Presidential Enrichment

Two other presidents have involved themselves in outside interests and or enriching themselves. I thought there would be more.

• Lyndon B. Johnson was accused of using his office for personal financial gain (radio licenses). Certainly testing the ethics norms related to self-enrichment. The radio station at question was owned by Lady Bird Johnson who bought the share. The station became 100% hers later on.

• Andrew Johnson was partly impeached for actions seen as undermining public trust. Though not directly labeled “emoluments” violations in the modern sense, showing early conflicts over presidential conduct and public benefit. 

Neither appear to be so serious today as to what they may been thought during either Johnson’s presidency.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington writes “The intensifying threat of Donald Trump’s emoluments.”

Tru_p pretty much ignores the Clause. Congress has little backbone enough to pursue such a violation with him. Even now with regard to Warner and Paramount, Trump says “he would involve himself in any sale of Warner Bros.” Becoming closely involved in the businesses would seem to me to be a violation of the emoluments clause. Is there a possibility of his gaining from this?

There is not too much which will restrain Tru_p and Congress looks the other way. Taking from . . .

“What Happens When a Bonkers President Takes Over the Private Sector”

– as taken from Robert Reich

What’s really at stake in the fight between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros Discovery?

Let me make it clear I’m against Netflix acquiring Warner Bros Discovery. That would concentrate corporate power in ways that harm consumers and distort American politics.

But Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros would be just as bad, if not worse.

What’s at stake in all of this is Trump’s (or any president’s) power over the private sector of the American economy.

The back story here is that Warner Bros Discovery owns CNN, and Trump loathes CNN. He frequently complains that its coverage of him has been too negative. He’s termed those running CNN “corrupt and incompetent.” He has told top aides he wants new ownership of CNN, along with changes in CNN programming and personnel.

Last week, Trump declared he would involve himself in any proposed sale of Warner Bros. On Wednesday, he said it was “imperative” the transaction result in the sale of CNN and replacement of its leadership.

Another part of the back story involves Larry Ellison. Ellison is one of the richest people in America and the largest individual shareholder of Paramount. Larry’s son runs it. On Monday, Paramount launched an unfriendly tender offer for Warner Bros Discovery, to counter Netflix’s friendly offer.

Ellison is an ally of Trump. He has assured Trump and his top aides that if Paramount gains control of Warner Bros and CNN, it will get rid of CNN personnel whom Trump apparently detests, including Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar. (Paramount already owns CBS.)

Paramount is portraying itself as the best bid for Warner Bros Discovery because it will have an easier time “getting regulatory approval” of the deal than will Netflix — even though Paramount is relying on financial backing from three Middle East sovereign-wealth funds (along with Jared Kushner).

Who in their right mind would give Middle East wealth funds any leverage over CBS and CNN? Answer: Trump, whose family business is already deeply dependent on financing from the Middle East.

Trump trusts the Ellisons because they pushed Paramount to settle Trump’s frivolous $16 million lawsuit against CBS and cancel Stephen Colbert — much to Trump’s delight.

Trump loyalist flak Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, then promptly approved the $8 billion merger of Paramount with Skydance Media.

Trump’s alliance with Larry Ellison goes back to 2020, when Ellison hosted a fundraiser for Trump at his home. According to court records, after the 2020 election, Ellison participated in a phone call to discuss how Trump’s defeat could be contested. In June 2025, he and his firm, Oracle, were co-sponsors of Trump’s military parade in Washington.

Now in charge of Paramount and its CBS division, Larry’s son, David Ellison, has gutted DEI policies at CBS, put right-wing hack Kenneth R. Weinstein into a new “ombudsman” role there, and made anti-“woke” opinion journalist Bari Weiss editor-in-chief of CBS News, despite her lack of experience in either broadcasting or newsrooms.

The FCC’s Carr has already effectively blessed the Paramount deal. What other “regulatory approval” might be needed? Theoretically, the Federal Trade Commission could object on antitrust grounds. But, as Trump did at the FCC, he planted loyalists at the FTC to do his bidding. (Pam Bondi has asserted that she and the Justice Department’s antitrust division will oversee the merger.)

This past week, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether Trump had a right to fire an FTC commissioner (the FTC, like the FCC, is supposed to be an “independent” regulatory agency).

Chief Justice John Roberts — who believes that the framers of the Constitution intended a “unitary” executive rather than one whose authority might be shared with independent regulatory agencies established by Congress — suggested during the oral argument that Trump’s removal power should be the norm.

But if Trump’s maneuvers over Warner Bros Discovery has any lessons for the future, the independence of regulatory agencies may be more important than ever before. Otherwise, a wannabe tyrant sitting in the Oval Office can interfere in any business transaction he wishes, to enlarge his own power and stifle criticism.