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A new poll found 44 percent of Americans are concerned about corruption within President Donald Trump's White House. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/flickr/cc)
Since President Donald Trump entered office in January, the number of Americans concerned about rampant corruption in the White House has surged, according to public opinion polling conducted in October and November.
The Berlin-based Transparency International--a global anti-corruption coalition that defines corruption as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain"--conducted a survey entitled the U.S. Corruption Barometer 2017. The survey found that 44 percent of those polled believe corruption is "pervasive" in the Office of the President, a 12-point jump from last year, before Trump took office.
Overall, there was an increase in the percentage of Americans who believe the government is failing to fight corruption. Under Trump, about seven of 10 people believe the U.S. government is doing a poor job of eradicating and preventing corruption, up from about half of Americans in 2016.
In spite of the Trump campaign rallying cry "drain the swamp," as president, Trump has filled his administration with former lobbyists and corporate insiders. As Newsweek summarizes, the White House "has been rocked by almost daily legal and investigatory bombshells related to corruption," including:
Additionally, at least six members of his Cabinet have been questioned regarding seemingly excessive travel expenses. The Justice Department has allowed Trump to skirt anti-nepotism laws to appoint his daughter Ivanka, and her husband, Kushner, as senior advisers. His sons Eric and Don Jr., meanwhile, have taken over his company's daily operations, though Trump's frequent presence at his hotels and golf courses alongside lobbyists and foreign officials has raised concerns about the ultrarich "buying access" to him.
While Trump's White House was seen as the most corrupt entity in the U.S. government and business spheres, Congress trailed closely behind; 38 percent of Americans said they believe Congress as corrupt, followed by about a third who believe individual government officials and business executives are engaged in corruption.
Although 55 percent said fear of retaliation is the main reason to not report corruption--up from 31 percent last year--nearly three-quarters of respondents said they still believe that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against it.
Despite a small drop in those who see voting as an effective deterrent to corruption, the ballot box remains the most popular method for fighting corruption as an ordinary person. Other forms of direct action--such as "speaking out on social media, joining a protest march, joining an anti-corruption organization, signing a petition, talking to friends or relatives, or boycotting a business"--saw increased support among respondents to this year's survey.
"Americans have expressed their frustration with Washington and its elected officials in myriad ways," Transparency International noted in response to the the results. "Yet there are things that can be done to ensure that institutions are clean and that taxpayer dollars are spent in alignment with the public's concerns and not just with special corporate and elite interests."
To combat corruption in the United States, the coalition recommends:
Political revenge. Mass deportations. Project 2025. Unfathomable corruption. Attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Pardons for insurrectionists. An all-out assault on democracy. Republicans in Congress are scrambling to give Trump broad new powers to strip the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit he doesn’t like by declaring it a “terrorist-supporting organization.” Trump has already begun filing lawsuits against news outlets that criticize him. At Common Dreams, we won’t back down, but we must get ready for whatever Trump and his thugs throw at us. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. By donating today, please help us fight the dangers of a second Trump presidency. |
Since President Donald Trump entered office in January, the number of Americans concerned about rampant corruption in the White House has surged, according to public opinion polling conducted in October and November.
The Berlin-based Transparency International--a global anti-corruption coalition that defines corruption as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain"--conducted a survey entitled the U.S. Corruption Barometer 2017. The survey found that 44 percent of those polled believe corruption is "pervasive" in the Office of the President, a 12-point jump from last year, before Trump took office.
Overall, there was an increase in the percentage of Americans who believe the government is failing to fight corruption. Under Trump, about seven of 10 people believe the U.S. government is doing a poor job of eradicating and preventing corruption, up from about half of Americans in 2016.
