This week the theme of inequity continued to be front and center. While Trump refused to sign a housing affordability bill, which had rare bipartisan support, new disclosures revealed he had personally reaped $2.2 billion in 2025! Trump’s windfall primarily came from new businesses in cryptocurrency, but he also enriched himself in a bevy of other ways, unprecedented for a sitting U.S. president. Meanwhile this week, Trump continued to obsess over his Washington D.C. construction projects, which after he had repeatedly claimed would be entirely funded by him and private donors, this week reporting revealed taxpayers would be on the hook for perhaps billions! As would taxpayers be on the hook for over $700 million to refurbish and house Trump’s new Air Force One, a gift from the Qatari government that he will keep after leaving office. All in all, a stunning week of disclosures on unprecedented grift and corruption.
Supreme Court decisions were a mixed bag this week. Two decisions broke what were thought to be landmark decisions made decades ago. Overall, although Trump lost on birthright citizenship, other victories in the area of immigration will empower and embolden him to take further action. A ruling on campaign finance in favor of Republicans will allow in more outside monies ahead of midterms. The one thing that did not go Trump’s way this week were rulings related to his efforts to impact voting in the midterms. After several losses, he and his allies have basically taken Congress hostage: paralyzing House voting until such time as his SAVE America Act, which does not have the votes in the Senate, is passed.
As the country entered the week of July Fourth, Trump launched his highly politicized Freedom 250 celebrations, which like his Reflecting Pool renovations, were plagued with problems. Attendance was embarrassingly light, with broadcast images revealing an almost empty National Mall. A shocking Gallup poll captured the mood of the country, with just 19% of Americans saying the founders would be pleased with how the country has turned out, a new low.
Meanwhile, the Iran War — remember that? — seems to have become an inconvenience for Trump. The public hears little about it, and what we do hear is contradictory information. After the two sides exchanged attacks, it appeared negotiations were halted. Trump is reportedly weighing options to restart the war, but seems again disinterested, and for now is leaving diplomacy to two real estate developers representing U.S. interests.
