Imagine this: a government where leaders don香蕉视频直播檛 just pocket a bit here or there but make a full-time career of it. Picture an assembly of well-dressed thieves who tell you they香蕉视频直播檙e doing everything for your benefit while they香蕉视频直播檙e stuffing gold bars into their suit pockets. That, my friend, is kleptocracy. It香蕉视频直播檚 the kind of system where politics stops being a mission and starts being a buffet香蕉视频直播攁nd everyone香蕉视频直播檚 invited, as long as they know the secret handshake and can quote their Swiss bank account number by heart.

Now, cue Donald Trump. If ever a character stepped into American politics with the flashiness of a Vegas magician and the nonchalance of a man who's never read a rulebook, it was Donald Trump. Here香蕉视频直播檚 a fellow who, after making a career out of putting his name on everything short of the moon, found himself in the highest office in the land. A golden opportunity, if you ask a kleptocrat香蕉视频直播攅xcept in this case, he didn香蕉视频直播檛 have to sneak into the treasure room; he had the keys.

As the president, Trump rode in on promises to 香蕉视频直播渄rain the swamp,香蕉视频直播� a phrase as mythical as the Loch Ness Monster and just as elusive. Instead, critics argued, he turned it into a luxury hot tub with all the best people invited. His businesses became stops for foreign dignitaries and government officials. They香蕉视频直播檇 sip champagne and book rooms in his hotels, and Trump香蕉视频直播檚 family business coffers would see a little uptick. Coincidence? Maybe, like the way it香蕉视频直播檚 a 香蕉视频直播渃oincidence香蕉视频直播� when your friend just happens to 香蕉视频直播渇orget香蕉视频直播� to pay you back for that cab.

Of course, Trump wasn香蕉视频直播檛 alone. His cabinet was a veritable circus of colourful characters, some accused of dubious behaviour with a flair usually reserved for capers in heist movies. One had a penchant for private jets, another for designer office furniture, and a third one seemed to think his entire job description was "self-promotion." It was a real kleptocratic reality show, a showcase of how public service could be twisted into a showbiz act, complete with all the trimmings of wealth and whispers.

The trouble with kleptocracy is that it香蕉视频直播檚 not as obvious as an old-fashioned bank heist. It香蕉视频直播檚 less 香蕉视频直播渟mash and grab香蕉视频直播� and more 香蕉视频直播渨ink and nod.香蕉视频直播� Trump香蕉视频直播檚 time in office blurred the lines between public duty and private gain. He香蕉视频直播檇 fire up Twitter like a DJ on a late-night radio show, keeping fans guessing and spinning tales. Public institutions became props in a drama starring himself, while opponents whispered about kleptocratic vibes that香蕉视频直播檇 make even the richest CEO blush.

Supporters, however, cheered him on. They saw a businessman finally doing what he did best香蕉视频直播攑laying the system for 香蕉视频直播渢he people.香蕉视频直播� They claimed he was bucking the establishment, though sometimes the 香蕉视频直播渂ucking香蕉视频直播� involved government money landing back in his enterprises. Critics and fans were left wondering: was this reality television-level entertainment or an artful dodge?

Trump香蕉视频直播檚 kleptocratic leanings香蕉视频直播攐r allegations thereof香蕉视频直播攈ighlight an odd twist in American governance. A president who lived in a gold-plated penthouse, rode around in jets, and talked like he was king of his own galaxy reminded us all: that politics can be a serious business, but it can also be an absurd comedic identity drama.  And in this strange tragic comedy of American kleptocracy, we may never know the punchline. After all, we don香蕉视频直播檛 know the secret handshake or have Swiss bank accounts. 

~ Douglas Zhivago