In spite of the Trump campaign rallying cry "drain the swamp," as president, Trump has filled his administration with former lobbyists and corporate insiders. As Newsweek summarizes, the White House "has been rocked by almost daily legal and investigatory bombshells related to corruption," including:
Additionally, at least six members of his Cabinet have been questioned regarding seemingly excessive travel expenses. The Justice Department has allowed Trump to skirt anti-nepotism laws to appoint his daughter Ivanka, and her husband, Kushner, as senior advisers. His sons Eric and Don Jr., meanwhile, have taken over his company's daily operations, though Trump's frequent presence at his hotels and golf courses alongside lobbyists and foreign officials has raised concerns about the ultrarich "buying access" to him.
While Trump's White House was seen as the most corrupt entity in the U.S. government and business spheres, Congress trailed closely behind; 38 percent of Americans said they believe Congress as corrupt, followed by about a third who believe individual government officials and business executives are engaged in corruption.
Although 55 percent said fear of retaliation is the main reason to not report corruption--up from 31 percent last year--nearly three-quarters of respondents said they still believe that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against it.
Despite a small drop in those who see voting as an effective deterrent to corruption, the ballot box remains the most popular method for fighting corruption as an ordinary person. Other forms of direct action--such as "speaking out on social media, joining a protest march, joining an anti-corruption organization, signing a petition, talking to friends or relatives, or boycotting a business"--saw increased support among respondents to this year's survey.
"Americans have expressed their frustration with Washington and its elected officials in myriad ways," Transparency International noted in response to the the results. "Yet there are things that can be done to ensure that institutions are clean and that taxpayer dollars are spent in alignment with the public's concerns and not just with special corporate and elite interests."
To combat corruption in the United States, the coalition recommends:
Since President Donald Trump entered office in January, the number of Americans concerned about rampant corruption in the White House has surged, according to public opinion polling conducted in October and November.
The Berlin-based Transparency International--a global anti-corruption coalition that defines corruption as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain"--conducted a survey entitled the U.S. Corruption Barometer 2017. The survey found that 44 percent of those polled believe corruption is "pervasive" in the Office of the President, a 12-point jump from last year, before Trump took office.
Overall, there was an increase in the percentage of Americans who believe the government is failing to fight corruption. Under Trump, about seven of 10 people believe the U.S. government is doing a poor job of eradicating and preventing corruption, up from about half of Americans in 2016.
In spite of the Trump campaign rallying cry "drain the swamp," as president, Trump has filled his administration with former lobbyists and corporate insiders. As Newsweek summarizes, the White House "has been rocked by almost daily legal and investigatory bombshells related to corruption," including:
Additionally, at least six members of his Cabinet have been questioned regarding seemingly excessive travel expenses. The Justice Department has allowed Trump to skirt anti-nepotism laws to appoint his daughter Ivanka, and her husband, Kushner, as senior advisers. His sons Eric and Don Jr., meanwhile, have taken over his company's daily operations, though Trump's frequent presence at his hotels and golf courses alongside lobbyists and foreign officials has raised concerns about the ultrarich "buying access" to him.
While Trump's White House was seen as the most corrupt entity in the U.S. government and business spheres, Congress trailed closely behind; 38 percent of Americans said they believe Congress as corrupt, followed by about a third who believe individual government officials and business executives are engaged in corruption.
Although 55 percent said fear of retaliation is the main reason to not report corruption--up from 31 percent last year--nearly three-quarters of respondents said they still believe that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against it.
Despite a small drop in those who see voting as an effective deterrent to corruption, the ballot box remains the most popular method for fighting corruption as an ordinary person. Other forms of direct action--such as "speaking out on social media, joining a protest march, joining an anti-corruption organization, signing a petition, talking to friends or relatives, or boycotting a business"--saw increased support among respondents to this year's survey.
"Americans have expressed their frustration with Washington and its elected officials in myriad ways," Transparency International noted in response to the the results. "Yet there are things that can be done to ensure that institutions are clean and that taxpayer dollars are spent in alignment with the public's concerns and not just with special corporate and elite interests."
To combat corruption in the United States, the coalition recommends: