Carlyle Vice Chair Wants Trump II to Badly Hurt Iran Economically

Carlyle Group Vice Chair James Stavridis recommended the U.S. military go hard after Iran economically.  He did so two times this weekend on CNN.  

Yesterday, Michael Smerconish interviewed the Admiral while this morning Jake Tapper did likewise.  Smerconish never mention Stavridis' Carlyle ties but they did run a banner with that information.  Tapper disclosed the Admiral's Vice Chair role in his guest introduction.

The Carlyle Group is a politically connected private equity underwriter (PEU).  

Neither CNN host noted Stavridis past statements regarding PEU interest in Iran's economy.  

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will be in Washington, D.C. tomorrow to attend Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral.  I's sure the Admiral's recommendation would be endorsed by Bibi.

Trump nears his "bomb them back to the stone age" moment that ended up being a disaster for Afghanistan and Iraq.  Trump II is five months into his five week war.  

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one.

Fat Cat Seats for FIFA World Cup Final

White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt said Trump II would attend the World Cup final on Sunday.  He has a suite of $TRUMP whales to visit.  They are the $TRUMP Champions of the $TRUMP Coin Club.

NYPO reported that FIFA has been sued for dangling seats that had already been earmarked for the wealthy and well connected.  

Nineteen of those will be hanging out in a suite on Level 3 with "some of the best views of the game."

One need only pay for access, be it the White House or FIFA.  Who will award the $TRUMP Champion Pieces of Eight Prize?  

Market Movers Earn Advanced Information Fees: Trump II White House Communications Edition

Jesse wrote:

Trump speaks (nonsense) on national TV tonight. 

Here is a surprising bit of news. 

Trump Media to sell 'faster millisecond access' branded 'Truth API' to Trump's Truth Social posts starting August 1, letting traders, hedge funds, and high-frequency trading firms pay for real-time millisecond access to Trump's Truth Social posts where he often breaks government news that can move markets. 

Brazenly selling privileged access to government information for the purposes of trading the financial markets? I still find this hard to believe. 

Risks are abounding.

Ticker symbol DJT's 8-k filed with the SEC states:

Trump Media and Technology Group Launches Truth API, a New Licensed Data Service for Financial Services Partners That Provides the Fastest Access to Truth Social's Most Influential Accounts 

TMTG's first data-licensing product creates a new long-term recurring revenue stream for the company

SARASOTA, Fla., July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) today announced Truth API, a new business-to-business data feed that provides licensed, real-time access to posts from the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts. TMTG anticipates that Truth API will be available to institutional customers beginning August 1, 2026. The company has already signed up customers ahead of the launch and is onboarding additional partners in the weeks ahead. 

Until now, no official, integrated API has existed, and firms that prioritize tracking influential Truth posts have relied on manual monitoring. Truth API closes the gap for organizations that place a premium on immediate, verified access to information. 

“Markets already move on Truth Social posts,” said Kevin McGurn, Interim Chief Executive Officer of TMTG. “Truth API delivers a direct, licensed, real-time feed of the platform’s most market-moving Truths while advancing our strategy to monetize proprietary assets through a high-margin, recurring revenue stream. As adoption grows, we expect Truth API to become a meaningful, ongoing source of revenue for the company, creating lasting value for shareholders.” 

Truth API is designed for organizations most impacted by the cost of a delay in information. This includes high-frequency and algorithmic trading firms that require a low-latency, machine-readable feed rather than manual tracking. 

Truth API uses familiar, industry-standard delivery methods to deliver Truth Social posts to our customers in milliseconds. It is expected to provide continuous 24/7 coverage and includes a historical archive of posts dating back to 2022. 

Organizations interested in licensing the new service can reach TMTG's Truth Social Data Licensing team at licensing@tmediatech.com.

BBC reported:

US President Donald Trump currently has the most followers on the platform.

And those Trump II jack-wads will front run anything.   

Deal makers earn deal fees.

The Trump family loves recurring fees from insider deals enabled by "the Boss."

The Ginshu knife carving Trump's Presidential stuff from his myriads of money sucking methods has bloodied White House ethics.  Presidential announcements are now for sale, early access please.

