Trump 2025 Corruption

1. 69

   IslandBitesposted 2 days ago

   Trump purchased $100M+ in bonds since January
   
   President Trump purchased more than $100 million worth of bonds since he took office for his second term in January, according to Office of Government Ethics filings.
   
   The filings, released Tuesday night, showed the president began purchasing on Jan. 21, the day after the inauguration, and purchased more than 30 more corporate and municipal bonds in that month, and it includes debt sold by companies, local governments and entities that could be directly affected by his sweeping agenda.  Through Aug. 1, he made nearly 700 bond purchases.
   
   The active trading by a president of the United States is unprecedented, and it puts Trump in a direct position to benefit — or lose out — if any of the entities that own the bonds he has purchased succeed or fail. It’s also another example of Trump’s pursuing business endeavors and transactions to increase his wealth in office.
   
   Trump’s buying continued at a steady clip for months, including bonds from megabanks Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Citigroup worth at least $100,000 apiece.
   
   Trump’s direct ownership of bonds from three of the country’s banking giants also comes as he considers an eventual replacement of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and weeks after he nominated one of his top aides, Stephen Miran, to a seat on the Fed’s board. The Fed can directly affect a bank’s profit by lowering or raising interest rates, along with myriad regulatory actions. As a Fed governor, Miran would have a direct say in many of those actions.
   
   Trump purchases also included at least $500,000 of bonds apiece from chipmaker Qualcomm, mobile provider T-Mobile USA, Home Depot and UnitedHealth Group, the country’s largest private health insurance company.
   
   The filings also show that Trump bought at least $250,001 of Meta’s bonds. CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended Trump’s inauguration and donated $1 million to the event.
   
   Likewise, Trump’s ownership in hundreds of municipal bonds puts him in line to benefit when those municipal entities pay back the debt, and it comes when the administration has been tightly controlling the distribution of funds from the federal government to local and regional governments.
   
   Trump’s net worth is around $5.5 billion, according to the Forbes Billionaires List, up a staggering $3.2 billion since last year.
   
   Typically, presidents divest their financial assets before or shortly after they enter office, but Trump has rejected that precedent and retained most of his empire since his first term.
   
   Trump has been criticized for mingling politics with his business interests throughout his second term, with ethics watchdogs and Democrats accusing him of profiting off of the presidency through ventures like the launch of a cryptocurrency, Trump-branded sneakers, Bibles and a line of fragrances.

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   1. 60

      Willowarborposted 2 days agoin reply to this

      Unbelievable.  The grift and corruption just keep coming but  is just right out in the open now.
      
      That means this fool  is now positioned to profit directly from companies and local governments impacted by his own policies.
      
      The line between public power and private profit just got even thinner.
      
      No wonder he wants a rate cut from the Fed, which will surely send bond prices up.. His presidency is one big con job.

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      1. 69

         IslandBitesposted 2 days agoin reply to this

         Yup. And it's happening in plain sight. They dont hide it. The country is numb and he does whatever he wants.

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   2. 82

      Readmikenowposted 43 hours agoin reply to this

      Interesting how you forgot THIS piece of the story. 
      
      "The official added that neither Trump nor any member of his family had direct input into the investments and all decisions are made by independent management."

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      1. 60

         Willowarborposted 42 hours agoin reply to this

         That's laughable.  You believe a liar like Trump?

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         1. 82

            Readmikenowposted 42 hours agoin reply to this

            What is laughable it that President Donald Trump didn't say this.  It was in the article published by The HILL.  It is a quote from a government official.
            
            I suggest you read the entire article.  The left often cherry picks what they want from articles that support their agenda.
            
            This is evidence of it.

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      2. 85

         Sharlee01posted 42 hours agoin reply to this

         Deleted
         1. 60

            Willowarborposted 41 hours agoin reply to this

            This is no conflict of interest?  and the Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution...what of that?? He will be able to influence policy in the direction of personal profit...

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      3. 85

         Sharlee01posted 38 hours agoin reply to this

         Hi Mike,  I did some research on this issue. I thought some facts could stop the spread of what is factual and what is not.  First I wanted to add that I think it odd this subject is being brought up today, with the victory that Trump had in the court today. But to move on. I see that the left media have turned to a popular accusation "emolument Clauses.. They have  short memory, that they used the ploy in Trump s first term --- and yes lost those cases were lost...
         
         The Constitution contains two Emoluments Clauses: Dems have been there, did that in his first term --- Lost
         
         Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) – Prohibits federal officials, including the president, from accepting gifts, payments, or benefits from foreign states without congressional consent.
         
