What is going on between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin?
After eighteen months on the campaign trail, two months as President-Elect and now two weeks in the Oval Office I can say that there are two traits that have remained rock solid consistent about our new President.
The first is that President Donald J. Trump is a vain man who craves adulation and lashes out at the slightest criticism.
The second is that Trump has an unexplained admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin to the extent that he dismisses out of hand any attempt to criticize the Russian leader.
The first is just one of many character flaws that in my view made Trump unfit to serve.
The second is more of a policy matter that could have dangerous consequences moving forward.
In a Sunday Super Bowl interview with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly; Trump dismissed O’Reilly’s characterization that Putin was a “killer” with a jaw dropping assertion that we here in America are no different:
“There are a lot of killers.” Trump said. “We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?”
So much for those Republican values of patriotism and American exceptionalism.
I mean what President throws the American people under the bus in defense of a guy who rigs elections, murders journalists and dissidents, neuters the media and steals billions in tax revenue from his constituents.
I thought the American President was supposed to defend the republic…the cheerleader who inspires the country and leads us to a better tomorrow. Not this guy. This guy will throw anyone under the bus in defense of his views. Why? Because Trump is first and foremost all about Trump. A vain man who craves adulation and lashes out at the slightest criticism.
But why defend Putin?
My guess is that the answer lies within Trump’s tax returns.
You have to ask yourself…why would a guy like Trump…who constantly brags about himself…brags about his wealth…brags about his “fantastic company”…not want to prove to his detractors how rich and successful he is? What better way to do that than to make public the accepted standard for proving ones’ financial condition?
Perhaps he doesn’t want us to see how little he paid in taxes. Perhaps he doesn’t want us to see the extent to which he avoided paying taxes by hiding away money in offshore accounts. Maybe he doesn’t want us to see how much money he made manufacturing his brand named products overseas. Maybe he doesn’t want us to find out that he is not as wealthy or as liquid or as successful as he says he is.
Or maybe…just maybe he doesn’t want us to see the business ties he has with Putin or the Russian government.
Trump’s refusal to release his returns while he is under audit are as phony as the “fake news” dog and pony show he orchestrated when he allegedly turned his company over to his sons.
Trump made a big deal in how he would have no knowledge of his company’s business dealing while in office. Like so many things coming out of this president’s mouth, that was a lie.
We now know that Trump will get regular reports on his company’s business dealings and that he retains the right to retake control of the company any time he chooses. That is NOT divestiture in the form of a blind trust. That is a falsehood played upon the American people; orchestrated to keep the American people from gaining a full understanding of Trump’s business dealings.
And, perhaps to avoid any light being shed on his relationship with Vladimir Putin.
Or maybe not.
Perhaps there is a much simpler reason for Trump’s “bromance” with Putin that has nothing to do with business or taxes.
Maybe the real reason Trump admires Putin is because Trump would like to run his presidency in much the same way Putin runs his.
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