At a recent fundraiser, Donald Trump promised big tax cuts to some of the richest donors in the country. He also suggested he wants more immigrants from countries like Norway—hint, hint—while blasting Latin American migrants as criminals and worse. This corrupt bargain—offer huge giveaways to wealthy elites so they embrace far-right governance—is an old story. In today’s episode, Harvard professor Daniel Ziblatt—who studies what happens when conservative elites ally with authoritarian movements—explains why it’s extraordinarily reckless for corporate leaders to calculate they can work with Trump despite his promise of a lawless second term.
PODCAST
Trump Finally Reveals It: Billionaires Get Tax Cuts, We Get Autocracy
Donald Trump’s comments to wealthy elites show that he’s offering them a corrupt bargain that is likely to end very badly for everyone.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 2