Other People’s Money

Donald Trump has made a career out of using other people’s money to assert his dominance. Whether in business, politics, or the courtroom, his instinct is to push until someone pushes back—and when they do, he makes them pay.

Now, in his second presidency, we’re paying more than ever.

Trump’s need to be the alpha—top dog in every room—has become a national expense account. His political battles, personal legal bills, retaliatory policies, and theatrical shows of power are funded not by him, but by us: the taxpayers, the donors, the everyday Americans whose priorities are displaced so he can flex.

And we have to ask: is it worth it?

Start with defense. Trump has driven the Pentagon’s budget toward a trillion dollars a year. We already outspend the next ten nations combined—including China and Russia. But more isn’t better if it’s aimed at dominance rather than security. The military-industrial complex is booming, while bridges crumble and schools struggle. Who benefits?

Now consider tariffs—sold as a tool to make America strong again. But economists, even conservative ones, have warned that tariffs function as a tax on consumers. The Trump-era trade war with China raised prices on thousands of goods, from appliances to food staples. Many farmers—Trump’s base—were hit hard enough to need subsidies. That’s right: we borrowed money to pay farmers for damage done by our own trade policy. Who picks up that tab?

Think litigation. We, the taxpayers, pay DOJ lawyers to push against the limits on presidential power, and we, the general public, also pay the lawyers who defend the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law. All the struggle is in service of Trump's insatiable need to dominate. Where's the public benefit?

Look at student loan relief—stalled or reversed under Trump-allied policies. Young adults delay homeownership, marriage, and even starting families under the weight of debt. What vision of greatness denies them a chance to participate fully in the economy?

Now, let's look at health care. Trump has pushed for major cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, shifting the consequent costs to the states. That means states with tight budgets—like Pennsylvania—could face tough choices: raise taxes, cut services, or both. Low-income families and seniors pay the price. Why? Because weakening federal programs makes room for tax cuts elsewhere. And those tax cuts? They disproportionately benefit the wealthy—Trump included.

Even basic oversight has been dismantled. Trump has eviscerated Inspectors General—the watchdogs who monitor waste and fraud—across federal agencies. He doesn’t want to be watched. He wants to dominate. But who suffers when no one’s watching the store? We do.

Then there’s the soft corruption. Every time Trump holds an event at a property he owns, we taxpayers pick up the tab—for Secret Service lodging, staff accommodations, and more. Millions of dollars have flowed to the Trump Organization this way. That’s not leadership. That’s self-dealing.

And all the while, Trump’s personal legal costs—tied to personal business dealings, criminal charges, and civil suits—are being paid by political donors. Many of them are working-class Americans who believe they’re supporting a movement. But their money is going to lawyers, not policies.

So here’s the question: Are we getting anything of lasting value for what we’re giving up?

Is it worth cutting support for students, just to bankroll another legal skirmish or PR stunt?

Is it worth gouging Medicaid and threatening Medicare to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy?

Is it worth damaging the full faith and credit of the United States—risking default, downgrades, and higher borrowing costs—so one man can posture on the world stage?

These aren’t abstract trade-offs. They hit home. Rising costs. Fewer services. Greater uncertainty for families, retirees, and small business owners. All in service of a political brand built on dominance, not delivery.

Trump’s political genius—if you want to call it that—is not about governing. It’s about aggression. He burns other people's money to fuel his dominance. And he's consuming our economy, our money (not his), to get over on others. And he breaks good people and destroys precious things as he feeds his lust for control.

So ask yourself—not what Trump promises, but what he costs. Not how he makes you feel, but what he’s taken from your community, your kids, your future.

Because if we, the American public, are paying the bills and taking the hits for both sides in his fights—his lawyers and those suing to stop him—how do any of us benefit?