Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

erronis

(22,689 posts)
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:10 PM Nov 15

Trump Looting Of US Treasury Officially Reaching 'Vault In Die Hard' Levels Of Thieving

https://www.wonkette.com/p/trump-looting-of-us-treasury-officially
Gary Legum

It seems like just a few days ago that we wrote about an effort by certain senators to grift millions of dollars out of the Treasury as “compensation” for Special Counsel Jack Smith looking (rightfully, we should emphasize) at their phone records as part of his investigation into Trump’s January 6 attempted coup.

That’s because it was just a few days ago that we wrote about this. In the Trump era, the amount of grift, chicanery, legerdemain, jiggery-pokery, crookedness, and flat-out hanky-panky being used by Trump allies to suck all of America’s money out of our Treasury like a Galactus-sized Roomba is so vast and so constant that we cannot keep up. Oh, we wrote about one scheme on Monday? Well, now it is Saturday, a dozen new schemes by Trump insiders to clean out America’s bank accounts have emerged, and there will be several more by the time we finish typing this sentence.

Here is a big one, courtesy of ProPublica, which is doing some of the best journalism of the Trump era. It involves Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, a Republican consultant who worked on her last campaign for South Dakota governor, and a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign from DHS that skipped the federal government’s normal competitive bidding process because the agency deemed it part of the “national emergency” at the southern border.

Oh, did we mention that the Republican consultant, Ben Yoho, is married to fascist Chatty Cathy doll Tricia McLaughlin, who serves as Noem’s chief spokesperson at DHS? Well, consider it mentioned.

. . .

The next president is going to walk into the Treasury and find it resembles a bank vault post-heist. Even the copper wiring might have been ripped out of the walls and flown down to Mar-a-Lago.


Weep while your taxpayer dollars are being used to fund more criminal activities.
53 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump Looting Of US Treasury Officially Reaching 'Vault In Die Hard' Levels Of Thieving (Original Post) erronis Nov 15 OP
Like Putin has stolen almost everything from the Russian people. Irish_Dem Nov 15 #1
Maga. They don't realize they will be the ones living like the rural Russians in the future Walleye Nov 15 #5
Just give them a liter of rot-gut vodka every day. erronis Nov 15 #6
Most of these "People of the Soil" MAGAts Stacey Grove Nov 16 #47
Yep Trump was supposed to make them millionaires and the rest of us paupers. Irish_Dem Nov 15 #10
Many of them already are...but of course, they blame the Dems... Trueblue Texan Nov 15 #17
Faux Noi$e repeats that to them over and over. Justice matters. Nov 15 #27
I worry that we are watching the heist - everywhere...all at once. yellow dahlia Nov 15 #33
We are watching the biggest heist in US history. Irish_Dem Nov 15 #37
Tip of the iceberg, for sure. yellow dahlia Nov 15 #40
It's what traitors do. Kid Berwyn Nov 15 #2
And they're going to bomb Venezuela. Initech Nov 15 #34
They really are trying. Kid Berwyn Nov 15 #36
My mind sends me to Fort Knox. Sure would like some independent investigator to check it out. n/t Paper Roses Nov 15 #3
Right. Call in the UN. Or perhaps independent observers from the Russian Federation (aka USSR). erronis Nov 15 #7
My mind goes there, as well. n/t yellow dahlia Nov 15 #41
Right after he took office for the second time popsdenver Nov 16 #45
And with crypto, as the name implies... IthinkThereforeIAM Nov 16 #48
He doesn't understand. He thinks all the money is his. That's the key that his behavior he believes he's entitled to any Walleye Nov 15 #4
The "supreme" court is either in on the heist or they are all as dumb as Thomas. erronis Nov 15 #8
They are certainly dumb in some respects. When it comes to judging people. Walleye Nov 15 #9
Their buddies and "employers" are in on it. haele Nov 15 #12
And he also thinks he is entitled to all of the power. Initech Nov 15 #35
. . . John1956PA Nov 15 #11
One of the best villians ever! pfitz59 Nov 16 #53
Corruption is the thread that runs through everything they do crud Nov 15 #13
When people were talking about trump being "transactional" I didn't really understand what that meant. erronis Nov 15 #14
they use the word "transactional" in the place of crud Nov 15 #15
Good point. calimary Nov 15 #19
Details. We need details. MineralMan Nov 15 #16
I'm sure that the regime will give us the invoices, receipts, tax records - if we ask nicely. erronis Nov 15 #18
Of course they won't. But guessing about it won't get you any closer MineralMan Nov 15 #20
They put out no bid contracts to their friends Farmer-Rick Nov 15 #21
Yes, of course they did. MineralMan Nov 15 #23
The pro publica story has plenty of details. What more details do you expect? Wiz Imp Nov 15 #26
That is exactly why they want crypto to get big... IthinkThereforeIAM Nov 16 #49
And the Republicans even save on burial expenses because markodochartaigh Nov 15 #22
and don't forget E. Normus Nov 15 #24
It should be sub rosa, Deminpenn Nov 15 #25
Fort Knox Projection? 3825-87867 Nov 15 #28
It sure does. Dave Bowman Nov 15 #29
I said something just after he was reselected. Javaman Nov 15 #30
I have been thinking that. Ugh! n/t yellow dahlia Nov 15 #42
DURec leftstreet Nov 15 #31
His administration stole so much that he knows the Treasury can't reimburse the tarrifs RainCaster Nov 15 #32
Well, what is anyone going to do to stop them? OldBaldy1701E Nov 15 #38
Kick BlueWaveNeverEnd Nov 15 #39
Who knows how many gold bars he helped himself to during his " tour" of Fort Knox! kimbutgar Nov 15 #43
Ask the rebubs you know if MW67 Nov 15 #44
We may be following the path of Saudi Arabia, one of Trmp's favorite countries ... when Saud was deposed in favor of ... eppur_se_muova Nov 16 #46
Then, if and when Dems take control... OhioBack2Blue Nov 16 #50
It's a smash and grab. xuplate Nov 16 #51
Looks like a good place to ask Rowdyag Nov 16 #52

