美国总统特朗普的交易型执政风格使大额捐赠与政治回报之间的联系进一步明显化。例如，瑞士商人送出金条和劳力士后，美国对瑞士的关税税率几天内降低一半；卡塔尔赠送价值4亿美元的总统专机后，获准在爱达荷州建军事训练基地。2024年，特朗普组织上半年的收入达8.64亿美元，九成以上来自加密货币领域。大额捐款正与政策便利、关税松绑和行政审批加速等现象同步增加，许多企业和国家通过捐助特朗普项目换取潜在利益。
在赦免权使用上，特朗普上任以来已快速赦免十位涉及自利行为的政治人物。2024年，他还赦免了向他和其竞选捐赠数百万美元的两起白领罪犯。传统要求等待五年后方可申请赦免，但此两案均在罪犯定罪后短期内完成。由此，寻求赦免的白领罪犯激增；仅2024年，一位赦免顾问就获28名客户，远超拜登整个任期仅1名的水平。随着国会监督被削弱，游说产业转而与白宫建立更直接联系，并收取高额费用。
特朗普政府放松反腐执法，司法部削弱了政治腐败及海外贿赂的办案能力。与此同时，特朗普家族从与阿联酋基金的加密货币合作中赚取上千万美元，随后阿联酋获准购买顶级AI芯片。学者认为，这种“准家产制”不仅用来维系权力，还向支持者展示不按传统规范办事。腐败的扩大导致公众很难判断政策背后的真实动机。
President Trump’s transactional approach has heightened the link between large gifts and political rewards. After Swiss businessmen gifted a gold bar and Rolex, US tariffs on Switzerland were cut by over half within days; following Qatar’s $400m presidential jet donation, it secured approval to build a base in Idaho. In 2024, Trump Organization revenues soared to $864m in six months, with over 90% from crypto ventures. Large donations increasingly coincide with favourable policies, tariff relief, or expedited approvals, as donors hope to trade gifts for future benefits.
Trump’s use of presidential pardons further illustrates this pattern. In 2024, he pardoned ten politicians for self-dealing, plus two white-collar donors who gave millions to his campaign—pardons issued without the standard five-year wait. The rush has sparked a lobbying boom among convicted financiers: in 2024 alone, a clemency advisor saw 28 clients, compared to one for Biden’s entire term. With Congress sidelined, lobbyists now focus on cultivating direct ties with the White House for lucrative returns.
The administration has weakened anti-corruption enforcement, and the DoJ’s foreign bribery unit is gutted. The Trump family made millions from UAE crypto deals, while UAE soon secured coveted AI chip purchases. Scholars note this new system signals rule-breaking to supporters and uses selective patronage to consolidate power. Corruption’s expansion makes it difficult for the public to discern whether policy decisions serve national or personal interests.