Update 7-18-26:  Reuters reported:

Donald Trump's social media company has discussed charging traders and ‌investors as much as $100,000 a month ‌for faster access to the U.S. president's posts ​on his Truth Social platform, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

TPM reported:

“When you don’t have enforcement of the rules and regulations, when there are different legal outcomes for the president than there would be for any other market actor that acted this egregiously,” Corey Frayer, former senior advisor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, told TPM, “it becomes hard to hold anyone accountable.” 

Truth API risks further harming small investors while providing the most benefit to the most wealthy and well-connected, Granville Martin, a corporate attorney and former general counsel at the Society for Corporate Governance, told TPM. 

“This idea is so corrosive to capital formation because it is institutionalizing rich, corrupt access to material information,” said Martin.

It's the crony capitalism of Trump II, PEUs and TechGods.

Update 7-20-26:  Even the White House teleprompter operator got in on the grift.

More Youngkin Red Cell, Please

Red Cell Partners website could not get enough Youngkin.  Former Carlyle Group co-CEO and Virginia Governor joined Red Cell as Chairman, Partner and Board Member.  

Former Trump I Pentagon Chief Mark Esper enlisted with Red Cell in 2022.  Red Cell has a number of General/Admiral types as operating executives/advisors.

Red Cell is big into AI of all stripes, cybersecurity, intelligence, defense and healthcare, i.e. anywhere Uncle Sam spends a lot of money.  

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU (private equity underwriters like Youngkin) and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one (like Governor Youngkin).

Red Cell kicked off its Youngkin-palooza.  I hope it doesn't cause a hemorrhage in the federal budget given Glenn's historical skill at tapping that at Carlyle.  

TRUMP "Base Metal" Dollar with Gold Coloring Coming this Fall

U.S. Treasury Chief Scott Bessent posted via social media:

“As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the U.S. Mint will begin striking this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism."

It seems Treasury decided against a previous coin option, the what I call the "Dammit, I'm Eighty" version.  That draft design had his hands in a "walker ready" position.

Governments are now giving us the goldless gold coin.  

It's from the usurper of liberty and owner of  a plush patriotism coat gifted from a 19th Century Danish Emperor.   

Keep your eyes peeled for the special mushroom shaped button just below the waist.  

I'll venture Polymarket and Kalshi are taking wagers on the date Trump II will wear his new clothes.  It may be during a prime time Oval Office address.  For their safety, keep your kids in another room during his fireside rants.

Andreessen Co-Chairs Fed Taskforce

Andreessen Horowitz' decision to open a Washington, D.C. office has paid dividends as founder Marc Andreessen is now advising both the Federal Reserve Bank and the Pentagon.  

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has answered a number of questions about the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in today's Congressional testimony.

Andreessen's fintech Synapse tried to gain business from SVB's failure in March 2023.

Synapse itself failed in April 2024.  

So why would the new Fed Chair want the advice of an architect of a financial debacle that impacted people who'd been told their accounts had bank backing?  I have no idea.

Synapse paid a $1 penalty for all the concern and trauma it inflicted on its customers.

When Synapse Financial Technologies, Inc. collapsed in April 2024, more than 100,000 people lost access to over $265 million held across several fintech platforms.

Andreessen did nothing to make Synapse customers whole, at least that's AI's version of events.

TechGods started the bank run that led to SVB's collapse (Peter Thiel), tried to take advantage of its failure (Marc Andreessen) and now have the "next version" via Erebor Bank (Palmer Luckey).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ponied up $46.5 million to make Synapse customers whole.  And how did Mr. Andreessen accept responsibility?  He didn't.

Anything Andreessen says should be taken with a shaker-full of salt.  

The Federal Reserve should take this dreadful collapse as a harbinger of the future given responsible parties have not been held accountable and are rejiggering the system once again for their obscene profit.  

