Bret Stephens
Our Petty, Hollow, Squalid Ogre in Chief
Bret Stephens, an opinion columnist for The New York Times, says, "I’m often described as a conservative, though I’ve been a harsh critic of the direction of the Republican Party. I believe in free enterprise, free trade, free speech, and the need to safeguard the institutions of democracy at home and abroad. I also think it’s healthy to be able to change your mind and to say so publicly — as I have about Trump voters and climate change."
"Though I tend to think it’s usually a waste of space to devote a column to President Trump’s personality — what more is there to say about the character of this petty, hollow, squalid, overstuffed man? — sometimes the point bears stressing:"
"We are led by the most loathsome human being ever to occupy the White House."
After Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found stabbed to death in their home in Los Angeles, at the hands of their troubled son Nick, Trump ridiculed the Hollywood director.
The US president told reporters the director was "very bad for our country," having earlier written on Truth Social (Trump, self-styled "free-speech" alternative to mainstream platforms) that Reiner's death was linked to "Trump derangement syndrome" — a term he often uses to describe his critics.
"Good people and good nations do not stomp on the grief of others. Politics is meant to end at the graveside. That’s not just some social nicety. It’s a foundational taboo that any civilised society must enforce to prevent transient personal differences from becoming generational blood feuds.
Bret Stephens goes back to the Enlightenment of the 18th century: "There is, as Adam Smith said, 'a great deal of ruin in a nation,” by which he meant that there are things in almost any country that are going badly wrong but can still be mended.
[The father of modern economics was baptised on June 5, 1723, in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, and died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 17, 1790, at age 67, publishing his seminal work, The Wealth of Nations, in 1776, laying the foundations for capitalism and free markets.]
- Foreign Deals: Unlike his first term, the 2025 ethics plan permits the Trump Organisation to strike new deals with private foreign companies. However, it still prohibits direct deals with foreign governments. Although it's very easy to get around, it.
- (A Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar was officially accepted by the Pentagon as a "sovereign-to-sovereign gift" to the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft was formally accepted by the U.S. Department of Defence as an "unconditional donation."
- According to the proposed arrangement, once Trump leaves office, the plane will be transferred to the privately funded Trump Presidential Library Foundation for display, similar to the plane at the Ronald Reagan Library.)
- Profit Donation: The company has committed to donating profits from foreign government patronage at its properties to the U.S. Treasury. That again is a smokescreen.
- Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, is involved in business dealings and also engages in government affairs.
- Public Disclosure: Under the Ethics in Government Act, he must still publicly disclose his personal financial interests annually.
- Cryptocurrency Ventures: The family launched World Liberty Financial and other crypto-related projects. These ventures reportedly added billions to their net worth and attracted significant foreign investment.
- Policy Impacts: President Trump has signed executive orders supporting digital assets and blockchain technology, which critics note can directly benefit his family's private crypto holdings.
- Private Memberships: Family members have continued to sell high-priced private memberships, such as a $500,000-a-head club in Washington, D.C.
- Stock & Social Media: Wealth continues to fluctuate and grow through his ownership in publicly traded entities like Trump Media & Technology Group (parent of Truth Social).
- Suckers
- Finally, Trump has announced plans for a new "Trump-class" of battleships, part of his "Golden Fleet" vision, despite his controversial draft history for Vietnam, which involved bone spur diagnoses that critics claim were manipulated to avoid service.
- This contrasts sharply with his current push for powerful new naval vessels named after himself or reflecting his ideology.
- Former White House chief of staff John Kelly confirmed several remarks his former boss, former President Trump, reportedly made during his time in the administration, including one where Trump referred to dead U.S. service members as “suckers.”
- Kelly's son had died in action.
- “A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law,” Kelly said in a statement.
- Donald Trump: Often cited as the richest in absolute terms, with a peak net worth estimated by Forbes between $2.1 billion and $6.2 billion. His wealth is derived from his real estate empire and global branding.
- George Washington: Had a massive estate (Mount Vernon) and thousands of acres of land. His wealth is estimated at $525 million to $587 million in inflation-adjusted dollars. Some analyses that compare his assets to the total U.S. GDP of his era place his "relative" value as high as $40.7 billion.
- John F. Kennedy: Although he died before inheriting his full share, his family’s trust funds were valued at approximately $1 billion to $1.2 billion.
- Thomas Jefferson: While he lived an ostentatious lifestyle on a vast plantation (Monticello) worth an estimated $212 million to $236 million today, he actually died deeply in debt.
- Harry S. Truman: Frequently cited as the "poorest modern president". He nearly went bankrupt as a haberdasher and had little savings when he left office. His financial struggles were a primary factor in Congress passing the Former Presidents Act in 1958 to provide a pension for retired presidents.
- Abraham Lincoln: Born into poverty in a log cabin, Lincoln faced financial ruin in his 20s after a general store venture failed, leaving him with significant debt. He eventually achieved a modest middle-class life as an attorney before the presidency.
- Ulysses S. Grant: Grant was swindled by an investment partner after his presidency, leaving him bankrupt and dying of cancer. He famously finished his memoirs on his deathbed to provide for his family, which ultimately earned them $500,000 posthumously.
- James A. Garfield: Often described as the poorest to ever become president, Garfield was born into extreme poverty and worked as a canal boat hand to fund his education. He died shortly after his inauguration with a net worth of less than $1 million in today's value.
- Andrew Johnson: Born to a tailor and never attending school, he worked as a tailor's apprentice from age 10. He maintained a modest lifestyle throughout his life.
