Weekend Bar Talk - Trump Aiming to Privatize the Government and Take 5% Royalty Fee?

An exercise of imagination, not allegation

This was an interesting theory a group of folks having drinks began to organically formulate and connect the dots. Not fact, no evidence or anything like that. Just pontification and theory. Borderline conspiracy theory fiction. Or is it?

You have a leader in Trump who has skillfully navigated and survived many downturns and attacks in his life. Bankruptcies and business follies, along with the successes. A fairly skilled marketer who leverages the Trump brand and collects a percentage to slap his name on buildings, TV Shows and many other items. See red hats made in China.

Whether you are a hardline MAGA or hardline opponent, or a “I don’t care cynic” like me, I want you to read with an open mind.

What if he is distracting the world with Tariffs. Look here while I do something else there. What could that something else be?

Well you have a few areas of the government he has quickly appointed or nominated close allies.

For Treasury Secretary, Trump has placed Scott Bessent. Before his government service, Scott was a partner at Soros Fund Management and the founder of Key Square Group, a global macro investment firm.

For Commerce Secretary, Trump has placed Howard Lutnick. In 1983, Lutnick was hired at Cantor Fitzgerald under the mentorship of the firm's founder, B. Gerald Cantor. In 1990, Lutnick became president and chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald.

For the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund he is looking to Michael Grimes, head of global technology investment banking at Morgan Stanley.

For Social Security, Trump is nominating Frank J. Bisignano, an American businessman and the president and CEO of Fiserv, on contract until 2027. He previously was the CEO of First Data, and the COO of JPMorgan Chase. He is consistently rated as one of the highest-paid CEOs in the United States, reportedly having reached $100 million in 2017.

So the stage is almost set. What if while the global economy is so distracted over here, worried about half baked tariff programs, there is another game afoot over there? What game?

A privatization of our government where a select few Bankers and hedge fund leaders are given carte la blanche to make as much money as they can for themselves and their organizations in the shadows, and to not forget about Trump’s 5% perpetual royalty fee.

If America crashes, if the global economy crashes, or if we go into WWIII, none of it would impact Trump’s future wealth regardless of what happens to Apple, America, or Main Street. In fact the spending would increase along with this hypothetical royalty.

I am not saying this is what is going on. Simply connecting some dots with a few friends while having a drink a block away from 200 West Street, NY.

Good luck out there!

Disclaimer: this is based on theory and imagination. Should be read only for entertainment purposes and a starting point for discussion.