How Trump's business ventures conflict with his presidential duties
Image: Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP
President Donald Trump just launched a fragrance called Trump Victory 45 - 47, part of the "Fight Fight Fight Collection". The lid of the $249 (R4 427) bottle is a (obviously) gold statuette of Trump, tummy flat, shoulders back, looking like the Oscar for Best President in the World Ever. You get $100 off if you buy two.
The President's fragrances, for there is one for boys, one for girls, is "For Patriots Who Never Back Down, Like President Trump. This Scent Is Your Rallying Cry In A Bottle. Featuring Trump's Iconic Image And Raised Fist, This Limited-Edition Cologne Embodies Strength, Power, And Victory." And yes, the first letter of every word is capitalised.
Since Trump took office, the Trump Store launched 168 new products, including clothing, hats, BBQ snacks, pickleball racquets, coffee cups, earrings, a beer bucket, pet food bowls, ice cream scoops and a hip flask. You can also buy sneakers ("Trump Won") on the side), luxury watches, with the Trump Victory Tourbillion selling for $100 000. There are coins ($3 645 for the "Victory Gold Medallion"), Trump Bibles (KJV version of the bible, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and most importantly, the handwritten chorus of Lee Greenwood's song 'God Bless the USA'). And let us not forget the $TRUMP meme coin, which netted the Family Trump hundreds of millions. The top 25 "investors" spent over $111 million to secure exclusive perks such as a VIP dinner with Trump.
When someone takes the highest office, we expect them to at least pretend like they are working for the best interests of the whole country and not just those who pay them. The incredible harm done to South Africa by Jacob Zuma was not in the R246m house the public gifted him, but in the message it sent. Zuma was open for business, just not the country's business.
It is lukewarm comfort that anyone who lives in a house built by Public Works is no doubt dealing with a leaky roof dodgy plumbing, and mould on the walls. In this world, government policies are bought and sold by the wealthiest and paid for by the poorest. This has to some degree, always been so, but when this was considered shameful at least government ministers were more cautious. This has now been normalised to such a degree that the world's wealthiest man gave $250 million (0.08% of Musk's wealth) to get Trump elected. For a hot minute it looked like this might have been Musk's best investment, only for the two to fight like scorned lovers. Trump 1; Musk 0.
The author Yuen Yuen Ang writes 'China is not a pure meritocracy, nor is it a pure kleptocracy. It is a corrupt meritocracy.' Ang notes that 'corruption is so endemic that it has generated its own vocabulary. For instance, a 'naked official' refers to an official whose family and assets are moved abroad, while he remains in China to retain power. 'Elegant bribery' refers to the use of art, calligraphy, or antiques as bribes instead of cash.' Yet even with all this so clearly understood, it is still shameful to be considered corrupt in China. A 'wall of shame' displaying portraits of corrupt officials symbolises public accountability efforts and the stigma attached to corruption, showing that exposure can bring public disgrace and official punishment. Of course the top dog is safe and allegations of corruption are used to bludgeon opposition, but the greater Chinese society is not celebrating corruption.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
When there is no consequence for corruption, not even shame, it is very difficult for a society to hold together. If the main man can sell access to his power then why can't you pay the metro policewoman some "money for a cool drink"? Why should you not drive drunk if you have some "lunch money" on you? We should all be horrified when Trump said "over expansive and unpredictable FCPA [Foreign Corrupt Practices Act] enforcement against American citizens and businesses — by our own Government — for routine business practices in other nations not only wastes limited prosecutorial resources that could be dedicated to preserving American freedoms, but actively harms American economic competitiveness and, therefore, national security.
I was proud when Ramaphosa took a 14kg golf book as a gift for Trump, rather than gifting him an aircraft, although it's silly to think that Trump is a great reader. The well-worn trope that "sunlight is the best disinfectant" now seems quaint when corruption is now openly celebrated. This not ok.
Donald MacKay is founder and chief executive of XA Global Trade Advisors.
