Character is Destiny*

Donald Trump’s career, both in business and politics, is marked by a pattern of legal controversies, ethical concerns, and a tendency to leave others to bear the consequences. (And see our “Viewpoints” page – the first entry – to see how his character aligns with another well-known leader.)

First, his business history offers clues about his character:

  • Fraud Allegations: Trump settled fraud lawsuits related to Trump University ($25 million) and a Florida golf club ($7 million).  
  • Financial Irregularities: His businesses filed for bankruptcy six times, resulting in financial losses for lenders and investors. However, he has never filed for personal bankruptcy. Additionally, his Atlantic City casino was levied a $10 million money-laundering fine.  
  • Legal Settlements: Trump settled a case involving alleged illegal employment practices and has made payments to silence individuals, including an adult film actress, leading to legal consequences for his former lawyer.  
  • Sexual Misconduct: He faces multiple allegations of sexual assault and has made derogatory statements toward women, resulting in a civil liability finding; plus he had an association with Jeffrey Epstein.  
  • Crony Convictions: Key associates, including Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Michael Cohen, Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, and Allen Weisselberg, were convicted of various crimes such as fraud, obstruction of justice, and perjury.  
  • The Trump Foundation: This foundation was dissolved following investigations into illegal activities, resulting in over $2 million in fines.  
  • Jared Kushner’s Saudi Windfall: Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who was active in the administration, received a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund shortly after Trump’s first term ended. He pulled in a lot more dough than Hunter Biden.  

The primary focus of this website, however, is on his political actions:

  • Destabilizing Foreign Policy: Trump’s threats to the NATO alliance and his disruptive actions towards long-standing international alliances have undermined global stability and weakened the United States’ standing on the world stage, jeopardizing decades of established diplomatic norms. His claims that Ukraine ‘started’ the war contradict established facts and align with Russian propaganda, raising concerns about his understanding of the conflict and its origins.  
  • Undermining Democratic Processes:
    • Election Denial: Fueled by unsubstantiated claims, Trump relentlessly disputed the results of the 2020 election, undermining democratic processes and sowing distrust in the integrity of American elections.  
    • Capitol Insurrection: Trump is accused of inciting the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. His subsequent pardons of individuals who assaulted Capitol police officers further underscore his disregard for the rule of law, our police, and the sanctity of democratic institutions.  
  • Attacks on Democratic Institutions:
    • Attacks on the Press: Trump’s repeated labeling of media outlets critical of him as the “enemy of the people” is a hallmark of authoritarian rhetoric, directly attacking the fundamental role of a free press in a democratic society.  
    • Attacks on the Judiciary: By denigrating the judiciary when rulings go against him, particularly when Congress exhibits limited oversight, Trump attacks the independence of the courts, a crucial check on executive power and a tactic consistent with authoritarian regimes.  
  • Mishandling of Classified Documents: Trump willfully retained hundreds of classified documents, including highly sensitive national security information, and actively obstructed their retrieval by the National Archives, leading to criminal charges that highlight his disregard for national security. 
  • Political Extortion: He has used the power of the presidency to coerce law firms representing political opponents into providing him with $1 billion in free legal work and has attempted to control universities by interfering with research funding.  
  • Elimination of Watchdogs: On a late Friday night just 4 days after taking office, Trump fired at least 17 independent watchdogs – known as inspectors general – clearing a path for to begin putting “Project 2025” into action. These are the officials tasked with detecting waste and fraud across government agencies. Who benefits from that?
  • Cronyism: Trump’s cabinet appointments have frequently been marked by cronyism, with unqualified, wealthy individuals placed in key positions, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and the prioritization of personal loyalty over public service.
  • Pardons & Commutations: All presidents seem to pardon undeserving persons, but Google Trump’s extensive list: tax evaders, fraudsters, corrupt officials (does he identify with them?), plus thieves, drug dealers & murderers.
  • Monetizing the Presidency: During and since his campaign, Trump has commercialized his political persona by promoting crypto ‘meme-coins,’ selling sneakers and Bibles, and otherwise exploiting the office of President for personal financial gain. His current crypto venture, a sector he previously described as a ‘scam,’ is completely outside prior presidential norms, potentially generating billions in personal profit.

There have always been people with similar temperaments and ambitions, but Trump and his assault on our democracy has been made possible only because of our “American Quislings.” The failure of Congress and the Supreme Court to provide checks and balances is making Trump’s character our national destiny.

*attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus