Some More News Some More News: All The Ways Trump Is Using The Presidency To Enrich Himself
Nov 19, 2025
Explore the fascinating ways a former president leveraged his time in office for personal gain. Learn how his branding history opened doors to lucrative licensing ventures, extravagant events, and even cryptocurrency schemes. Discover the intertwining paths of foreign investors and policy changes, revealing potential ethical dilemmas. From luxurious watches to crypto coins, the discussion highlights a web of profits and influence, all while raising important legal questions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Branding As The Core Business
- Donald Trump's long history of branding shows he turns failure into a marketable image rather than actual product quality.
- Cody Johnston argues Trump's name became a self-sustaining asset that generates profit independent of real achievement.
Trump Steaks At The Sharper Image
- Cody describes Trump steaks sold at Sharper Image as emblematic of his tacky luxury branding.
- The example shows Trump packaged ordinary goods as premium to exploit aspirational buyers.
Persona Beats Product
- Trump monetized a persona by becoming the cultural shorthand for 'rich' across TV and marketing.
- This created a feedback loop where the name's perceived value reinforced its real-world profitability.
