trump. The Trump coin scam is the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done. Not close.”
Murphy took the Senate floor on April 30 and delivered a blistering speech about Trump’s corruption. The highlights are as follows:
“Trump ends enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, so that his staff can more easily get paid on the side by foreign governments and companies seeking to bribe the Trump Administration.
The most brazen abuse of prosecutorial power in a generation — the quid pro quo with Mayor Eric Adams.
Trump’s new U.S. Attorney for Washington DC begins his campaign of harassment against Trump and Musk critics. DoJ is now just doing full time political enforcement for Trump.
Trump starts selling meetings with him to CEOs. For $5 million.
Trump turns the White House into a Tesla showroom to make clear that he will boost the profit of any CEO who collaborates with him.
Trump launches a new private club in D.C. with a $500,000 buy in to allow corporations the chance to pay money to have access to Trump’s inner circle.
And this corruption is a big reason his approval ratings are are cratering.”
Trump’s venture into crypto investments has increased the Trump family’s wealth by billions of dollars since the 2024 election, according to a new report from the Group State Democracy Defenders Action.
This group estimated in a new report that the Trump’s crypto holdings now represent nearly 40% of his net worth — or approximately $2.9 billion. That increase is due in part to his release of the $TRUMP and $MELANIA meme coins, in addition to a large stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto exchange affiliated with the Trump family that launched in October 2024.
Trump has done nothing to keep his promise of delivering rapid and fast price cuts beginning on day one. Trump and his family are investing a significant amount of time exploiting his presidency to makes themselves all richer. Trump’s second term corruption far exceeds his self dealing during his first term. The American people didn’t elect Trump and his family to line their own pockets while they raise prices and tank the economy.
We have a big opportunity in the 2026 elections. Trump and the Republican Party are sinking like a stone in the polls since they are wrecking the country. I expect numerous good candidates to run for office across Nebraska and the country since there will be a huge backlash to the MAGA agenda. History shows that the party holding the White House gets blown out in the mid-term elections.
Let us forever be remembered as the generation that saved America from fascism.
Be confident going forward. Take nothing for granted. Keep working hard. If we do the work, we will win!
Sources consulted:
Murphy op/ed on the Fox News site — https://archive.ph/cBf73#selection-3069.4-3077.208
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-family-net-worth-crypto-investments/