Irish_Dem

(79,899 posts)
1. Like Putin has stolen almost everything from the Russian people.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:14 PM
Nov 15

Outside of Moscow people don't have indoor plumbing.

How far with the American people fall after Trump is done looting the entire US?

Walleye

(43,845 posts)
5. Maga. They don't realize they will be the ones living like the rural Russians in the future
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:20 PM
Nov 15

erronis

(22,689 posts)
6. Just give them a liter of rot-gut vodka every day.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:22 PM
Nov 15

If the poverty/malnutrition doesn't kill them, the liver disease will. Mission accomplished (as W liked to tout.)

Stacey Grove

(156 posts)
47. Most of these "People of the Soil" MAGAts
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 03:53 AM
Nov 16

would give you a big, wide, toothless shit-eating smile for some free booze.

Irish_Dem

(79,899 posts)
10. Yep Trump was supposed to make them millionaires and the rest of us paupers.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:28 PM
Nov 15

Guess they will find out the hard way the real plan.

Justice matters.

(9,413 posts)
27. Faux Noi$e repeats that to them over and over.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 04:11 PM
Nov 15

And these stupid idiots believe them over and over because they "look" tough when they speak.

yellow dahlia

(4,607 posts)
33. I worry that we are watching the heist - everywhere...all at once.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 05:48 PM
Nov 15

I started saying the Kleptocracy will be televised, shortly after the election. It is worse than I thought possible.

Irish_Dem

(79,899 posts)
37. We are watching the biggest heist in US history.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 06:19 PM
Nov 15

And much of it is being done behind the scenes.
We are only seeing a fraction of the theft.

Kid Berwyn

(23,014 posts)
36. They really are trying.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 06:15 PM
Nov 15

I'd say, "Give them a medal," but we would have to pay for that, too.

There's always hope, just as long as there's two of us who believe in democracy, Initech! Which explains their hatred and murderous actions.

Paper Roses

(7,617 posts)
3. My mind sends me to Fort Knox. Sure would like some independent investigator to check it out. n/t
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:17 PM
Nov 15

erronis

(22,689 posts)
7. Right. Call in the UN. Or perhaps independent observers from the Russian Federation (aka USSR).
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:23 PM
Nov 15

popsdenver

(1,569 posts)
45. Right after he took office for the second time
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 12:59 AM
Nov 16

it was rumored that HE and one of his CABAL demanded a personal visit inside the vaults of Fort Knox. Probably just to look at all the Gold to satisfy his Gold Fetish, and know that some how he would be able to grift all of it.

I imagined him trying to corner the phony crypto market, switch the U.S. currency to Crypto, the government would then have to buy all the crypto to put it into circulation, and he would only accept the Gold in Ft. Knox as payment for the massive amounts of crypto he had accumulated. LOL

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,281 posts)
48. And with crypto, as the name implies...
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 07:25 AM
Nov 16

... who took it is the main part of the equation. They want crypto in fast... if Epstein had crypto, the money transfers/"investments"/extortion would be untraceable, ie... unseen and the parties unknown.