PEUX America

" ...I'm anticipating that President Trump and maybe some of his other cabinet members are going to be impeached.  Their behavior is such that it almost demands it.  The self dealing and corruption we see in Washington is the worst since Warren Harding." -- Chris Whalen, July 11, 2026

“It’s not a happy place, America, and I wasn’t happy there. I’m interested in the condition of America now. It beggars belief what’s happening there now. When you hear a slogan like Make America Great Again, it makes a sort of weird sense because America could be great again, but at community level. Not with sort of strange billionaires making weird decisions” -- Actor Sam Neill (2025): 

Trump II has brought to the forefront the government's shameless catering to billionaire private equity underwriters (PEU) and their trillionaire pursuing TechGod brethren.  

The Department of Labor's major priority is giving PEUs liability free access to worker 401(k) retirement plans.

The State Department and Pentagon have explicit funds and initiatives promoting PEUs/TechGods.  It's even the answer to the current War on Iran:

Trump says US will take investment deals with Gulf states instead of fee for using strait 

US president Donald Trump says that the strait of Hormuz is open to ships from all countries apart from Iran and that he has struck “massive” investment deals with Gulf nations.

Trump II is a deal maker and deal makers earn deal fees.  Rest assured they are there.  The key is deciphering the form and manner.   

The Guardian reported:

Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor in Chicago, will serve as chairman of a new state department enterprise fund overseeing more than $200 million designated for a central Asia trade corridor, including investments in transportation, energy infrastructure and critical minerals.

He is the founder of IJS Investments, a Chicago-based private equity firm specialising in “future ready” energy and telecommunications, and Gotthard Investment AG, a Zurich-based private equity firm focused on financial services, energy and global real estate.

Campaign finance records show that Sokolov has given more than $12 million to Republican campaigns and political groups during Trump’s second term, including $11 million to the president’s Super Pac Maga Inc, and $443,000 to the Republican National Committee. 

The Tripp+ enterprise fund, where Sokolov serves as founder and chair, takes its name from the Trump route for international peace and prosperity, a 27-mile trade corridor spanning southern Armenia and Azerbaijan. A state department spokesperson said the $201m fund is authorized to make loans, equity investments and grants promoting strategic private sector development in the south Caucasus and central Asia, including in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The State Department has more than the Trump Route for International Peace & Prosperity (TRIPP+).  It has Pax Silica, headed by former Palantir executive Jacob Helberg.

 I wrote this back in April:

TechGods gave total loyalty and servitude to Trump II and this unholy alliance drives much of U.S. foreign policy. Take Trump II's Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the State Department Jacob Helberg. His ethics filing reveals conflicts that cannot be undone.

It's a whole of government approach to further enrich America's super wealthy.  

The Trump administration has asked Congress to expand its authority to create enterprise funds anywhere in the world.

Uncle Sam sets up pools of capital for PEUs/TechGods who've long known how to steer a cut back to those who enable them.  

Elected officials take their calls, as they once did for Jeffrey Epstein.  Recall that Epstein's major funder was a PEU, Apollo co-founder Leon Black.  The Guardian story mentioned Black's son Ben:

The Development Finance Corporation, a government investment arm led by the private equity scion Ben Black, has also announced plans to incorporate the “Tripp Development Company” to build railways and other infrastructure on the proposed route linking Azerbaijan to its contested exclave, Nakhchivan, and to Armenia and Turkey.

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one and for that the common person suffers, as they are not seen, much less heard.

Labor Nominee Loves PEUs

Heaven forbid private equity underwriters (PEU) should live in fear for pushing risky assets into workers' retirement accounts.  The Department of Labor is riding to the PEU rescue, making 401(k)s safe for private equity and private credit investment.

Trump II's nominee for Secretary of Labor is on record favoring such protection.  

I recall asking the San Antonio office of the Labor Department to look into the way our new PEU owners were stealing wages and mileage reimbursement from hospice clinicians.  That basic protection, fair pay for hours worked in compliance with labor laws, was absent  and low wage workers suffered.  

PEUs distort everything.  They can be on every side of a deal.  HR morphed into an exclusive tool to implement worker harming schemes.  Their political influence has turned the Labor Department into their marketing staff.

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren (who want a 96 hour work week).  Increasingly, more are one.  Trump II is the grotesque cancerous outgrowth from this several decade phenomena.  It's a uniquely aggressive and malodorous cancer on our economy and body politic, this Trump II.  It usurps, consumes, degrades, violates all that is in its path.  Lord, protect us all.

