By Mary Jones & Don Terry | Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 5 min read
Donald Trump once sold himself as a dealmaker—a businessman who’d bring boardroom savvy to Washington. But if the last few months of his return to power have proven anything, it’s that the only deals he’s making are the ones that benefit himself and his family. Forget trade pacts. Forget middle-class tax relief. Forget lowering grocery prices or easing housing costs. Trump isn’t cutting deals for the American people—he’s cutting deals on the American people.
In just over 100 days, Trump’s administration has been a masterclass in self-dealing. While families struggle with rising prices and shrinking safety nets, the Trump empire is booming with new hotels, private clubs, political payoffs, and even TV deals. This isn’t governance. It’s grift at industrial scale.
Let’s break down how America’s most powerful office became a grift machine.
1. The Tesla Photo Op That Turned Into $100 Million
It started with what looked like a gimmick: a couple of Teslas parked on the South Lawn, a publicity stunt with Elon Musk. But behind the scenes, it was a bailout disguised as a back-pat. Tesla stock had cratered, bleeding value by the billions. Musk needed a miracle—and Trump delivered, giving Tesla a presidential seal of approval with a flashy photo op and a livestream on X.
The kicker? Not long after the cameras stopped rolling, Musk pledged a staggering $100 million to Trump’s political operation. One photo. One Model S. One nine-figure donation. The White House was used like a glorified car lot, and the taxpayers got nothing but fumes.
2. Trump’s Golf Habit—Funded By You
While America teeters on economic edge, Trump spends more time on the fairway than in the Situation Room. In just his first 100 days, he’s already spent a quarter of his days on the golf course. And not just any course—his courses.
You’re not just paying for Secret Service protection. You’re paying for Trump-branded golf carts, overpriced meals, hotel stays, and logistics—all flowing money directly into his businesses. Estimates suggest Trump’s golf habit has already cost taxpayers over $30 million this term alone. That’s your rent. Your food assistance. Your child’s school lunch—all funding his tee times.
3. Melania’s $40 Million Documentary Deal
While Americans are being told to tighten their belts, Melania Trump is cashing in with a documentary reportedly licensed by Amazon for $40 million. That’s not a typo. Forty million in cash straight into the Trump family’s coffers, all for an “unprecedented” behind-the-scenes look at a former First Lady who barely wanted to be in the spotlight to begin with.
But it doesn’t stop there. Her agent has reportedly been shopping sponsorships for the film starting at $10 million. And if you’ve got that kind of money lying around, you too could have your name in the credits—and maybe a cozy invite to the premiere.
4. The Private Club Called ‘The Executive Branch’
In a brazen nod to cronyism, the Trump family is opening a new private club in Washington, D.C., called—wait for it—The Executive Branch. A half-million-dollar membership fee gets you access to the ultimate power-broker lounge: champagne, caviar, and access to those pulling the strings of American government.
It’s not just a club—it’s a shakedown. A place where wealthy insiders pay tribute to Trump for influence, access, and maybe a sweetheart deal or two. Want to do business in America under Trump? Better pay the cover charge.
5. A Golden Tower Rising in Dubai
Even as Trump re-enters the Oval Office, his attention seems fixated on real estate—particularly in the Gulf. While Americans back home face unaffordable housing, Trump is cutting ribbon on an 80-floor tower in Dubai. Apartments start at $2 million. Penthouses? In the tens of millions.
But it’s not just housing. The development also includes an “ultra-exclusive” members-only club. The message is clear: Trump is running a global luxury brand out of the presidency. The perks don’t trickle down—they get wired straight to his bank account.
6. The Crypto Pipeline: From MAGA to the Gulf
But perhaps the most underreported grift is the one flowing through the blockchain.
Trump has quietly become a crypto kingpin—launching NFTs, taking “contributions” in Bitcoin, and cutting undisclosed deals with crypto platforms across the Middle East. While his supporters rail against “globalists,” Trump is brokering backdoor token trades in Dubai and Riyadh.
Multiple reports suggest Trump-affiliated shell companies have been used to funnel millions in anonymous crypto donations—outside the reach of campaign finance law and U.S. regulators. And those same crypto whales? Some are landing sweetheart oil and infrastructure contracts with minimal oversight.
Crypto is the perfect grift vehicle: untraceable, volatile, hype-driven. And Trump is riding it like he’s back on The Apprentice—except this time, the stakes are national sovereignty.
This Isn’t Just Corruption—It’s a Business Model
Trump’s presidency is no longer just about power. It’s a marketing tool, a loyalty rewards program, a televised infomercial for the Trump Organization. He’s not hiding it. In fact, he’s daring us to stop him.
Food assistance? Slashed. Medicaid? Under attack. Social Security offices? Closed. But for Trump and his circle, it’s a golden age of grift. The rest of us are just the marks.
The Graft is the Point
Trump’s defenders will say he’s just doing what any businessman would do. But that’s the problem—he’s not supposed to be a businessman anymore. He’s the President of the United States. And instead of serving the people, he’s serving himself.
The next time someone says Trump is a dealmaker, ask them: for whom?
Because for the average American, the only thing Trump has delivered is a bill. A big, bloated, taxpayer-funded invoice for his own luxury, legacy, and political war chest.
And unless we do something about it, we’ll be the ones left holding the bag—again.
Copyright 2025 FN, NewsRoom.
