Topical Editorial: The most self-dealing president in US history outdoes himself with $230M claim The Editorial Board Oct 26, 2025 Oct 26, 2025 0 President Donald Trump. AP SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The Editorial Board A great many Americans today wonder, with good reason, whether America鈥檚 democracy can survive Donald Trump鈥檚 presidency.kAm}@H :E鈥橠 364@>:?8 :?4C62D:?8=J 4=62C E92E 2?@E96C BF6DE:@? H6 D9@F=5 2== 36 2D<:?8 :D H96E96C p>6C:42 42? k6>m277@C5k^6>m %CF>A鈥橠 AC6D:56?4J]k^AmkAm%96 =2E6DE DEF?E 7C@> E96 >@DE 4@CCFAE=J D6=7\562=:?8 AC6D:56?E :? &]$] 9:DE@CJ :D 2DE@?:D9:?8 6G6? 7C@> 9:>i %CF>A :D DF:?8 E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E 7@C Sab_ >:==:@? 2D 4@>A6?D2E:@? 7@C E96 7656C2= :?G6DE:82E:@?D :?E@ 9:D 42>A2:8?鈥橠 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 #FDD:2 367@C6 9:D 7:CDE E6C> 2?5 9:D 9@2C5:?8 @7 4=2DD:7:65 5@4F>6?ED 27E6C E92E E6C>]k^Am kAm%9:D 6G6? 2D C68F=2C p>6C:42?D 2C6 C66=:?8 F?56C %CF>A鈥橠 4CF6= 7F?5:?8 4FED 2?5 @3EFD6 E2C:77 A@=:4:6D]k^Am People are also reading… For Rene Knott, a stunning end at KSDK amid accusations. He says there's a lesson to learn. New owners, new name, new food and soon new attractions at The Quarry in St. Charles County Chaim Bloom describes 'synergy' with Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, who returns in 2026 Mizzou quarterback Beau Pribula tears ankle ligaments, unlikely to return in 2025 'We won't concede': Chaim Bloom era begins with his vision of how Cardinals reclaim edge CVPA shooter told doctors he was going to 'shoot up' school. They did nothing, suit says 最新杏吧原创 drug dealer indicted in sprawling NBA betting, poker case Beau Pribula's injury pushes freshman Matt Zollers into Mizzou QB spotlight Gas surged into 最新杏吧原创 County house before massive explosion, report says 800 acres of wetlands set to become newest St. Charles County park St. Charles woman accused of bilking food program convicted of fraud, identify theft Film projects line up for Missouri tax breaks, from 'Ted Lasso' to 'Antiques Roadshow' Mizzou starting quarterback Beau Pribula could be out 'a while' after serious ankle injury 4 family members of Illinois governor candidate killed in Montana helicopter crash, campaign says Goold: Can Cardinals learn from Phillies' full-house fan revival? Hint: It took star power kAm%CF>A鈥橠 F?AC64656?E65[ @FE=2?5:D9 3:5 7@C A6CD@?2= 4@>A6?D2E:@?[ 2D C6A@CE65 =2DE H66< 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_ad^`_^a`^FD^A@=:E:4D^ECF>A\;FDE:46\56A2CE>6?E\4@>A6?D2E:@?]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 }6H *@C< %:>6Dk^2m[ DE6>D :? A2CE 7C@> DA64:2= 4@F?D6= #@36CE |F6==6C鈥橠 :?G6DE:82E:@? :?E@ #FDD:2? :?7=F6?46 :? E96 a_`e 6=64E:@?] xE鈥橠 2 7@F?52E:@?2= >JE9 @7 E96 |pvp >@G6>6?E E92E E96 :?G6DE:82E:@? H2D 2=H2JD 32D6=6DD 2?5 E92E :E 7F==J 6I@?6C2E65 %CF>A] q@E9 4=2:>D 2C6 72=D6]k^Am kAmx? 724E[ |F6==6C鈥橠 AC@36[ H9:=6 :E 7@F?5 ?