Falling $TRUMP: Various Contests

Business leaders wanting a chance at $1 million in grants (actually distributed in $TRUMP) have two days left to submit their application.  The competition was announced in April at a Trump family Crypto event at Mar-a-Lago.  $TRUMP was worth roughly $2.50 a meme-coin at the time.  It has fallen to $1.55. 

Applicants must be holders of $TRUMP to enter the business competition.

 

The America First Business Challenge answered common questions with:

A disclaimer includes:

Any token, coin, or project using the America First Business Challenge name or likeness outside of $TRUMP is unauthorized and should be treated with caution.

Another project intended to promote the use of $TRUMP meme-coins is the Trump Billionaire Club Game.

Forbes reported the game was expected to be released December 30, 2025.

Trump Billionaires Club Game website still says it will be released soon.

The $TRUMP FIFA winners will claim their prizes soon.  Big winners will attend the World Cup final while others will watch the game from Trump Tower.  

There are lots of reasons to hold $TRUMP but appreciation in the value of the meme-coin has not been one of them to date.  

Trump Love for NATO is Albania Deep

The recent NATO meeting in Turkey ended with Trump II soaking up the love, the kind given to a dysfunctional tyrant to appease them.  

That appeasement may go both ways as NATO's next meeting will be held in Albania, the site of Jared and Ivanka Kushner's new luxury resort in the middle of a wildlife protection area.  Albanians have turned out massively to protest this development and its corrupt ties.

NATO is considering not holding a meeting in 2027, i.e. more appeasement.  Will that year off give Atlantic Incubation Partners time to build and even host the 2028 event?  

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one.  The things they will give up for money.....

CNN Military Analyst Has Major PEU Conflict

This morning Carlyle Group Vice Chair Admiral James Stavridis told CNN's Michael Smerconish that Trump II would need to go after Iran economically.  

Not disclosed in this interview:

1.  Admiral James Stavridis' full time job as Carlyle's Vice Chair.  This includes mobilizing other senior military leaders on behalf of Carlyle as it pursues high growth defense investments.

2.  Stavridis recommendation three weeks into the U.S./Israeli excursion (March):

Admiral James Stavridis, the former supreme allied commander of NATO and a vice chair at Carlyle, told Semafor last year that a postwar Iran could be “the big investment opportunity in the Middle East.” An educated population of 90 million people with good demographic trends and a strong national culture — “they believe in themselves as Persians,” he said — could “look like the reconstruction of the Korean peninsula after the end of the Korean War.”

3.  The Admiral's ongoing assessments of the Strait of Hormuz as part of his Carlyle Group responsibilities.

There are some clear opportunities that emerge from the geopolitical uncertainty. 

 The first is obvious, which is the impact on energy. We believe the global system will see some level of “rewiring” to include more pipelines and shipping routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. There will also likely be opportunities in renewable and sustainable energy technology, even in the era of “drill baby, drill.” The effort to bring more oil from other sources – for example, from Venezuela, the Arctic, and UAE now that they are out of OPEC – will likely increase. 

A second major opportunity set will be in defense spending, which is rising rapidly in the United States, Europe, and Japan. A premium on new technologies – drones, lasers, artificial intelligence for war, hypersonic missiles, and special forces – is clearly emerging not only from the war in Iran but also from the four-year conflict in Ukraine. 

Thirdly, given their geographic position somewhat out of the maelstrom of the Middle East and the geopolitical tensions between the west and Iran, we believe India emerges as an attractive investment opportunity. New Delhi seems keen to work with all sides in the current geopolitical environment, and alongside its strong demographics and status as the world’s largest democracy, exploring commercial opportunities there could make sense.

Trump II does not listen to his own military leaders, so why would he listen to Admiral Stavridis?  Because Trump watches television.  Lots of it.  

If someone wanted Trump to consider Stavridis advice, the best way would to make the Admiral look neutral.  A Carlyle Group tag would not help, given Trump's antipathy towards co-founder David Rubenstein.

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one.  

Everybody is shamelessly pushing their own book, especially Trump II and his disturbing progeny.  The role models are long gone.

