The Donald Trumped

February 22, 2024

Donald Trump was just ordered to pay $355 million in fines and reimbursements to the State of New York because he’s a crook, not because he’s a victim. To most, this is an excessive amount but is what he “scored” by lying to financial institutions for years. His lengthy trial and shocking punishment has been criticized by some, but is why New York City remains the most important and credible financial capital in the world. Its laws protect the integrity of capital formation, investing, trading, lending, and borrowing and punishes grifters. The Big Apple is the gold standard, unlike other cities in banana republics, dictatorships, or kleptocracies where investor capital is easily stolen or confiscated. Donald Trump’s trial is also significant because it establishes that no matter who you are -- wealthy, a serial offender, lawyered up, ruthless, or a former President of the United States -- thou shalt not steal, lie, and cheat in America’s financial world. Unchastened, the incorrigible Trump compared his legal struggle with Alexei Navalny’s sojourn of torture, abuse, and martyrdom at the hands of Vladimir Putin in Russia. Then, a day later, he plugged fake gold sneakers at a shoe convention for $399 a pair, and his former aide John Bolton chillingly speculated that Putin will pay off Trump’s mountainous fines to control him and “may be doing it already.”