@ 6G:56?46 @7 A6CD@?2= 4@==FD:@? 3J %CF>A[ 6DE23=:D965 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^@A:?:@?^65:E@C:2=^65:E@C:2=\2?@E96C\>282\?@E9:?83FC86C^2CE:4=60hb5b7b__\7c_f\``65\276f\c7a2f7e_f3d`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#FDD:2 :?E6C76C65 :? E96 a_`e 6=64E:@?k^2m E@ %CF>A鈥橠 36?67:E 2?5 E92E %CF>A鈥橠 42>A2:8? 6286C=J H6=4@>65 E92E :?E6C76C6?46[ 5@:?8 H92E E96J 4@F=5 E@ =6G6C286 :E] |F=E:A=6 %CF>A :?D:56CD H6C6 4C:>:?2==J 492C865 7@C =J:?8 23@FE E96:C #FDD:2? 4@?E24E]k^Am kAmpD 7@C E96 4=2DD:7:65 5@4F>6?ED 42D6i %96C6鈥橠 ?@ BF6DE:@? E92E %CF>A :>AC@A6C=J DBF:CC6==65 2H2J 9F?5C65D @7 5@4F>6?ED E@ 9:D |2C\2\{28@ 6DE2E6[ =:65 23@FE D@>6 @7 H92E 96 925[ C67FD65 >F=E:A=6 2EE6>AED 3J E96 8@G6C?>6?E E@ 86E E96> 324< 2?5 D92C65 D@>6 @7 E96 5@4F>6?ED H:E9 A6@A=6 H9@ 925 ?@ 4=62C2?46 E@ D66 E96>] xE H2D @?=J %CF>A鈥橠 6=64E:@? E@ 2 D64@?5 AC6D:56?E:2= E6C> E92E F=E:>2E6=J 6?565 E96 AC@D64FE:@?]k^Am kAm%96 G6CJ ?@E:@? E92E %CF>A :D 6?E:E=65 E@ DF49 >2DD:G6 W@C k6>m2?Jk^6>mX 4@>A6?D2E:@? 3642FD6 96 H2D DF3;64E65 E@ EH@ A6C764E=J ;FDE:7:65 :?G6DE:82E:@?D :D 82==:?8 6G6? 367@C6 J@F 86E E@ E96 AF?49=:?6i %96 F=E:>2E6 564:D:@? @? H96E96C E@ 28C66 E@ 2 D6EE=6>6?E H:E9 %CF>A H:== 72== E@ E96 @365:6?E =:4<DA:EE=6D @7 %CF>A鈥橠 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E 鈥 :?4=F5:?8 E96 =2HJ6C H9@ C6AC6D6?E65 9:> :? E96 5@4F>6?ED 42D6]k^Am kAm%CF>A[ 8C:6G2?46\5C:G6? 2D 2=H2JD[ H9:?65 =2DE H66< E92E 96 H2D 鈥52>2865 G6CJ 8C62E=J鈥 3J E96 EH@ :?G6DE:82E:@?D] %92E鈥橠 ?@?D6?D6[ 3FE 6G6? A6@A=6 H9@ ECF=J 92G6 366? G:4E:>:K65 3J H62A@?:K65 7656C2= AC@D64FE:@? W%CF>A 4C:E:4D y2>6D r@>6J 2?5 y@9? q@=E@? 2C6 EH@ 4FCC6?E 6I2>A=6DX D6=5@> 2C6 23=6 E@ H:? 4@>A6?D2E:@?]k^Am kAm%CF>A 24<?@H=6586D :E H:== AC@323=J 36 62D:6C 7@C 9:>] 鈥*@F <?@H E92E 564:D:@? H@F=5 92G6 E@ 8@ 24C@DD >J 56D<[鈥 96 D2:5 =2DE H66<[ 255:?8[ :? 2 C2C6 >@>6?E @7 2AA2C6?E D6=7\2H2C6?6DDi 鈥渪E鈥橠 2H7F==J DEC2?86 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? H96C6 x鈥> A2J:?8 >JD6=7]鈥漦^Am kAmp4EF2==J[ :E鈥橠 ?@E DEC2?86 2E 2== 7@C E9:D A2CE:4F=2C AC6D:56?E] $6=7\562=:?8 :D ?@E9:?8 ?6H 7@C %CF>A[ H9@ 92D 366? 3=2E2?E=J G:@=2E:?8 E96 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= AC@9:3:E:@? @? AC6D:56?E:2= AC@7:E66C:?8 D:?46 AC24E:42==J E96 7:CDE 52J @7 9:D 7:CDE E6C>]k^Am kAm(96E96C :E鈥橠 DE66C:?8 7@C6:8? 5:8?:E2C:6D E@ 9:D 9@E6=D[ 92H<:?8 4CJAE@4FCC6?4J 7C@> E96 ~G2= ~77:46[ 4FEE:?8 C62= 6DE2E6 562=D H:E9 4@F?EC:6D D66<:?8 E@ :?7=F6?46 &]$] A@=:4J[ @C 86EE:?8 D:>:=2C=J >@E:G2E65 E@A p>6C:42? rt~D E@ 49:A :? 7@C 9:D GF=82C ?6H (9:E6 w@FD6 32==C@@>[ %CF>A 2=H2JD A=2JD 2== E96 2?8=6D E@ 9:D @H? 36?67:E 鈥 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C6??2?46?E6C]@C8^@FC\H@C<^C6D62C49\C6A@CED^6>@=F>6?ED\4=2FD6D\6IA=2:?65RiOiE6IEl%96Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmt>@=F>6?ED r=2FD6Dk^2m 36 52>?65]k^Am kAm%CF>A D2JD 96 H:== 5@?2E6 2?J D6EE=6>6?E >@?6J 96 86ED E@ 492C:EJ] w@H 3:8 @7 9:>[ 4@?D:56C:?8 E92E >@?6J H:== 36 4@>:?8 7C@> D@>6 @7 E96 D2>6 E2IA2J6CD H9@ 2C6 DF776C:?8 7:?2?4:2==J F?56C %CF>A鈥橠 A@=:4:6D]k^Am kAm%CF>A鈥橠 DA2DE:4 2?5 F??646DD2CJ E2C:77 H2CD 2C6 5C:G:?8 FA p>6C:42? 