Lifestyle of the PEU/TechGod Famous

Luxury Launches reported: 

Like a modern day Emperor, Jeff Bezos arrived with his wife in Costa Rica aboard his private jet to enjoy the springtime. As the marina was too small for his $500 million Koru yacht he took a helicopter and landed in utmost style on his $75 million support vessel Abeona.

TechGod Bezos is not alone in enjoying the super-yachting world.  Private equity underwriters (PEU) have a similar affinity for insanely expensive ships.

Next time you bite into a Jersey Mike's sub you can know your hard earned money went to Blackstone Group co-founder Stephen Schwarzman's treasure chest on his 332 foot floating palace.  

Thank heaven these guys get to depreciate their superyachts.  Wouldn't want them to pay their fair share in taxes to support our country.

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one.

Trump's PEU Nemesis

It's a matter of time before Trump II goes after the Washington Monument, given he has decimated every other entity formerly chaired by Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein.  

Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center has been well documented.  Courts have prevented permanent renaming and ordered the Trump name removed from Kennedy Center facilities and materials.

The White House has accused The Smithsonian of having a political agenda.  The institution argues otherwise:

"For more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so.”

Former President Joe Biden called the Washington Monument "the Rubenstein" after the Carlyle Group co-founder donated funds for its restoration.  

Don't be surprised if one morning a wrecking ball shows up on the National Mall.  Trump appears to hate anything Rubenstein.  Trump II even formed a new foundation to rival Rubenstein's Kennedy Center Foundation, the Trump-Kennedy Center Foundation.  Shills make shells.

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one.  The leader of the Red Team expects all PEUs and TechGods to bow at his feet.  To not oblige incurs the wrath of Trump II.

Trump also treats his supporters poorly, because he can.  He dicked TechGod Brad Gertsner this morning in his Trump accounts press session.  Appear with Trump and prepare to be diminished, minimized, usurped and fleeced.  It is Trump's essential being.  The man is a giant sucking hole.

Recent Legendary Weddings

Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein beat Taylor Swift to the punch yet again.   It was Swift's original music in 2019 but the current situation involved wedding vows.  Rubenstein married Carolyn Zucker in a private ceremony described as the best kept secret in Washington, D.C.  It happened on June 5th.

Taylor married boyfriend Travis Kelce on July 3rd in a giant ceremony in Madison Square Garden.  

Taylor eventually purchased her music back from Shamrock Capital.  Carlyle stiffed Taylor like they did the City of Missoula regarding Mountain Water.  In both cases they said they were open to selling to the highly interested buyers but profit targets required otherwise.

Taylor eventually got her original music and Missoula got Mountain Water but those deals happened with zero help from Carlyle.  

Declaration of Independence Applies Today

The Declaration of Independence speaks to the very situation facing America today.  

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Consider the people's demands for ethical leaders, affordable healthcare and the longstanding request that billionaires pay a commensurate tax rate given they are treated as "model citizens" with greater access to the levers of power.  

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

A great usurpation is being conducted by our current President.  Whatever Trump II sets his sights on he intends to bring it into his domain, alter it at his whim, mine it for whatever monetary value it holds and turn it into a mirror reflecting his greatness.  Deal makers make deal fees.  Recurrent fees are the best kind.

America's governance is not a part time job.  International relations is not picking off weak countries and turning them into Trump II franchises while usurping their resources and controlling their markets.  The Executive Branch does not govern the world.

Reclaim freedom and institute a government that serves people outside the Epstein class.  Silver Academy wrote about our "Epstein Economy:"

Behind the curtain, a different system operates—one that increasingly resembles extraction, not governance. Call it the “Epstein class”: a network of financial and political elites insulated from consequence, enriched by proximity to power, and sustained by a permanent cycle of crisis. Endless wars funnel public wealth into private hands. Insider trading masquerades as portfolio management. The Federal Reserve quietly absorbs toxic corporate debt, socializing losses while privatizing gains.

America has an unfit ruler who plans to have an extra lengthy July 4th speech in record heat conditions, days after proudly defending his $2.4 billion engorgement in his first year in office.