         Domestic Emoluments Clause (Article II, Section 1, Clause 7) – Bars the president from receiving any compensation from the United States or from any state beyond the fixed presidential salary.
         https://constitution.congress.gov/brows … hatgpt.com
         https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitutio … hatgpt.com
         
         Neither clause directly prohibits a president from owning or trading private assets, such as stocks or bonds. Courts have consistently held that presidents are not legally required to divest financial holdings or place them in a blind trust; it has been a norm of modern presidents, not a constitutional requirement.
         
         Several lawsuits were brought during Trump’s first term alleging violations of the Emoluments Clauses based on his continued business dealings. Federal courts ultimately dismissed those cases without ruling on the merits, finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing.
         
         The Supreme Court vacated the lower court opinions after Trump left office in January 2021. As a result, there is currently no binding legal precedent that Trump’s private financial dealings, including bond purchases, violate the Emoluments Clauses.
         
         Under existing law, the primary guardrail is disclosure: presidents must file financial reports with the Office of Government Ethics. But beyond disclosure, the Constitution and federal law impose no ban on a sitting president buying bonds, stocks, or other assets.
         
         So while ethics experts and watchdogs argue that such trading poses serious conflict-of-interest risks, the hard legal fact is that as of today, it is not prohibited by the Emoluments Clauses, federal statutes, or binding court rulings.
         
         Let's add facts on the subject of the recent bond purchaese
         
         President Donald Trump has reported his bond transactions through the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE). According to a financial disclosure filed on August 12, 2025, Trump made nearly 700 bond purchases totaling at least $103.7 million since his second term began in January 2025. These transactions include investments in corporate and municipal bonds from entities such as Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, Meta, Qualcomm, T-Mobile USA, The Home Depot, UnitedHealth Group, and various local governments and utilities.
         
         The OGE Form 278-T, which Trump filed, requires disclosure of securities transactions exceeding $1,000. The form provides details about each transaction, including the description, type, date, and the amount involved .
         Reuters  https://www.reuters.com/business/financ … e=chatgpt.
         
         While disclosures offer transparency into Trump's financial activities.
         
         Once again, the narrative is all conjecture—no solid facts, just endless ‘maybes’

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         1. 82

            Readmikenowposted 27 hours agoin reply to this

            You forgot to add that his assets are in a blind trust and a management company makes all of the investment decisions.
            
            If the president did such a thing it may not be illegal, but I believe it would be unethical. So, I imagine this is something democrat presidents have done in the past.
            
            Not President Donald Trump or any member of his family.
            
            Yeah, he has given full disclosure of his financial dealings.
            
            Now, we won't mention hunter biden and his financial dealings or how they benefited "the big guy" biden.  Another discussion for another day.

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            1. 72

               Ken Burgessposted 27 hours agoin reply to this

               It's sad to see so many acting like rabid yard dogs going after Trump... Just like such abused animals they don't know who the real enemy is...
               
               Jeffrey Sachs... The 13 minute mark:
               https://youtu.be/m4GQJWIIiUw?si=trsJQsL_oU2f3v2L

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            2. 60

               Willowarborposted 25 hours agoin reply to this

               "You forgot to add that his assets are in a blind trust"
               
               You forgot a source for this erroneous statement...

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2. 77

   Kyler J Falkposted 45 hours ago

   Part of me really wishes they'd outlaw any trading for government officials and their affiliates. They have an unquestionably unfair insider advantage on all of their trades and purchases, and it's disgusting that they can use any number of resources at any given moment to manipulate the markets in their, or their friends', favors.
   
   However, I also appreciate their unethical trading and purchasing behavior, because they have to file all of their trades and purchases. With sites like QuiverQuantitive tracking their trades and legislation they oversee, my portfolio is up up up. Nancy Pelosi is one of my favorite traders to follow, because she never seems to miss. Especially so because she sits on many of the regulation committees that directly affect the stocks she invests in.
   
   Truly, I'm torn on this topic.

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3. 85

   Sharlee01posted 44 hours ago

   The article definitely grabs attention, especially for those looking to say the president is doing something wrong. It points out Trump’s bond purchases, his holdings in big banks and tech companies, and connections to the Fed and figures like Mark Zuckerberg, all in a way that suggests misconduct. But legally, there’s nothing wrong here, presidents can own bonds and other investments as long as they disclose them, which Trump did through the Office of Government Ethics. Sure, most presidents divest or use blind trusts to avoid even the appearance of conflict, but that’s tradition, not a law. So while the article makes it sound shady, it doesn’t actually show any illegal activity. You have to wonder if this kind of reporting is really necessary, or even ethical, when the president is following the rules. The bias comes through in the way the story emphasizes certain connections and uses loaded language to make normal financial activity look suspicious.
   
