Trump's "I Don't Know Him" Act: Just How Deep Does the Crypto Swamp Go?
Okay, so Trump pardons some crypto dude, Changpeng Zhao – or "CZ," whatever – who pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering. Then, when asked about it on 60 Minutes, he pulls the "I don't know him" card? Give me a break.
The Amnesia Defense
The guy pardons a crypto kingpin who admitted to, you know, facilitating money laundering, and then claims ignorance? Seriously? It's like saying you don't know who your plumber is after he's spent a week unclogging your drains.
Trump claims he was told CZ was a victim of a "witch hunt" by the Biden administration. Right. A witch hunt that ended with a guilty plea. Look, I ain't saying Biden's squeaky clean, but this smells like swamp gas.
And the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, calling Zhao's prosecution a "war on cryptocurrency"? A "war on cryptocurrency?" Is that what we're calling enabling illegal activity now? This is straight out of the PR playbook, folks.
The article mentions that Trump's administration previously halted a fraud case against some other crypto entrepreneur, Justin Sun, after investments in the Trump family's crypto firm. Coincidence? I think not. It's all starting to feel like one big grift.
Follow the (Dirty) Money
Here's where it gets extra slimy. CZ's companies have partnered with firms linked to Trump, including Dominari Holdings, where his sons sit on the board of advisers. And Dominari Holdings is based in Trump Tower. So, Trump doesn't know him, but their business interests are practically sharing an elevator?
And lets be real, its not like Trump is known for his stellar memory, offcourse.
The article notes that a stablecoin launched by World Liberty Financial (a Trump family crypto firm) would be used by an Abu Dhabi firm for a $2 billion investment in Binance. Two. Billion. Dollars. And Trump "doesn't know" CZ?
What are we even supposed to believe anymore? That Trump's just a clueless bystander in all this? Or that he's playing dumb because the truth is too toxic, and frankly, probably illegal.
I mean, is anyone REALLY surprised?
The Crypto Wild West
Trump says the US has to be a leader in crypto or risk China gaining an advantage. Okay, fine. But does that mean we have to throw ethics out the window and pardon guys who plead guilty to money laundering? Can't we compete without embracing the sleaze?
And what does this pardon even do? It lifts restrictions preventing Zhao from running financial ventures, but it's unclear if it changes his standing with US regulators or his role at Binance. So, it's basically a "get out of jail free" card for a guy who admitted to financial crimes. Wonderful.
The article also mentions Trump pardoned founders of the crypto exchange BitMEX and Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road. So, we're just handing out pardons to crypto criminals like they're candy now?
So, What's the Real Story?
This whole thing stinks. Trump's "I don't know him" act is insulting, and the fact that his administration is so cozy with the crypto world—especially the shady corners of it—is deeply concerning. It's either complete and utter incompetence or something far, far worse. And frankly, at this point, I'm not sure which is more terrifying.