I celebrate the 4th of July today with the full confidence that America can reclaim the intent of our founding fathers who had a very different view of duty, virtue and honor than the "Epstein Class" dominated by moneymen, TechGods and a government they effectively control.  

Thomas Jefferson levered his slaves when he had access to ample capital that required one condition, freeing them.  That makes him a pioneering private equity underwriter (PEU).  He devised a seven day clock in his Virginia mountain estate, making him an early TechGod.

This July 4th I beseech our creator to free us from the injurious oversized influence of PEUs and their TechGod brethren who worship Mammon and earthly power over all other.  Return us Christians so strongly to Christ's gospel that the prosperity/predatory gospel simply withers away.  

I pray that elected officials act on the best interests of society as a whole not just the Trump-Epstein Class.  I hope we have officials who understand money is money and speech is speech, even when both are digitized.

I have faith in the renewal of America.  Together we can create again.  The Declaration of Independence is the map to our future and in that I have faith.  

Today I am free to believe these things while subject to surveillance and monitoring.  Tomorrow is ours to create.  Let us come together for that very purpose, such that someday the following has no meaning:

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one.  

Judging Greeddom this July 4th

Over the last several decades a number of trends have emerged.  More companies have become owned by private equity underwriters (PEU) and these corporate flippers multiplied like cockroaches.

Workers have gotten less of the overall economic pie, as PEU budgets are steered to management fees, drastically higher interest expenses and periodic special dividends/distributions to the sponsor.

Corporate profits soared as market forces, like prices, supply and demand, have been managed via price fixing software as a service, industry rollups and outright collusion.

Most people know something is not quite right.  Many people retiring lived at least one PEU takeover of their employer.  Some experienced many.  

Common phrases shared by those folks, "You won't believe what is going on here.  I can't talk about it on the phone or in this building, but we need to meet and visit.  It's crazy."  

Workers have no one to go to given politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one and for that the little people suffer.  

Trump II has employed PEU practices to explode his family wealth to the tune of over $2.4 billion in the last year.  He and Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein might call that God's work.  Only if your God is Mammon.

Total Wages down 27%, Profits up 200% and PEUs grew from 24 to 11,400.   These are things that are related.  

 

$TRUMP Boots the Ball to July 5th

CBS News reported:

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he doesn't believe the recent disclosure of President Trump's billions in crypto earnings is problematic for the president. 

"I don't think there's an appearance problem," Bessent told CBS News anchor and MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady regarding Mr. Trump's earnings. 

According to a financial disclosure released earlier this week, Mr. Trump has earned approximately $1.4 billion from his crypto ventures since beginning his second term. 

Those include his "meme coin" $TRUMP and earnings from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company backed by the president and his family.

Under Trump II, no one is paid to think, especially "look the other way" Scott Bessent.  They are to execute his savage whims.  Any appearance with a Trump name or image is good, even the bad ones.  Trump's greatest nightmare is irrelevancy.

To boot there are two days left in the current $TRUMP Coin Club contest as the sponsors extended the original end date from July 1 to July 5.   It's entirely conceivable that  Trump got complimentary tickets to the World Cup final and steered them to his Trump Memes company.  Which high dollar Trump donor ponied up for the stadium suite where the top $TRUMP holders get to view the game? 

 As for past leaderboards, the top three holders can be seen below:

Trump's fallout with Justin Sun has been more costly, both in dollar terms and reputation.  How bad do you have to be to have a fallout with a fraudster you pardoned?

Trump' crypto shenanigans are an ethical earthquake.  What other president held billions in assets in an area they were charged with regulating?

Billions in Trump II crypto earnings should be a problem for all his loyal followers who lost their shirts betting on any Trump crap-coin.  A Presidential rug-pull is a rug-pull just the same.

$TRUMP traded around $14 for Contest #1, $3 for the the second and below $2 for much of the current contest.  As the for the $TRUMP Leaderboard extension, compete at your own peril.  

The Coin Club does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that $TRUMP coins have any utility, payment functionality, or commercial integration beyond serving as an eligibility criterion for Coin Club membership. 

No representation made on the Website, in marketing materials, on social media, or in any other communication by or on behalf of Fight Fight Fight LLC constitutes a binding promise that any specific benefit, discount, merchant partnership, event, or experience will be available, maintained, or delivered. 