That is what these crooks are setting up. A crypto/ponzi schemer by the name of Benjamin Weiner is in deep doo doo for it right now in South Dakota, bilked at least one Iowa venture capitalist out of $4 million, among others.

"Judge Camela Theeler issued the order expanding the role of a receiver at the request of a court receiver appointed in August after multiple legal complaints from former investors of Benaiah and its founder, Benjamin Wiener, accused of bilking millions in a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme."


https://www.thedakotascout.com/p/fraud-investigation-into-sioux-falls

Walleye

(43,845 posts)
4. He doesn't understand. He thinks all the money is his. That's the key that his behavior he believes he's entitled to any
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:18 PM
Nov 15

Do any of the things that he does. He is obviously immune to any criminal prosecution. And he has no morality. I’m sure he doesn’t even know what the word ethics means. what did the damn Supreme Court think was gonna happen when they gave him this? Are people still giving him the benefit of the doubt? was it Mark Twain? “It is easier to fool a man than to convince him he’s been fooled.”

erronis

(22,689 posts)
8. The "supreme" court is either in on the heist or they are all as dumb as Thomas.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:24 PM
Nov 15

Editing to exclude the non-RW toadies. Leaving only Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and the hand-maid.
(Wow, I don't think I've ever memorized the list of justices before this fraught time.)

haele

(15,090 posts)
12. Their buddies and "employers" are in on it.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:35 PM
Nov 15

Six of them are just frontmen for the Heritage Foundation and fellow travellers.

Initech

(107,463 posts)
35. And he also thinks he is entitled to all of the power.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 05:54 PM
Nov 15

Because his 24/7 ass kissing propaganda channels and his social media shitfluencers convince them he is.

crud

(1,201 posts)
13. Corruption is the thread that runs through everything they do
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:36 PM
Nov 15

I'm not going to list everything...impossible. But no matter what they do, from pardons, to no-bid contracts, to extra-judicial killings. It's political, or financial, or a coverup, always corrupt.

erronis

(22,689 posts)
14. When people were talking about trump being "transactional" I didn't really understand what that meant.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:47 PM
Nov 15

Now I do - at least understand a bit more.

Everything is pay-as-you-go. No long-term planning for future benefits and rewards. No stockpiling for those emergencies that do happen.

And, of course, all transactions in non-reportable, non-recordable hand-offs. Overseas in untraceable bank accounts or crypto - and better if the crypto market/exchange is controlled by the same crooks.

crud

(1,201 posts)
15. they use the word "transactional" in the place of
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 01:53 PM
Nov 15

"corrupt" in our news media because the news media is transa...er...Corrupt.

MineralMan

(150,652 posts)
16. Details. We need details.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 02:21 PM
Nov 15

This is just generalities. What actually happened? What moneys were taken? How? By Whom? Where did it go?

I can't make any real information out at that link.

erronis

(22,689 posts)
18. I'm sure that the regime will give us the invoices, receipts, tax records - if we ask nicely.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 02:36 PM
Nov 15

I agree that the hard reporting is not present. But it may never be if the transactions are cloaked, as they seem to be.

Knowing a tiny bit about DoD budgets, which were somewhat translucent, the stuff happening now is intentionally opaque.

MineralMan

(150,652 posts)
20. Of course they won't. But guessing about it won't get you any closer
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 02:53 PM
Nov 15

to the truth. In fact, none of us will have any access to actual facts about any of this. We will have to wait and see what develops.

Farmer-Rick

(12,487 posts)
21. They put out no bid contracts to their friends
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 02:53 PM
Nov 15

Then don't care if the work gets done or not a lot of the time. Frequently the contracts are illegal in that they pay for illegal purchases, like campaign advertising or tearing down historical buildings with asbestos with no remediation.

But I'm sure there is a lot more going on including kick backs and bribes. But Justice Thomas and his right wing Nazi pals are just fine with it.

That kick back to Republicon Senators who were involved in the Smith investigation was in the "clean" CR bill. Also in the "clean" CR bill was the destruction of the cannabis market, the end to many food safety laws and of course the increase costs of healthcare.

MineralMan

(150,652 posts)
23. Yes, of course they did.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 02:56 PM
Nov 15

The problem is compounded by the DOJ and FBI being in MAGA pockets. There is no real investigation going on and no reporting from investigations.

We simply do not know, in most cases, any of the details. That makes it almost impossible to draw valid conclusions from the misinformation or lack of information we have. Being aware of that should help us not to state speculations as facts, I hope.

