The Corruption Norm

The public’s growing acceptance of profiteering by politicians is a symptom of a more profound problem: the erosion of accountability in Washington.

In Donald Trump’s early presidency, ethics watchdogs focused on misuses of taxpayer funds and apparent cases of profiteering off the presidency. They pitched allegations of nepotism or self-dealing to journalists as worthy of a story. The backlash was often fierce, with voters expressing outrage at Cabinet secretaries’ spending habits and Trump’s family businesses making millions while he was in office.

However, something has changed. In his second term, watchdogs are more alarmed than ever by what they’re witnessing, yet the public seems less bothered. A recent survey found that 17 percent of Americans now see corruption as the biggest issue facing the nation – up from 8 percent in December 2024. This growing concern coexists with a dampening of objections to possible instances of self-dealing, especially among Republicans.

The sheer scale and brazenness of Trump’s profiteering stand out as a key factor. In his first term, there was at least a nod towards separating Trump the president from Trump the businessman. Now that distinction is gone. The $2.2 billion Trump made last year, mostly from cryptocurrency deals, has formed the bulk of his net worth – a windfall that has been accompanied by eroding crypto oversight as part of the administration’s economic agenda.

The White House dismisses these allegations as “the same, tired narrative” pushed by Democrats for a decade. However, it’s hard to deny the shift in scale from Trump’s previous four years in office. The administration’s efforts to reduce funding for government watchdogs have borne fruit – with 17 inspectors general fired within days of the inauguration last year.

In response, organizations like the Campaign Legal Center and Public Citizen have filed ethics complaints and launched trackers to keep count of instances despite media attention waning. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has hired an expert in cryptocurrency. These efforts indicate that watchdogs are adjusting their tactics to keep pace with Trump’s increasingly brazen profiteering.

The silence from Republicans on this issue is telling – a stark contrast to the vocal objections they raised during Trump’s first term. As the president continues to ratchet up his profiteering, it’s becoming clear that the party’s willingness to look the other way has become a norm. This shift raises questions about our values: If we’re no longer outraged by profiteering by politicians, what does that say?