   Your header leaves me asking myself--- where is the corruption?  The author pointed out nothing of illegal activity or corruption.

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4. 60

   Willowarborposted 39 hours ago

   Trump just bought $100 MILLION in bonds
   
   -When Interest Rates go down, bond prices go up
   
   -Trump has been pushing for interest rate cuts he would personally benefit from
   
   Unheard of levels of corruption and grift. Yet Republicans say nothing.
   
   Why all the pearl clutching over the ethics of others from Maga but an absolute blind eye turned to your leader??  Time to admit it, ethics, in reality, just aren't a priority for maga.

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5. 69

   IslandBitesposted 25 hours ago

   Trump’s bond-buying binge stands out because he, unlike other presidents, has not put his investments into a true blind trust. Otherwise, Trump’s bond purchases, whether directed by him or the person in charge of his finances, look like the typical bet of a deep-pocketed investor—one who thinks interest rates are set to fall, said Russell Rhoads, a clinical associate professor of financial management at Indiana University.

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   1. 82

      Readmikenowposted 24 hours agoin reply to this

      Again, from the article from "The Hill"
      
      "The official added that neither Trump nor any member of his family had direct input into the investments and all decisions are made by independent management."
      
      Trump purchased $100M+ in bonds since January, filings show
      
      President Trump purchased more than $100 million worth of bonds since he took office for his second term in January, according to Office of Government Ethics filings.
      
      The filings, released Tuesday night, showed the president began purchasing on Jan. 21, the day after the inauguration, and purchased more than 30 more corporate and municipal bonds in that month. Through Aug. 1, he made nearly 700 bond purchases.
      
      The filing is a periodic report released after the Office of Government Ethics reviewed the transactions and certified them as in compliance, including getting Trump’s signature, according to a senior White House official. The official said the president has no role in managing his investments, and they are managed by a third-party financial institution.
      
      The official added that neither Trump nor any member of his family had direct input into the investments and all decisions are made by independent management.
      
      The bonds Trump purchased, according to the filings, were sold by entities like Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, a health facility in Alachua County, Fla., a Michigan public power agency and a Johnson County, Kan., parks and recreation office.
      
      https://thehill.com/homenews/administra … ce-ethics/

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      1. 60

         Willowarborposted 24 hours agoin reply to this

         "The official added that neither Trump nor any member of his family had direct input into the investments and all decisions are made by independent management."
         
         Who is "THE OFFICIAL"??
         
         And again Trump is a bona fide pathological liar...

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         1. 85

            Sharlee01posted 23 hours agoin reply to this

            There have been no charges in regard to your concerns. Why do you dwell on "could be's?"   Here are the facts regarding your concerns. Take time to note the legalities Trump has followed via the U.S. Office of Government Ethics regarding his financial actions.  You seem to ignore what has been posted and repeat your posts. I went to the trouble of reposting posting facts.  Regarding your concerns.  And the permalink.
            https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/369 … ost4380302
            
            Copypaste ---  The Constitution contains two Emoluments Clauses: Dems have been there, did that in his first term --- Lost
            
            Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) – Prohibits federal officials, including the president, from accepting gifts, payments, or benefits from foreign states without congressional consent.
            
            Domestic Emoluments Clause (Article II, Section 1, Clause 7) – Bars the president from receiving any compensation from the United States or from any state beyond the fixed presidential salary.
            https://constitution.congress.gov/brows … hatgpt.com
            https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitutio … hatgpt.com
            
            Neither clause directly prohibits a president from owning or trading private assets, such as stocks or bonds. Courts have consistently held that presidents are not legally required to divest financial holdings or place them in a blind trust; it has been a norm of modern presidents, not a constitutional requirement.
            
            Several lawsuits were brought during Trump’s first term alleging violations of the Emoluments Clauses based on his continued business dealings. Federal courts ultimately dismissed those cases without ruling on the merits, finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing.
            
            The Supreme Court vacated the lower court opinions after Trump left office in January 2021. As a result, there is currently no binding legal precedent that Trump’s private financial dealings, including bond purchases, violate the Emoluments Clauses.
            
            Under existing law, the primary guardrail is disclosure: presidents must file financial reports with the Office of Government Ethics. But beyond disclosure, the Constitution and federal law impose no ban on a sitting president buying bonds, stocks, or other assets.
            
            So while ethics experts and watchdogs argue that such trading poses serious conflict-of-interest risks, the hard legal fact is that as of today, it is not prohibited by the Emoluments Clauses, federal statutes, or binding court rulings.
            