Wiz Imp

(9,016 posts)
26. The pro publica story has plenty of details. What more details do you expect?
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 04:02 PM
Nov 15

This is a great example of classic investigative reporting which is totally missing from the mainstream media today.

https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group

Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts
On Oct. 2, the second day of the government shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived at Mount Rushmore to shoot a television ad. Sitting on horseback in chaps and a cowboy hat, Noem addressed the camera with a stern message for immigrants: “Break our laws, we’ll punish you.”

Noem has hailed the more than $200 million, taxpayer-funded ad campaign as a crucial tool to stem illegal immigration. Her agency invoked the “national emergency” at the border as it awarded contracts for the campaign, bypassing the normal competitive bidding process designed to prevent waste and corruption.

The Department of Homeland Security has kept at least one beneficiary of the nine-figure ad deal a secret, records and interviews show: a Republican consulting firm with long-standing personal and business ties to Noem and her senior aides at DHS. The company running the Mount Rushmore shoot, called the Strategy Group, does not appear on public documents about the contract. The main recipient listed on the contracts is a mysterious Delaware company, which was created days before the deal was finalized.

No firm has closer ties to Noem’s political operation than the Strategy Group. It played a central role in her 2022 South Dakota gubernatorial campaign. Corey Lewandowski, her top adviser at DHS, has worked extensively with the firm. And the company’s CEO is married to Noem’s chief spokesperson at DHS, Tricia McLaughlin.

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,281 posts)
49. That is exactly why they want crypto to get big...
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 07:43 AM
Nov 16

... and it adds to the chaos they seem to love, "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with B.S.".

markodochartaigh

(5,046 posts)
22. And the Republicans even save on burial expenses because
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 02:55 PM
Nov 15

they are so crooked you can just screw them into the ground.

Deminpenn

(17,299 posts)
25. It should be sub rosa,
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 04:01 PM
Nov 15

Last edited Sun Nov 16, 2025, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)

but the dem party should be working right now to identify and detail all the taxpayer funded grift by individuals associated with Trump, friends of Trump, bribers of Trump, WH political appointees, cabinet members, the president and VP. The cost of actions such as firing and rehiring of federal employees, the rebranding the dept of defense, frivo;us and poltical prosecutions and lawsuits, etc, should also be compliled. Then financial sanctions can be applied to those individuals immediately upon a dem being sworn as president. Every dime of taxpayer money these individuals wasted or caused to be wasted needs to be paid back in full.

3825-87867

(1,806 posts)
28. Fort Knox Projection?
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 04:13 PM
Nov 15

Remember when he questioned whether Ft Knox still had gold?
Lots of nice gold stuff in the Whitewashed House.
Can some House Member or Senator conduct a field trip to Ky and check to see if OUR gold is still there?
Asking for more than 77 million people.

Javaman

(65,130 posts)
30. I said something just after he was reselected.
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 05:19 PM
Nov 15

We will wake up one morning to the headline that Fort Knox is empty

RainCaster

(13,385 posts)
32. His administration stole so much that he knows the Treasury can't reimburse the tarrifs
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 05:41 PM
Nov 15

It's more grifting...

MW67

(87 posts)
44. Ask the rebubs you know if
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 09:02 PM
Nov 15

They support the way the people they elected are using ,Our tax dollars , point out the various and obvious ways they are lining their pockets , then remind them if they do support it or really don't care, they have nothing to complain about if the other side does the same in the future, same argument can be made for handing of DoJ , allowing campaign mega donors inside the sensitive areas of government , ECT.

eppur_se_muova

(41,009 posts)
46. We may be following the path of Saudi Arabia, one of Trmp's favorite countries ... when Saud was deposed in favor of ...
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 02:56 AM
Nov 16

Faisal, the story goes that Faisal's first act was to send a messenger to the treasury to see how much money was left after Saud's lavishly self-indulgent excesses. The messenger returned and said "seventy-two!". Faisal was shocked -- after decades of multibillion-dollar cash flows from SA's oil, they only had $72 million in the treasury ?? Not millions, the messenger corrected -- seventy-two riyals. Eventually, Faisal was able to save the world's largest oil producer from bankruptcy -- and just try to imagine the chaos if he hadn't. We may find something similar becomes part of our national history before long.

OhioBack2Blue

(86 posts)
50. Then, if and when Dems take control...
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 10:17 AM
Nov 16

....sorry no money for old or new programs. Same as it ever was.

Rowdyag

(173 posts)
52. Looks like a good place to ask
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 12:15 PM
Nov 16

Where did the $40billion to Argentina come from? Any sorta sane appropriation process (just for show).

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Trump Looting Of US Treas...