WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans across the political spectrum are expressing growing concern about corruption within the Trump administration and demanding accountability. This backlash transcends traditional partisan political divides, reflecting a broad consensus that public office must not be used for personal gain.
The message is clear and consistent: voters, elected officials, and citizens nationwide are united in their conviction that no one – including the president and his family – is above the law. As the midterm elections approach, this demand for accountability represents a defining issue for the American people. The era of Congress giving Trump a free pass for his unprecedented corruption is coming to an end.
Here’s what you need to know:
Bipartisan Backlash to Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian Benefactor
- A ProPublica investigation found that Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Trump Jr.’s wedding. Kremlev leads the International Boxing Association, which receives funding from Gazprom, the Russian state energy giant. The payments came from an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai. Trump Jr. and his wife later confirmed Kremlev’s role, describing it as a generous wedding gift from a friend.
- Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) has demanded in a letter that the Senate Judiciary Committee investigate and subpoena Trump Jr. In a video, Curtis said of the wedding revelations: “It just stinks. It’s corruption. I don’t like it.”
- Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined the call, warning that “for the Committee to ignore this matter is to run the risk of being complicit in a coverup.”
- Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), a Judiciary Committee member whom Trump helped oust in his primary, added his support: “I would support Senator Curtis’ request.”
Thousands Protest as Trump Uses DOJ to Advance His Personal Vanity Projects
- In an August court filing, DOJ attorneys threatened for the first time that the Kennedy Center could be demolished if plans to add Trump’s name to the building don’t move forward. DOJ argued that board plans to honor Trump personally – including an inscription crediting him with the renovation – were crucial to securing donor payments.
- Meanwhile, the Trump-aligned board voted last week to close the center indefinitely. This came just hours after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked plans to return Trump’s name to the building.
- On Friday, Sept. 18, thousands of people gathered outside the Kennedy Center for “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” to protest Trump’s plans for the facility. They filled D.C. streets and stopped traffic as they marched with signs, and some formed a human chain around the building. Protesters also described what the closure has already cost the community, including students at D.C.’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts who lost access to the center’s costumes, stages, and programs.
The Polling Is Clear: Americans See Corruption and Want Accountability
- In a Sept. 11-14 Economist/YouGov poll of registered voters, “corrupt” (53%) topped the list of words used to describe Trump, followed by “dangerous” (51%).
- In findings released Sept. 2, Gallup found 89% of Americans say government corruption is widespread, including 83% of Republicans.
- A September UMass Amherst poll found 66% of Americans don’t trust Trump to avoid using the presidency to benefit his family’s business interests.
- An NBC News poll released Sept. 20 found a record 43% of registered voters want their vote for Congress to send a signal of opposition to the president.