The REAL cost of Presidential Corruption

When corruption becomes justified through 'whataboutism,' the shared values that define our country crumble from within

Unprecedented Profiteering from the Presidency

Donald Trump’s time in office has brought something new — and dangerous — into American politics: a president who turns the presidency into a personal cash machine. It’s not even subtle.

A New York Times investigation found that Trump’s family has made more than $320 million from things like crypto deals, real estate ventures — not to mention the private jet from Qatar worth $400 million. And yes, he plans to keep the jet.

Past presidents had scandals — remember Watergate or Teapot Dome? But this is something different. Trump’s kids, like Don Jr., Eric, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, used their family name and political power to ink deals with foreign governments and big businesses. They didn’t even try to hide it.

The Stark Reality of Open Corruption

Here are just a few wild examples:

• Melania Trump scored a $40 million movie deal, bankrolled by Jeff Bezos, which was reportedly more than 4 times any other bid and the most Amazon has ever paid for a documentary.

• The Trump family opened a fancy D.C. club called "Executive Branch" with a $500,000 entry fee.

• Trump hosted a dinner where crypto investors paid just to be in the room—this wasn’t for a campaign, but a business that benefits him personally.

• Trump’s sons now say they’re done pretending to hold back. They’re going all in.

• Qatar is gifting the United States a $400 million Boeing 747 “flying palace”, which will cost at least $1 billion for the Department of Defense to retrofit into Air Force One. That may sound like a decent deal until you hear Trump plans to take the plane with him when he leaves office.

A majority of Americans — 62% — think the Qatar jet gift is shady. Still, many Trump supporters look the other way, saying, “Well, Hunter Biden did stuff too.” That’s not a defense; it’s an excuse. And it’s a dangerous one.

The Dangers of Normalization

Here’s the real danger: we get used to it.

Trump has torn down the usual checks and balances. Watchdogs, inspectors general, and Congress? He’s either ignored them, fired them, or filled their seats with loyalists.

And once this becomes normal, future leaders — Democrat or Republican — might think it’s okay to do the same. Paul Rosenzweig, who worked on the Clinton investigation in the 90s, said maybe Americans never really cared about corruption. Or maybe we’re just exhausted.

Even worse? The back-and-forth blame game. Trump’s fans say, "What about Hunter Biden?" And if a Democrat did something shady, some on the left might shrug and say, "Well, Trump did worse." That spiral downward is not how democracy stays healthy. That’s how we all lose faith in the system.

Hope Through Accountability and Action

It’s not all bad news. Some pro-Trump voices on the right — like Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro — are speaking out about the corruption (not so much in the “this is wrong” way, more in the “this looks bad and could make us lose” way). People are protesting. And some Republicans are losing special elections because voters are tired of the grift.

People are paying attention. Groups like Bright America — alongside our strategic partner Campaign Legal Center — are fighting back. More Americans are calling for transparency and fairness, no matter who’s in power.

Steps Toward Restoring Integrity

We might not be able to stop every corrupt move before 2029, but we don’t have to accept it. Here’s what we can do:

• Call out corruption — especially if it’s someone on your own “side.”

• Support strong ethics laws and independent watchdogs (even if change feels far off).

• Don’t fall into the the “whatabout” trap.

• Vote like integrity matters. Because it does.

• Talk to friends and family about why this stuff isn’t normal—and shouldn’t ever be.

• Tell your legislators, whether they’re looking the other way or not, that you are paying attention and don’t approve.

Defending Our Democracy

America’s still got a chance to get this right. But it starts with us.

This chapter in our history doesn’t have to define us. We’ve weathered storms before, and we can again — but only if we refuse to let corruption become just another part of the job.

Let’s not forget who we are. Let’s expect better. And let’s prove, together, that character, ethics, and the Constitution still matter.