There’s more to Trump’s corruption than stealing money

Key Points:

• Recent revelations highlight Donald Trump's extensive self-dealing while in office, including creating a $1.776 billion fund he controls, immunity from IRS audits for himself and his family, and profiting heavily from stock trades and cryptocurrency ventures.
• Trump’s actions represent more than typical corruption; they signify an attempt to transform the American political system from one governed by impartial rule of law to one dominated by personal favoritism and rent-seeking, akin to a "natural state."
• This shift undermines the "open access order" that defines modern liberal democracies like the U.S., replacing neutral legal rules with governance based on personal relationships and favoritism, eroding institutional independence and fairness.
• The Trump administration’s blending of natural state logic into American institutions threatens economic growth, public service quality, and political competition by incentivizing bribery and personal loyalty over merit and legal equality.
• Such profound changes risk long-term damage to the American political and social order, potentially leading to stagnation and authoritarian practices, even if Trump loses future elections.