Any descriptions of potential benefits are illustrative only and are subject in all cases to the discretionary provisions set forth herein. You acknowledge that you are not acquiring or holding $TRUMP coins in reliance on any such representation.

There's even an out for "do this to get that" in TrumpWorld. 

Update 7-8-26:  $TRUMP is currently trading at $1.61.

The all-time low price for the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin is $1.50, which was recorded on June 6, 2026.

Softening the Great Intrusions

Trump II brought the worst aspects of private equity underwriting (PEU) to light with his Presidential personal profit machine.  PEUs have long levered political contacts for gross monetary gains and government protection, especially in the tax arena.  However they did so quietly, behind the scenes.  

Their lobbying group even changed names from the Private Equity Growth Capital Council to the American Investment Council.  Private equity became man's "highest calling" and storied newspapers wrote of "policy making billionaires."  On this blog, I suggested otherwise.

Trump II's "blatantly obscene pilfering" is recast as "honest graft" by the Wall Street Journal.  Horse Hockey!  The Presidency isn't supposed to be a "deal makers make deal fees" job.

Trump rug-pulled his meme-coin followers, front ran key strategic decisions across multiple arenas and usurped powers the Supremes had yet to grant him.

All of Trump II's pardoned fraudsters together could not have come up with such a scheme.  

1.  Win a second presidency when you botched the first.  

2.  Do it all in the daylight with taxpayer money in an orgy of financial excess

3.  Conduct the scheme across currencies and using offshore vehicles

Brilliant, if you are Lex Luthor, Dr. Doom, Todd Blanche or Thanos.  

Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren.  Increasingly, more are one and that's why they won't lift a finger to stop Trump II's wealth engorgement army.  For all this, the little people suffer.

Update 7-13-26:  A federal judge ruled against Trump II suing Trump I for billions in proceeds.

“The nature of the suit itself and the conduct of the parties and counsel from its filing make plain that this was an attempt to use the court to provide some legitimacy to an agreement to confer immunity to people and entities affiliated with the president and to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers to redress grievances not defined in the law,” she wrote. 

“The court finds that this matter was brought for an improper purpose – to gain the imprimatur of judicial legitimacy for a ‘settlement’ that had no viable basis in law or fact,” she added.

Hopefully, Congress can take this up and ensure every aspect of this sordid insider deal are struck down.

SPACEX to Pay Grimes County $20 million Annually in Lieu of Taxes

Grimes County negotiated an economic development agreement with SpaceX.  In return for 100% tax abatement SpaceX will:

After negotiation, a $10 million upfront payment and a fixed PILOT of $20 million per year for 35 years. 

There are provisions to protect the environment, requiring SpaceX to comply with all environmental laws, and provisions to protect water. They verified it is not their intention to use groundwater. Provisions to protect the grid, they will be providing their own electricity through power plants. In fact, they will be putting more energy, in excess of their needs, back onto the grid. Noise and light pollution were addressed.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Grimes County, Texas The Commissioners Court of Grimes County, Texas, will convene in public session at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 3, 2026 at 9:00am at the Grimes County Commissioner Courtroom, located in the Grimes County Justice & Business Center, 270 FM 149 W., Anderson, Texas, at which the County Commissioners will consider approval of a property tax abatement agreement as described below. 

Name of property owner and applicant for the tax abatement agreement: 

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., a Texas corporation 1 Rocket Road, Starbase, Texas 78521 

Name and location of reinvestment zone in which property is located: 

SpaceX Reinvestment Zone No. 1 – 2026-001 will be located at the Gibbons Creek Reservoir and surrounding areas.

A general description of the nature of the improvements in the agreements is as follows: 

SpaceX proposes construction of a multi-phase, next-generation, vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility, which would represent a transformative investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity. 

Estimated cost of improvements or repairs: 

Estimated capital investment for the initial phases is $55 billion, with an estimated total capital investment (if additional phases are constructed) of $119 billion.

During the June 3rd meeting:

Motion by Chad Mallett to Approve a Tax Abatement Agreement between Space Exploration Technologies Corp and Grimes County pursuant to Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code and allow County Judge as signatory. Seconded by Phillip Cox. 