4@?DF>6C AC:46D] w:D 2??@F?465 Sc_ 3:==:@? 32:=@FE 7@C pC86?E:?2鈥橠 @AAC6DD:G6 C:89E\H:?8 8@G6C?>6?E :D 9FCE:?8 E96 D2>6 p>6C:42? 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD H9@ >2<6 FA >F49 @7 9:D A@=:E:42= 32D6] !@@C 72>:=:6D 2== @G6C E96 ?2E:@? 2C6 DF776C:?8 7C@> 4FED E@ 7@@5 AC@8C2>D 2?5 962=E9 42C6 2D %CF>A 2?5 9:D v~! 4@9@CED AC:@C:E:K6 H6=72C6 7@C E96 H62=E9J]k^Am kAm}@CE9 $E] {@F:D 2=@?6 C646?E=J =@DE 2 Sa__ >:==:@? 7656C2= 8C2?E 7@C 2 ;@3\4C62E:?8 32EE6CJ A=2?E 7@C ?@ C62D@? 3FE %CF>A鈥橠 C6EC@8C256 9@DE:=:EJ E@H2C5 4=62? 6?6C8J]k^AmkAm|:DD@FC: v@G] |:<6 z69@6 鈥 7C6D9 7C@> 42CCJ:?8 %CF>A鈥橠 H2E6C H:E9 9:D 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^@A:?:@?^65:E@C:2=^2CE:4=605_b4fcgd\`6bb\c45`\h`gf\d5`56eegafgg]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6\86CCJ>2?56C:?8 D496>6k^2m 鈥 D2JD 96 H:== k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=60ehcf66c5\ea`5\c4h6\gc7d\3e_ch627b_hb]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=@33J %CF>Ak^2m E@ C6DE@C6 E96 8C2?E] v@@5 =F4< H:E9 E92E] pD D@ >2?J H9@ 92G6 AC@DEC2E65 E96>D6=G6D 7@C %CF>A 92G6 =62C?65[ =@J2=EJ :D 2 @?6\H2J DEC66E H:E9 9:>]k^Am kAm!6C92AD z69@6 42? 86?E=J DF886DE E92E %CF>A鈥橠 A@E6?E:2= yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E D6EE=6>6?E 2=@?6 4@F=5 >@C6 E92? 7F?5 E96 32EE6CJ A=2?E E@ 4C62E6 E9@D6 $E] {@F:D ;@3D] t:E96C H2J[ :E H@F=5 36 E2IA2J6CD 7@@E:?8 E96 3:==]k^Am 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Editorial: WashU deserves praise for rejecting Trump's coercive 'compact' WashU deserves praise for rejecting Trump's coercive 'compact' Editorial: Happy birthday, Gateway Arch Editorial: The only thing preventing a similar 最新杏吧原创 renaissance is lack of imagination. One look at that Arch should answer the question … Editorial: Trump's Santos commutation is typically contemptuous of 'law and order' His Santos commutation is typically contemptuous of 'law and order' Editorial: The Missouri GOP is trying to steal a US House seat. Here鈥檚 how to stop them. The Missouri GOP is trying to steal a US House seat. Here鈥檚 how to stop them.
Editorial: WashU deserves praise for rejecting Trump's coercive 'compact' WashU deserves praise for rejecting Trump's coercive 'compact'
Editorial: Happy birthday, Gateway Arch Editorial: The only thing preventing a similar 最新杏吧原创 renaissance is lack of imagination. One look at that Arch should answer the question …
Editorial: Trump's Santos commutation is typically contemptuous of 'law and order' His Santos commutation is typically contemptuous of 'law and order'
Editorial: The Missouri GOP is trying to steal a US House seat. Here鈥檚 how to stop them. The Missouri GOP is trying to steal a US House seat. Here鈥檚 how to stop them.