Trump's New Hustles Demand a Day of Reckoning

The former president's alleged corruption and self-enrichment schemes during his time in office are finally catching up to him.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The article details numerous allegations of corruption and self-enrichment by former President Donald Trump and his family during his time in office. It cites examples such as the Trump family's business deals with authoritarian regimes, the granting of pardons to well-connected allies, and the disproportionate flow of Trump's clemency to the wealthy and well-connected. The article argues that Trump's personal wealth has increased dramatically since his inauguration, suggesting he has used the presidency to enrich himself and his family in unprecedented ways.

Why it matters

These allegations of corruption and self-dealing by a former U.S. president are extremely serious and could have major implications for the integrity of American democracy. If proven true, they would represent an unprecedented abuse of presidential power for personal gain and could undermine public trust in government institutions.

The details

The article cites numerous examples of alleged corruption and self-enrichment by Trump, including: 1) Crypto.com's $35 million in donations to Trump's MAGA Inc. SuperPAC, shortly after the Trump administration's Commodities Futures Trading Commission intervened on Crypto.com's behalf in a federal lawsuit; 2) The UAE's $500 million investment in Trump's new crypto scheme, which coincided with the UAE securing an agreement with the Trump administration to export advanced AI chips; 3) The Saudi government's $2 billion investment in Jared Kushner's firm, shortly after Trump and Kushner backed the Saudi-UAE blockade of Qatar and defended the Saudi crown prince after the Khashoggi killing; 4) Millions of dollars the Saudis paid to host Trump's LIV Golf Tournaments at his golf courses; 5) Ivanka Trump receiving dozens of valuable Chinese trademarks while serving as a White House advisor, shortly before her father reversed course on trade and tech confrontations with China; 6) Trump's pardon pipeline, which has disproportionately benefited well-connected political allies, donors, and figures like the Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio.

  • Trump was inaugurated as president in January 2021.
  • In February 2023, the Trump administration's Commodities Futures Trading Commission intervened on Crypto.com's behalf in a federal lawsuit, 25 days after Crypto.com made a $35 million donation to Trump's MAGA Inc. SuperPAC.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who is accused of using his time in office to enrich himself and his family through various corrupt schemes and business deals.

Jared Kushner

Trump's son-in-law who served as a senior White House advisor and is alleged to have received a $2 billion investment from the Saudi government shortly after Trump and Kushner backed the Saudi-UAE blockade of Qatar and defended the Saudi crown prince after the Khashoggi killing.

Ivanka Trump

Trump's daughter who served as a senior White House advisor and is alleged to have received dozens of valuable Chinese trademarks shortly before her father reversed course on trade and tech confrontations with China.

Changpeng Zhao

The billionaire founder of Crypto.com who pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money-laundering laws, but was later granted clemency by Trump.

Ross Ulbricht

The operator of the Silk Road online marketplace who was serving a life sentence for running what was allegedly the world's largest hub for trading in illegal guns, narcotics, and human trafficking, but was pardoned by Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Rumors have been flying for years — ever since Rudy Giuliani apparently confessed during Trump's first term he and Trump were selling pardons for $2 million each and splitting the money — that Trump is at it again, taking what look like bribes for everything from pardons to business deals to regulatory and tariff relief.”

— Thom Hartmann, Author (alternet.org)

“An investment firm tied to the United Arab Emirates purchased nearly half of the Trump family's cryptocurrency company last year, making the family business partners with the U.A.E. even as President Trump negotiated foreign policy matters with the Middle Eastern nation …'At the same time that the crypto deal came together, the Emirati government secured an agreement with the Trump administration for the export of hundreds of thousands of advanced chips to power A.I. technology.'”

— The New York Times (The New York Times)

What’s next

The article suggests that the allegations of corruption and self-enrichment against Trump demand a 'day of reckoning' and could have major implications for the integrity of American democracy. However, it does not specify any clear next steps or future newsworthy events related to this story.

The takeaway

These allegations, if proven true, would represent an unprecedented abuse of presidential power for personal gain and could severely undermine public trust in U.S. government institutions. The article argues that Trump has followed a formula similar to that of Russian President Vladimir Putin in using the presidency to enrich himself and his family, and that this corruption must be thoroughly investigated and accounted for.