“Every country gets the government that it deserves”

Many non-MAGA conservatives and Christians voted for Trump because he seemed the lesser of evils and promised to do things that they valued. But as his tenure approaches its end, a reassessment of the damage he has done is underway. Conservatives, and especially conservatives who are Christian, once valued good character when deciding who to support. R.R. Reno, the editor of First Things, someone I have thought was inclined to rationalize Trump's behavior:

The Trump family’s exploitation of every opportunity to enrich themselves demoralizes me, as I’m sure it does many readers. Don Jr. and Eric Trump are the Uday and Qusay Hussein of our unhappy times, harvesting great sums from investors who seem interested in influencing the White House. (Kevin Williamson made this observation back in 2016.) Earlier this year, it was revealed that powerful figures in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates invested $500 million in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture. This is by no means the only infusion of large sums into Uday and Qusay’s enterprises. I find myself wondering if America’s Middle East foreign policy is for sale.

More than two centuries ago, the wry political thinker Joseph de Maistre quipped, “Every country gets the government that it deserves.” This dictum should inform our assessments of Donald Trump’s now decade-long dominance of American public life. We must consider his regular recourse to fabricated facts and his family’s misuse of public office along with actions we’ve supported in these pages, such as his judicial appointments, measures to encourage re-industrialization, and anti-DEI executive orders. The good and bad in this administration are difficult to untangle.

Perhaps all administrations are corrupt to some degree. But the present situation is unique in its blatant character....

“Everyone is doing it” is never a legitimate excuse for prevarication and misuse of office. And furthermore, everyone is not trading on his power and position to enrich himself. My point is that the rot runs deep. Repair will require leaders who value honor over wealth. (more)

R.R. Reno, "The Stench of Corruption," First Things, Sept. 25, 2026.