Record vote: Commissioner Mallett-Yes Commissioner Tullos-No Commissioner Raska-Yes Commissioner Cox-Yes County Judge-Yes

In Favor: 4 Opposed: 1 Motion Passed

In the same meeting the Commissioners' Court moved and passed the following by the same 4-1 vote:

Discussion and action on approving a Section 381.004 Economic Development Program and Agreement between Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Grimes County, Texas.

There was no specific information relative to the economic development program and agreement with SpaceX in the meeting background packet, nor was any presented during the meeting.  

Even local politicians love TechGods and their PEU (private equity underwriters) brethren.  Increasingly, more are one in our "self service" oriented world.

Trump II's Obscene Financial Engorgement

Trump II brought shypto to the New World and made an obscene fortune doing so.  His fleet of shypto ventures includes $TRUMP of DTTM Operations LLC & Celebration Cards.  The $TRUMP memecoin website states: 

CIC Digital LLC, an affiliate of The Trump Organization, and Fight Fight Fight LLC collectively own 80% of the Trump Cards, subject to a 3-year unlocking schedule. CIC Digital LLC and Celebration Cards LLC, the owner of Fight Fight Fight LLC, will receive trading revenue derived from trading activities of Trump Meme Cards.

Trump II launched $TRUMP just days before his inauguration.  He reported $635 million in income from the sale of his Trump meme coins 

World Liberty Financial provided even more, $800 million.  That included more than $520 million from crypto token sales and more than $250 million from the partial sale of his ownership in the World Liberty business.  World Liberty's disclosures include:

DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity affiliated with Donald J. Trump and certain of his family members, owns approximately 38% of the equity interests in WLF Holdco LLC, which holds the only membership interest in World Liberty Financial LLC, a Florida limited liability company and developer of the WLF protocol and operates the WLF governance platform. WLF Holdco LLC holds all of the rights to net protocol revenues from the WLF protocol (other than net proceeds from the sale of $WLFI tokens) pursuant to the terms of agreements with World Liberty Financial LLC. None of Donald J. Trump, his family members or any director, officer or employee of Trump Organization or of DT Marks LLC is an officer, director or employee of, WLF Holdco LLC or World Liberty Financial LLC. DT Marks DEFI LLC along with certain family members of Donald J. Trump also holds 22.5 billion $WLFI tokens, and DT Marks DEFI LLC is entitled to receive fees from World Liberty Financial LLC pursuant to a service agreement, equal to 75% of $WLFI token sale proceeds after deduction of agreed reserves, expenses and other amounts. Any references to or quotes or imagery attributed to or associated with Donald J. Trump or his family members should not be construed as an endorsement or representation or warranty with respect to any product or service offering. $WLFI tokens and use of the WLF protocol and governance platform are initially offered and sold solely by World Liberty Financial LLC or its affiliates. WLF Holdco LLC, DT Marks DEFI LLC, World Liberty Financial LLC, the WLF protocol, the WLF governance platform and $WLFI tokens are not political or associated with any political campaign.

Shell companies, royalties and vanity offerings  -- all worthy of and fit for a King.   Christians who preach the prosperity/predatory gospel would grant this person deity status.

The Trump family made at least $2.3 ​billion from crypto-related projects since Trump returned to the White House in 2025.

Trump II ceaselessly shatters tenants of leadership while trashing Christ's gospel teachings.  The Digital Caligula marches on, usurping all in his path.

Update:  CNN's Erin Burnett reported:

Former Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb on Trump earning over $1 billion last year from crypto ventures: “We are seeing the greatest onslaught of corruption in the history of mankind.”

Cobb's statement brings my AI art adjustments to life.

My wise friend noted:

Everything's broken. Trump is a kleptomaniac with the flare for ARSON. 

DC's burning. Both parties are to blame. Truly sick   And they laugh it off all the way to the bank

Trump's language of excess for the other's minor action is contrasted by his minimization of his gross schemes.  We used to call these people dicks and a prior management mantra was "no assholes."  Today they are everywhere and travel in packs (as an entourage).