The Corruption Within; The Trojan Ballroom

 The Corruption Within; The Trojan Ballroom

The title above might seem curious but the term “Trojan” refers to the Trojan Horse of Greek mythology and not the condom brand, although both references might be appropriate. In Greek mythology the Greeks built a large wooden horse and left it behind as they seemingly abandoned their fruitless ten-year siege of the city of Troy. The Greeks pretended to sail away and the Trojans pulled their “gift” inside their city walls as a victory trophy. Later that night, soldiers who had hidden inside the horse crept out, opened the gates, and allowed the rest of the Greek army to enter. The city of Troy was then destroyed.

The “Trojan horse” has become a metaphor for any malicious trick that lulls the victim into complacency with dire results. In our title reference we are only at the beginning of the siege of our rights and freedoms, the loss of our protections of our Constitution and its laws, and the actual destruction of a large portion of a national symbol of our democracy, the White House.

Yes, like the Greek soldiers in the night, Donald Trump without permits or authorization, literally destroyed the East Wing of the White House in order to build a new symbol to glorify his name. Like many of his “accomplishments”, he creates a problem and then offers to fix the problem expecting thanks and accolades. On the former site of the historic East Wing of the White House, the president plans to build a literally priceless ($250M. $300M, $350M…) ballroom.

Yes, it is Trump’s grift to the nation. Did I spell that right? Yes, I did. While Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid laid the foundation of the saying, “Beware Greeks bearing gifts,” I say, “Beware of anyone named Trump bearing gifts.” To that I would add, “And don’t bend over if you don’t want to get…”

While the MAGA faithful with their Kool-Aid-stained lips gleefully shout their approval of the work of Trump’s wrecking ball and his grand plans for a 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom, others see a sacrilege. With this new space, the president can have 999 people pay him homage instead of the old limit of 200.

Will there be corruption? Of the very few things I would be willing to bet on, this is a lock. I would challenge anyone to find a single Trump-involved construction project where there wasn’t illegal activity. The grifting of America is already a runaway train. Trump recently hosted a dinner with major company representatives from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin. There were energy executives and crypto entrepreneurs who all “voluntarily” donated money to the project.

As many have learned in the last nine years, if you want anything from Donald J. Trump, pay up. Access is expensive so if you want government contracts and support, or want to avoid being on the wrong end of the militarized Justice Department and Trump selected enforcers, I mean regulators, bring lots of cash (or preferably untraceable crypto). Nothing says “open season” and corruption like a Trump sponsored construction project.

In the Trojan horse of Homer’s Odyssey fame 30-40 warriors hid in the womb of the “gift” while two spies hid in its mouth. Who will be our “Homer” to tell the tale of Trump’s corruption. The stealthy tear-down of a national symbol is but one chapter in the Trump Odyssey.