Never Forget That The Trump Kleptocracy Is Protected And Enabled By The GOP

The openness of the grift and corruption of the Trump family is extraordinary and shocking. They are a truly dysfunctional family where everything is apparently transactional and total self-absorption is a given. And they get away with it.

Ivanka Trump had dinner with President Xi in China on the same day that country approved three exclusive trademarks for her clothing line. This is not the first time China has openly bribed the Trumps, as the Trump Organization received multiple trademarks shortly after Trump was inaugurated.  And China has positioned itself quite nicely to capitalize on Trump's infrastructure program if it ever comes to pass. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao (and wife of Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell) has been touting the "public/private" partnerships that are merely a giveaway to businesses and a Chinese billionaire has apparently hired Paul Manafort to funnel that public infrastructure money his way.

Yesterday, Trump himself apparently called and congratulated Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey for effectively eliminating democracy in that country. In a closely fought referendum that gives Erdogan sweeping new powers, the country's election commission reported that the referendum passed with a slim majority of just over 50%. However, opposition parties are contesting the election and point to 3 million unstamped and therefore unofficial ballots that the election commission decided to count. The number of those ballots was greater than the margin of victory on the referendum. European election observers harshly criticized the entire process, pointing to the arrest of Erdogan opponents, the stifling of free media, and improper and illegal election procedures. The European Commission refused to accept Erdogan's victory and called for an investigation.

But none of that stopped Trump from making his own congratulatory call to Erdogan. As usual, the readout we received from the Trump administration was short on details but neither the election irregularities or the stifling of free discussion in the run-up to the election were apparently discussed. Again, the Trump Organization has interests in Turkey and receives licensing fees from a tower in Istanbul. Their partner in that country has already been used as a bargaining chip by Erodgan to try and influence Trump.

Trump's congratulatory call put him at odds with his own State Department whose statement was far more subdued, sayin, "We look to the government of Turkey to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all its citizens — regardless of their vote on April 16 — as guaranteed by the Turkish Constitution and in accordance with Turkey’s international commitments, such as under the Helsinki Charter". As David Frum says, "This is so beyond troubling into alarming. US foreign policy has been sold for hotels & handbags".

The other features of open Trump grift are legion. The trips to Mar-a-Lago, the amount of money the Secret Service has paid to Trump companies, forming a 2020 re-election committee and taking contributions already, The involvement of the Trump family in both business and the affairs of state, and on and on. But it is the brazenness of it that is just so shocking and disturbing.

But the most disturbing part of the open Trump grift is the fact that the Republican party is silent and is prepared to just go along. The GOP seems content with seeing democracy destroyed at home and abroad, as long as they maintain their power. Trump may be the ultimate kleptocrat but the Republican party is his enabler and protector. And when the Republicans have effectively broken the bonds of our democracy, how are we going to put them back together again.