There’s a certain myth that continues to grip parts of the American electorate — the idea that Donald Trump is a champion of the middle class. That he’s fighting for the forgotten man, draining the swamp and putting America first. But let’s be honest: if you still believe that you’re either not paying attention or you’re willfully ignoring what’s right in front of you.
Trump didn’t drain the swamp — he built a resort on it and started charging admission.
His sons have been brokering deal after deal, leveraging not just the Trump name, but the weight of their father’s presidency. Executive orders that appear harmless on paper have quietly cleared the path for massive personal profits. Whether it’s licensing deals, land development projects or property expansions, the Trump family hasn’t been investing in America — they’ve been investing in themselves.
While everyday Americans are facing record-high grocery bills, gas prices rising despite a global dip in oil prices, and a volatile stock market, Trump keeps peddling the illusion of prosperity. He talks about bringing jobs back and making America great, all while his family signs multimillion-dollar development deals in the Middle East. That’s not reinvesting in American infrastructure — that’s exporting wealth, influence and opportunity to the highest bidder.
And yet, so many didn’t notice.
They didn’t notice that as of March 2025, taxpayers have spent approximately $30 million on Trump’s golf trips since his return to office in January. This figure includes travel expenses, security costs and accommodations. For instance, his April trip to Mar-a-Lago, which involved attending an LIV Golf event and hosting a fundraiser, incurred an estimated $4.2 million in taxpayer expenses due to its extended duration and premium helicopter transport. Each visit to Mar-a-Lago costs taxpayers about $800,000 in travel expenses alone, including the use of Air Force One, which has an hourly operational cost of nearly $200,000.
They didn’t notice when laws were passed that disproportionately benefit large corporations — not small businesses, not working families, but the mega-rich and the politically connected — leaving the middle class to pick up the tab.
Few noticed when a new private club, launched in Washington, D.C. by Donald Trump Jr., began charging a $500,000 buy-in— expectedly targeting lobbyists, administration officials and other powerful Republicans. That’s a price tag far beyond what most middle-class families will earn in years, all for the privilege of mingling behind closed doors with political power.
They didn’t notice when Trump waved off the impact of his tariffs, as if rising prices at Walmart or bankruptcies on the family farm were just collateral damage in his personal vendetta. Meanwhile, he’s profiting off crypto speculation while entire communities lose their economic lifelines.
And while all of this unfolds, America’s military is placed in jeopardy, entrusted to individuals whose qualifications raise serious questions — because loyalty, not expertise, seems to be the currency of Trump’s White House.
The new tax plan, a win for working families? The full story tells a different tale. While most middle-income households would see small cuts, the real windfall goes to the wealthy, who would pocket the largest share of the benefits. Proposals like tax-free tips and Social Security sound like populist relief, but they barely move the needle for everyday Americans. And behind the scenes, the plan risks deep spending cuts to programs ordinary families actually rely on, all to finance permanent breaks for those at the top. It’s not just misleading, it shifts the burden downward while dressing it up as middle-class relief.
So, how is it that so many smart, hardworking, middle-class Americans are still standing behind a man who is, in essence, selling them beachfront property in Arizona — a fantasy wrapped in a gold-plated sales pitch?
You rail against members of Congress who get rich while in office — and rightfully so. But then you give the president a pass because he was already a millionaire? That logic is not just flawed, it’s dangerous. It excuses corruption, normalizes profiteering and makes a mockery of public service.
Donald Trump isn’t fighting for the middle class. He’s using them. As cover, as props, as pawns. And the sooner we wake up to that fact, the sooner we can get back to building a country that truly works for the people — not just the powerful.
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