Politics Weekly America Trump in the White House: is it time to call it corruption?
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Dec 19, 2025 Janine Wedel, a social anthropologist from George Mason University, dives into the complexities of corruption during Trump's presidency. She defines corruption as the violation of public trust, examining instances like the Qatari airplane deal suggesting quid pro quo. The conversation explores UAE investments linked to Trump and how personal interests blurred with diplomacy. Wedel highlights the troubling trend of favoritism in pardons and weakened oversight, shedding light on why accusations seem to fail to faze Trump.
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Corruption As Trust Violation
- Corruption combines abuse of public office for private gain and violation of public trust as Janine Wedel explains using World Bank and ancient definitions.
- She argues Trump's actions fit both standards and have eroded public trust in civic institutions.
The Qatar Airplane Example
- Qatar gifted a huge airplane that is being refitted as Air Force One and taxpayers will pay for renovations.
- Wedel links the gift to reciprocal deals like golf-course development and broader goodwill benefiting Trump's businesses.
UAE Investment And Chip Sales
- The UAE's sovereign fund invested $2bn into a crypto firm tied to Trump and Steve Witkoff, then the White House loosened export rules on sensitive AI chips.
- Wedel highlights the timing as troubling and potentially benefiting Trump-connected parties.