[Generated Title]: Trump Pardons Crypto Crook, Then Claims "I Don't Know Who He Is"? Yeah, Right.
Okay, so Trump pardons Changpeng Zhao—"CZ," the guy who basically turned Binance into a money-laundering buffet—and then has the audacity to tell 60 Minutes he doesn’t know who he is? Give me a freakin' break.
The Amnesia Defense: A Classic
"I don't know who he is," Trump says. Right. Just like he didn't know Stormy Daniels, or half the people who donated to his campaigns. This is the same playbook he always uses. Deny, deny, deny. Even when the facts are slapping him in the face like a wet fish.
Norah O'Donnell even called him out on it, pointing out that Zhao caused "significant harm to US national security." Trump's response? Total blank stare.
And the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is calling the prosecution a "war on cryptocurrency"? Seriously? It's a war on money laundering, lady. Get your talking points straight. It's always someone elses fault, ain't it?
Crypto Cronies and Trump Tower Connections
Here's the kicker: CZ's companies have partnered with firms linked to Trump, including Dominari Holdings, where his sons sit on the board of advisers. Based in Trump Tower, no less! So, he doesn't know who CZ is, but his sons are cozying up with his business partners? Makes perfect sense... if you're living in Bizarro World.
It's all starting to smell like one big swamp that needs draining, again.
This whole thing stinks of corruption, plain and simple. Trump pardons a guy who pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering, then claims ignorance while his own family is intertwined with CZ's business ventures. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to connect those dots.
But hey, maybe I'm being too cynical. Maybe Trump really does have the memory of a goldfish. Or maybe he just thinks we're all idiots. Which, let's be real, might not be too far off the mark.
The Bigger Picture: Crypto and Political Power
Trump also said the US needs to be a leader in crypto or risk China gaining an advantage. Okay, that's a legit point. But pardoning crypto criminals isn't exactly the way to win that race, is it? It's like saying we need to win the Olympics, so let's let all the athletes use steroids. It's a terrible idea.
He's pardoned other crypto guys too, like the founders of BitMEX and Ross Ulbricht, the guy behind the Silk Road. What's the common thread here? It's not about "correcting overreach"; it's about currying favor with the crypto crowd and greasing the wheels for future deals.
Speaking of deals, remember Justin Sun? The guy whose fraud case was halted after investing in the Trump family's crypto firm? Coincidence? I think not.
The Binance platform remains the most used crypto exchange in the world for trading digital assets. How much of that is laundered money? I don't know, but I bet its a lot.
So, What's the Real Story?
Look, this isn't about crypto. It's about power, money, and influence. Trump sees crypto as a way to get more of all three, and he's willing to bend the rules—or outright break them—to get what he wants. And the fact that he's insulting our intelligence with this "I don't know him" routine? That's just the cherry on top of this steaming pile of BS. Frankly, I'm sick of it.
