I don’t usually write about political issues, but today I felt the need to vent and let off some steam...
Just this week, we heard the President of the United States state that the U.S. government has managed to raise more than 13 billion dollars from the sale of Venezuelan crude oil since the fall of former President Nicolás Maduro (link).
We all know—because it’s a fact—that this is one of the nations facing the greatest economic difficulties due to aggressively extractive policies that siphon funds from the state coffers to distribute among government officials, and because they were supported. Knowing also—and in light of the enormous difficulties the country faces, and will continue to face in the coming years, to rebuild itself and restore all its infrastructure, schools, hospitals, stores, businesses, transportation, roads, etc.— it seems in very poor taste—and even offensive—to announce that a foreign country has been benefiting from the sale of another country’s crude oil, a country currently led by someone who was “placed” and appointed by the head of state who is profiting from natural resources that do not belong to him.
How is it possible for anyone to hear this statement and not be disturbed by this figure’s modus operandi?
How is it that Trump, the head of state of one of the most developed countries with the greatest economic power in the world, allows himself to be carried away by his egocentrism, which is focused solely on the upcoming midterm elections on November 3?
He’s trying to save face, since his recent setbacks and the disastrous campaign he waged in the Middle East have only served the interests of Iran itself, which today—more than ever—has strengthened its position of power, using the Strait of Hormuz as a trump card to demand more funding, which will obviously be used to purchase weapons, and to bolster the current leaders, who will increasingly exercise oppressive power over the Iranian people.
The other court cases that are still ongoing but are currently “on hold” due to other more important events are no longer in the spotlight.
And what this president is demonstrating is that he is unable to focus on his most important duties, allowing himself to be carried away by his egocentrism and inflating his ego to the very limits of political and human decency.
Recently, his actions—of dubious aesthetic taste—have been reported. Many statues in the White House Garden were defaced and altered when Trump ordered them to be painted gold. As a result, they no longer have their original appearance, including the two statues gifted by Italy as a token of gratitude for U.S. support during World War II. The Oval Office itself was redecorated, with various decorative elements added above the fireplace—all in gold… Will we be witnessing the Midas Touch live in 2026?
Or could it be that, combined with his desire to stand out and leave his mark—driven by his arrogance—and adding in the latest rumor that Trump wants a legislative change to allow for the inclusion of the current sitting president’s signature or image...
Honestly, this whole need to turn everything gold—in a place that’s supposed to be the residence of the sitting president, not his own private home—and to put his face on circulating banknotes only demonstrates a drift toward the kind of autocratic and authoritarian government we saw in Iraq from 1979 to 2003 under Saddam Hussein.
His Royal Palace displayed a level of opulence that bore no resemblance whatsoever to what the people had access to. Something we can see today as being similar to the White House.
Are we allowing the democracies that have grown the most in recent years to be undermined by politicians who do not serve the economic and financial interests of their nation, but who think only of their own personal gain?
Image by succo from Pixabay
Original text written by 
