A new book has claimed that criminal defendant Donald Trump offered to refrain from running for the presidency in 2024 for a whopping $5 billion.
Sam Bankman-Fried
According to the new book, cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried inquired about what it would cost to pay the former president not to make a bid for the White House. Allegedly, a figure of $5 billion came back. It’s unclear whether or not the figure came from Trump himself.
Author Michael Lewis
The book was written by Michael Lewis and tells Bankman-Fried’s story, from his rise to his inevitable fall. “He explained to me, as the plane descended into Washington, he was exploring the legality of paying Donald Trump himself not to run for president,” the author said.
A Potential Price
Lewis continued: “His team had somehow created a back channel into the Trump operation and returned with the not terribly earth-shattering news that Donald Trump might indeed have his price – $5 billion. Or so Sam was told by his team.”
The Crash of a Career
At the height of his career, Bankman-Fried was reportedly worth $26 billion. Now, he’s accused of stealing billions in customer deposits and could face up to 110 years in prison. In 2021 and 2022, he was the Democratic Party’s second biggest individual donor.
Wealth and Effective Altruism
Effective altruism suggests that the rich should give away the wealth they would otherwise hoard in order to benefit humanity. Bankman-Fried allegedly spent $10 million in an attempt to get a believer in this philosophy selected as a Democratic Congressional candidate.
Thieves and Hackers
Given his belief in effective altruism, one would be forgiven for thinking that Sam Bankman-Fried is a very ethical individual. However, he once described thieves and hackers as “people playing the game” and, in regard to himself, said: “In a lot of ways, I don’t really have a soul.”
The Internet’s Response
News of Bankman-Fried’s alleged idea and Trump’s rumored response was shared across the internet. Plenty of people supported it, wishing that the deal had gone through. Others questioned its legality.
For the Greater Good
Some people discussed Bankman-Fried’s crimes, refusing to praise him even if they supported his sentiment. These individuals often longed for legitimate billionaires willing to give their money away to better society.
A Threat to Humanity
Others said that Bankman-Fried is as terrible as Trump. People pushed back though, arguing that one is a mere nuisance while the other is a very real threat to humanity, not just to the United States.
A Good Deal
In regard to Trump’s $5 billion price, one social media commenter said it would have been a “good deal”. They wrote: “It would have been a good deal for the country though. God knows what this idiot will do if he wins again.”
Lying to Get Rich
Plenty of people pointed out that Trump likely wouldn’t have kept any promises. One person said: “Yeah, Trump would’ve taken the money and run for the presidency anyway. That man lies, and lies, and lies all to get richer.”
Not a Serious Idea
Another commenter wrote: “I don’t think this would have actually happened and I doubt Trump came out with that figure personally. Bankman-Fried probably did think about it but I doubt it was ever a serious idea.”
A Publicity Stunt
Others speculated about Lewis’ intentions in including the story in his book. “I bet this is something that was hypothetically mentioned, like, once and Lewis put it in the book because he knew the media would take it and run, as it has. Great publicity. I probably wouldn’t have heard of the book if it wasn’t for this,” one person said.
The Questionable Legality
Some people discussed the legality of Bankman-Fried’s idea. “Absolutely no way this would have been legal,” one individual wrote. “I mean, Lewis did say that Bankman-Fried was looking into the legality of it. You may well have been right but it sounds like they were trying to find a way to do it legally,” another replied.
Bankman-Fried vs. Trump
Another person wrote: “Bankman-Fried is a terrible person, there is no denying that. But I’m seeing some people talking like he’s as big of a threat to the U.S. as Trump. This, simply, is not true. Bankman-Fried sucks but Trump is a threat to the entire world. That man may well be the actual cause of World War III. Trump is uniquely dangerous. There are thousands of corrupt capitalists like Bankman-Fried.”
Thousands of Bankman-Frieds
Replying to the aforementioned commenter, another person said: “You know what, you’re right. Bankman-Fried gets media attention because he was a Democrat donor and the media is biased toward the right because the right keeps the people who own the media rich. There are thousands of Bankman-Frieds walking free.”
Donald Trump’s Intentions
Another individual wrote: “If this offer were accepted, it would definitely prove that Donald Trump was after the presidency for the power and the money it could net him. He is no politician. He is nothing more than a criminal – a swindler and a con man using the office of the presidency only to enhance his wealth.”
A Real Shame
Others lamented the fact that the deal never went through. “This deal could have saved America from certain doom. Oh well, it wasn’t Bankman-Fried’s money to give away anyway. Still, it’s a shame no ultra-rich billionaire is actually selfless enough to do this,” one person said.
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