Image: Supplied
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
44 minutes ago
- IOL News
Zelensky says ready for bilateral meeting with Putin to end war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he was willing to meet directly with his Russian counterpart to end the war. Image: Tetiana Dzhafarova / AFP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he was willing to meet directly with his Russian counterpart to end the war. Speaking to reporters after talks with US President Donald Trump and several European leaders at the White House, Zelensky said he was ready for his first face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin since Moscow's invasion nearly three and a half years ago. "I confirmed -- and all European leaders supported me -- that we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin," Zelensky said following the summit. Zelensky has come under increasing pressure to cede territory to end the grinding war, as Russia makes a series of advances. Ahead of the White House meeting, Trump had pushed Ukraine to give up Crimea and abandon its goal of joining NATO -- both key demands made by Putin. But Zelensky stressed he had been able to present a clearer picture of the battlelines to Trump, who he met in a one-on-one in the Oval Office. "This was the best of our meetings," Zelensky said, according to a statement put out by his office. "I was able to show many things, even on the map, to all American colleagues regarding the situation on the battlefield." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Rather than concessions from Ukraine, the summit focused on arranging security guarantees in the event of a peace deal, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters afterwards. Trump said the guarantees "would be provided by the various European Countries (in) coordination with the United States of America." Zelensky added that "it is important that the United States of America gives a clear signal that it will be among the countries that will assist, coordinate and also be participants in security guarantees for Ukraine." Zelensky said those plans would be "formalized in some way in the next week or ten days." AFP
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
Putin, Zelenskyy set for peace summit after Trump talks
WASHINGTON - Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy looked set for a peace summit after fast-moving talks Monday between Donald Trump and European leaders that focused on the key issue of long-term security guarantees for Kyiv. Hopes of a breakthrough rose after Trump said he had spoken by phone with Russian counterpart Putin - whom he met in Alaska last week - following a "very good" meeting with the Europeans and the Ukrainian president at the White House. It would be the first meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders since Moscow's brutal invasion nearly three and a half years ago, and comes as Trump tries to live up to his promise to quickly end the war. Trump, 79, wrote on his Truth Social network that "everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine." AFP | Mandel NGAN "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy," Trump said. Trump said he would then hold a three-way summit with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Putin had agreed to the bilateral meeting within the next two weeks, but there was no confirmation of a date or location. - Zelenskyy 'ready' to meet Putin - Zelensky confirmed to reporters outside the White House he was "ready" for a bilateral with bitter foe Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine has led to tens of thousands of deaths. In Moscow, a Kremlin aide said that Putin was open to the "idea" of direct talks with Ukraine. The Ukraine war has ground to a virtual stalemate despite a few recent Russian advances, but Trump's summit with Putin last Friday failed to produce any ceasefire. Zelenskyy then rushed to the White House to meet with Trump after the US president increasingly pushed the Ukrainian leader to make concessions to Russia. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission and NATO then announced that they would be coming too, in a pointed show of support. AFP | ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS Zelenskyy also met one-on-one in the Oval Office with Trump in their first encounter in the heart of the US presidency since their acrimonious blow-up there in February. The Ukrainian president said the meeting was their "best" yet, with little of the tensions that erupted when Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated him in front of TV cameras for not being "grateful" for US support. Trump even complimented Zelensky on his black jacket, after the Ukrainian was criticized by right-wing media because he failed to change his trademark war-leader's outfit for a suit during the February visit. - 'Security guarantees' - The US president meanwhile said he had discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, adding that Putin had agreed to them despite ruling out Kyiv's long-held dream of joining the NATO alliance. AFP | ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS Trump said the guarantees "would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America." NATO chief Mark Rutte told reporters at the White House it was a "very successful meeting" with "the president really breaking the deadlock." "Today was really about security guarantees, the US getting more involved there, and all the details to be hammered out over the coming days," he said. The Financial Times, citing a document seen by the newspaper, said Ukraine had undertaken to buy $100 billion of US weapons financed by Europe in return for US guarantees for its security. Zelenskyy later spoke to reporters about a $90 billion package, and said Ukraine and its allies would formalise the terms of the security guarantees within 10 days. The presence of the European leaders however also underscored continuing nervousness about whether Trump will pivot towards Putin as he has on a number of occasions. Trump had pushed Ukraine ahead of the meeting to give up Crimea and abandon its goal of joining NATO - both key demands made by Putin. French President Emmanuel Macron called Monday for stepping up sanctions against Russia if Putin does not move forward on peace with Ukraine. Finnish President Alex Stubb said Putin was not "to be trusted." AFP | Roman PILIPEY Germany's Merz meanwhile said Ukraine should not be forced to surrender its Donbas region to Russia in talks. "The Russian demand that Kyiv give up the free parts of Donbas corresponds, to put it bluntly, to a proposal for the United States to have to give up Florida," Merz told reporters.
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Trump administration revoked more than 6,000 student visas, state department says
The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays and breaking the law, including a small minority for 'support for terrorism', a state department official said on Monday. The move, first reported by Fox Digital, comes as the Trump administration has adopted a particularly hard line approach towards student visas as part of its immigration crackdown, tightening social media vetting and expanding screening. Directives from the state department this year have ordered US diplomats abroad to be vigilant against applicants who Washington may see as hostile to the US and with a history of political activism. Around 4,000 visas were cancelled because the visitors broke the law, with the most being assault, the official said. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and burglary were other offences, the official added. About 200 to 300 visas were revoked for terrorism, the official said, citing a rule about visa ineligibility under the state department's foreign affairs manual. The rule identifies ineligibility grounds generally as 'engaging in terrorist activities' and 'having certain links to terrorist organisations'. The official did not say which groups the students whose visas have been revoked were in support of. Trump has clashed with several top level US universities, accusing them of becoming bastions of anti-Semitism after large-scale student protests advocating for Palestinian rights during the Gaza war. In his clash with Harvard, Trump has frozen funding for investigations and threatened to remove the university's tax-exempt status, prompting several European nations to increase research grants to attract talent. US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said he has revoked the visas of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people, including students, because they were involved in activities which he said went against US foreign policy priorities. Trump administration officials have said student visa and green card holders are subject to deportation over their support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, calling their actions a threat to US foreign policy and accusing them of being pro-Hamas. A Tufts University student from Turkey was held for more than six weeks in an immigration detention centre in Louisiana after co-writing an opinion piece criticising her school's response to Israel's war in Gaza. She was released from custody after a federal judge granted her bail. Trump's critics have called the effort an attack on free speech rights under the first amendment of the US constitution.
