American presidents hold our fortunes in their hands. For some, this is life itself. The fallen in good wars and bad are too many to count. Economic fluctuations can be laid at the door of presidents. Most certainly, particular policies and policy decisions have had results that can be attributed to this or that chief executive. But instances of pure profiteering by presidents are are scarce and blatent profiteering ought to be seen by all Americans as a red flag. Why then is not Donald Trump called to account for being the blatant profiteer that he is?
The record of this is not hidden. There is nothing obscure about Trump's potential for gain every day that he occupies the pinnacle of American power. The only thing missing is a daily accounting of the receipts that come in from all over the world, building the fortunes of one man. His sons Eric and Donald Jr. have that information.
Though the use of Trump's estate in Florida as an adjunct to the White House and the frequency of Trump's time there represent an expense, it is small change compared to the empire in process of formation. The foundation of that empire is Trump's control over business enterprises that are generating income as we speak. Much of that money now goes to foundations controlled by two Trump sons.
The president has direct control over licensed Trump-branded products that generate income he can claim at will. It is the prospect of gradually filling those foundations with new revenue that suggests a bonanza far in excess of what he may have now. And it is every cent we spend on Trump that gives him the stature to drive business to his existing properties and products.
As time passes, watch the movements of the president's sons Donald, Jr., and Eric. They are already flagged by investigative reporters as prey to conflicts of interest and there can be no question that they will make maximum use of the free rein they have to push every button they can to grow the family fortune. The only projects they have stopped are ones where the optics looked bad.
Nothing says that such projects and new ones cannot be launched in the future.
Trump Sons Forge Ahead Without Father, Expanding and Navigating Conflicts https://t.co/amM2HIETBu
— Stephen C. Rose (@stephencrose) April 17, 2017
If one assumes that Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner are part of the total Trump circle, their prospects are likewise enhanced by their placement next to Trump on a daily basis.
The notion that Trump is unable or unwilling to pursue his personal fortune while in office is unthinkable. That is all he has ever thought about. He has never felt he was not entitled to any advantage within his grasp. What this means is that we have allowed a fox to occupy a chicken coop. The present and future problems of the various Trump foundations will be an ongoing story.
For the moment those Tax returns may be hidden, but we have already as a people tolerated the fox and evidently are unwilling to seriously consider the consequences.
The present and future problems of the various Trump foundations will be an ongoing story. For the moment the president's tax returns may be hidden, but we have already as a people tolerated the fox. It is time we consider the consequences.
