A photo gallery of persons who have helped our current president escape consequences and retain power. 

All photos, except those noted, are believed to be in the public domain.

In 2016, Lindsey Graham called Trump “a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” Why is he now so supportive? A quote from 2019: “If you don’t want to get re-elected, you’re in the wrong business.” So, it’s business, not integrity.
“Little Marco” Rubio, who called Trump a “con artist” who “has spent his entire career sticking it to the little guy,” then became obsequious enough to be named Secretary of State.
Peter Navarro, AKA the made-up person “Ron Vara”, former convict and “moron” according to Elon Musk, may have been a primary source of the illogical tariffs of April 2025.
Justice Alito… we don’t need to explain why he’s on this page.
Howard Lutnick, billionaire Commerce Secretary, and former Democrat Wall-Streeter, contributed millions to Trump’s reelection campaign. Apparently, he was one of the geniuses who came up with the tariffs. He certainly knew that the importer (and consequently the consumer) pays the tariff, not the manufacturer.
Speaker Mike Johnson’s threats to close courts which have ruled against Trump is a grave challenge to the independence of the judiciary and the balance of power. Quisling!
“Lying Ted” Cruz (and his wife) endured some of Trump’s worst insults and he said Trump was a “pathological liar”, a “sniveling coward,” a “narcissist,” and “utterly amoral.” Now he’s saying, “God Bless Donald J. Trump.”
Mitch McConnell, after stating that Trump was “practically and morally responsible” for the January 6th attack on the Capitol & privately describing Trump as “stupid as well as being ill-tempered,” a “despicable human being,” and a “narcissist,” changed his tune and endorsed him in 2024.
Elise Stefanik used to be normal, calling out Trump for being “insulting to women,” and criticizing his “attacking Gold Star families.”  She also opposed his Muslim ban, but soon became a fierce Trump defender.  She was rewarded with a short-lived nomination to UN Ambassador.
Elon Musk, who has stated he has Asperger’s syndrome, said that “the fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.” He contributed millions to Trump and is now recklessly – and often apparently randomly – firing federal workers. How many of those were in positions to oversee his business interests?
JD Vance, perhaps our most obvious Quisling: in text messages from 2016, Vance compared Trump to “a cynical a–hole like Nixon” and in another, to “America’s Hitler.” But when he saw a chance at VP, he forgot his characterizations of Trump as “cultural heroin” and “reprehensible.”
Aileen Cannon – The Trump-appointed judge many people think used delays to help Trump escape accountability for January 6th and the misappropriation of classified material.
Josh Hawley pumped his little fist to egg on the January 6th protesters who went on to violently assault the Capitol police.
Pam Bondi’s appointment as Attorney General – a reward for election denial – risks turning the Justice Department into a political tool. If you heard that Biden was “weaponizing” the Justice Dept, just look at what Pam is doing!
Linda McMahon, billionaire and former wrestling promoter, now Secretary of Education. Really!? Google “Linda McMahon and AI”. It’s A-eye, not A-One.
Justice Roberts has done more than most to diminish democracy: Citizen’s United unleashed unlimited money into elections, setting the stage for American Oligarchy. Plus, he practically eliminated checks on the Executive branch when he expanded Presidential immunity.
“Ron DeSanctimonious” DeSantis endured taunts and insults and said that the “swamp” in Washington was “worse [under Trump] than it’s ever been.” But he swallowed pride and endorsed Trump. Additionally, he has acted as standard-bearer in the cultural wars aimed at distracting voters.
(photo by Gage Skidmore) Kellyanne Conway, a master of “Alternative Facts” and “what about-ism,” has earned her way into the lucrative MAGA talk universe and defends anything the Trump administration does.
Scott Bessent, former hedge fund operator (net worth perhaps $500 million), now Secretary of the Treasury, donated millions to Trump’s campaign. While he may be in the Cabinet to provide credibility, he claims he had little to do with the tariffs.
Douglas Burgum, a billionaire with ties to the oil and gas industry, is now Secretary of the Interior, which has stewardship of our public lands. A fox in the henhouse?