Here’s the Financial Reality in Trumpworld

Read this before donating a dime

Photo by Sam Dan Truong on Unsplash

“NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s new joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee directs donations to his campaign and a political action committee that pays the former president’s legal bills before the RNC gets a cut, according to a fundraising invitation obtained by The Associated Press.”

~ AP, 3/21/2024

No, I don’t really believe any Republican donors will read this, but on the odd chance one does, I thought there was value in making sure they know where their money will go first, according to official Trump campaign fundraising.

Simply put, getting Republicans elected is no longer the priority of the leader of the Party or the Republican National Committee. This is, to be honest, mind-boggling, since the reason for the existence of Party national committees is to get party members elected all over the country from local elections, up to the Presidency.

That is except in today’s Republican Party, where they are totally beholden to the whims and desperate needs of one man. Rather than go off on Trump for the zillionth time, I’m going to try to imagine the mindset of any traditional conservative voter when they read this.

I’m not talking about the MAGA diehards who trade conspiracy theories like Star Wars sets among hardcore Star Wars nerds. MAGA are basically Trump nerds. Fine. Believe what you wish and hopefully you will wake up one day from your nightmare and realize other Americans are not out to get you.

So, what about those old school small government, states rights, pro-business, anti-regulation, oil loving, rule of law Republicans? Take a look at Congress. In the last six months many career GOP politicians have announced they are quitting or will quit, so many that their majority in the House is anorexic at best.

When asked why they quit there are two answers. The first is that they no longer recognize their Party. The second is that they came to govern, not to mindlessly obstruct and make baseless accusations while no real work is getting done.

The quote above from the Associated Press looks like official Trump policy to me and it is remarkably honest and clear in its priorities. The man will abandon the party he controls to solve his financial problems, in fact he will bankrupt them and never look back.

He apparently believes MAGA is a real power base. Or his real plan is to somehow dodge reality in the courts and then disrupt the election by claiming it is corrupt and when he loses, once again divide the country into those who believe his myths and those who believe in the rule of law.

I believe his political agenda is the latter, another attempt to use a planned campaign of laws to undermine the democracy, even if it potentially causes massive civil unrest, violence, and more attempts to overthrow governments from local to state to federal levels.

Or maybe I’m giving him too much credit. Maybe he is just desperately trying to stave off financial ruin and prison time. We read constant warnings from mental health professionals that he is increasingly showing signs of early onset or even advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s. Anything is possible if that is the case. 

All of this is out there for anyone to read. Trump has made no attempt in recent years to pretend this is not his reality. Yet, his Party and his followers seem willing to ignore the reality that comes out of his own mouth and whatever passes for policy.

This is the most disturbing thing about this election year, the apparent willingness of a significant number of voters and elected officials to simply pretend Trump’s very real problems are not a problem. It is either willful ignorance or simply not caring about the direction or future of the country, apathy.

Again, I think it may be the latter. It’s easier to not deal with this stuff and to ignore its implications for the future of democracy. That may be just too much for a populace that finds it easier to sink into their couches, binge tv, or stare at TikTok videos for mindless hours.

I see them walking down the sidewalk on a lovely spring day and never looking up from their phones. And I want to shake them out of their complacency if only to try and get them to enjoy the real world for a moment.

I know. But the stakes are high here. It’s why I write about this stuff. I certainly do not do it for the money* or fame- don’t make me laugh. I’m not delusional. I just fear for those who may be and have chosen not to care, and write a check to Trump.

Well, I hope his lawyers thank them. He won’t.

*Donations appreciated, see below, but not for my legal bills. I don’t have any. (lol)

~ I write The Grasshopper, a letter for creatives, The Witness Chronicles, a place for my articles on politics and climate, and The Remarkable, a recovery letter, about my addiction and reentry experience. All are weekly and free, however this is how I live and I strongly believe all writers and creatives should get paid, if we provide value. Your upgrade to a paid subscription helps make that happen. 

If you want to show support but don’t want to commit to a subscription, you can always buy me a coffee!