            LET'S ADD  CURRENT FACTS ---on the subject of the recent bond purchaese
            
            President Donald Trump has reported his bond transactions through the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE). According to a financial disclosure filed on August 12, 2025, Trump made nearly 700 bond purchases totaling at least $103.7 million since his second term began in January 2025. These transactions include investments in corporate and municipal bonds from entities such as Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, Meta, Qualcomm, T-Mobile USA, The Home Depot, UnitedHealth Group, and various local governments and utilities.
            
            The OGE Form 278-T, which Trump filed, requires disclosure of securities transactions exceeding $1,000. The form provides details about each transaction, including the description, type, date, and the amount involved .
            Reuters  https://www.reuters.com/business/financ … e=chatgpt.
            
            While disclosures offer transparency into Trump's financial activities.
            
            Once again, the narrative is all conjecture—no solid facts, just endless ‘maybes’
            
            Yes, a statement was issued by the Trump Organization affirming that President Donald Trump has no involvement in the management of the family's business ventures during his presidency. The company clarified that Trump has no role in day-to-day operations, including investment decisions, and that all such activities are overseen by his sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr. This arrangement is designed to address potential conflicts of interest while he serves in office.
            Reuters

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            1. 60

               Willowarborposted 22 hours agoin reply to this

               "What does it matter? There have been no charges in regard to your concerns. Why do you dwell on "could be's?"
               
               Haven't many posts on this forum centered around information coming from unnamed sources???  That's not important anymore?   I am to take unnamed sources as completely credible when they support Trump but disregard them when they don't, I see...
               
               I think the issue here is ethics.  It's his ability to influence policy and in turn make a billions for himself.

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      2. 85

         Sharlee01posted 23 hours agoin reply to this

         It’s truly odd that anyone would think Donald Trump could break the law without consequences. If he did, he would be charged, or in cases of impeachment, articles would be filed based on the suspicion alone. We have to consider the pattern of accusations Democrats have made in the past: they often charge first, initiate impeachment, and only then start looking for evidence. One can be almost certain that they closely monitor every aspect of Trump’s business dealings, ready to seize on any hint of wrongdoing, even without cause or proof of misconduct.

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         1. 60

            Willowarborposted 23 hours agoin reply to this

            What is truly odd? Followers that support a liar.

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            1. 72

               Ken Burgessposted 3 hours agoin reply to this

               Like Biden... Clinton...?
               
               What liar ...followers?
               
               On a side note, they should call this Trump's revenge tour.
               
               Everyone from Bolton to Biden is being destroyed for attacking/betraying/framing Trump.
               
               Karma is such a...

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                  Willowarborposted 3 hours agoin reply to this

                  Trump is a pathological liar.

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               2. 85

                  Sharlee01posted 8 minutes agoin reply to this

                  Ken, thank you. And I am so enjoying "Trump's Magical Mystery Tour". He is doing a great job at rounding up the swamp creatures.  I mean, so many in two weeks. The list grows.

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6. 81

   Credence2posted 19 hours ago

   The principle here is to avoid the ‘appearance” of impropriety and inappropriate behavior. This entire thing stinks and Trump is at the center of it. So, what does it means to “set the example? But when speaking about Trump and integrity , jumping to the moon on a pogo stick would be more believable.

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   1. 85

      Sharlee01posted 14 hours agoin reply to this

      I don’t think you’re alone in your opinion. However, if Trump is not breaking any laws, yet some feel, as you do, that it’s about appearance or impropriety, can we really deny his rights if he’s following the law? Can we act as judge and jury? Can we change the way he is treated simply because of his personality or character? Can society be divided in this way?
      
      Do you honestly believe Trump wouldn’t be brought up on impeachment if there were a legitimate reason? Every move he makes is scrutinized closely for any illegal slip-up. If you follow his court cases, you’ll see that he usually ends up winning on appeal, which should be telling. Could he be scrutinized and sued unjustly? In my view, we may soon see the felony case against him tossed. Has Trump been treated unfairly simply because he not only rocked the boat but sank it?

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7. 60

   Willowarborposted 2 hours ago

   JD Vance...
   
   “We” are in the very early stages of an investigation? Who is the “we”
   In this sentence?  White House is not supposed to be investigating anyone.... Oh tell me more about weaponization LOL
   
   THE VIDEO IS FROM X.... THE SAME EXACT VIDEO CAN BE FOUND AT 100 OTHER SOURCES... TAKE YOUR PICK
   
   https://x.com/McFaul/status/1959006714944241912

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   1. 75

      tsmogposted 29 minutes agoin reply to this

      I'll have to remember in the future not to be sipping on my coffee while watching videos

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      1. 60

         Willowarborposted 14 minutes agoin reply to this

         Vance continues to say the quiet part out loud!

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