What does AI think of MAGA?
I asked AI – Perplexity – to explain how Trump and Musk are bad… Even AI thinks maga are morons. Below is a screenshot from how it was thinking… I chose to have it use Deep Dive on this one, which is an important topic, I think, so Read beyond the funny. NOTE: to be fair, you can to a certain extent lead AI as to what it reports, but it won’t usually say something that is blatantly false. See my testing.
I asked, “Can you explain to MAGA how and why everything Tump and Musk are doing is bad for our country, illegal and immoral? In a way they can comprehend?”
Perplexity.AI answered (Notice it has 65 citations and references!) :
# The Impact of Trump Administration Policies and Actions on U.S. Governance and Ethics
The Trump administration’s tenure marked a significant departure from established ethical norms and legal precedents in U.S. governance. This report examines how specific actions and policies associated with Donald Trump violated constitutional principles, federal laws, and ethical standards, while also assessing their broader societal impact. By analyzing documented conflicts of interest, obstruction of justice, misuse of public resources, and systemic erosion of transparency, this review demonstrates how these practices undermined democratic institutions and public trust.
## Constitutional Violations and Conflicts of Interest
### Failure to Divest From Business Interests
President Trump’s refusal to divest from his global business empire upon taking office created unprecedented conflicts of interest. Unlike previous presidents, Trump maintained ownership of hotels, golf courses, and commercial properties, enabling foreign and domestic entities to curry favor through financial transactions[1][4]. For instance, foreign governments like China and Saudi Arabia booked events at Trump-owned properties, directly funneling revenue to the president while his administration shaped policies affecting those nations[1]. This arrangement violated the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses, which prohibit federal officeholders from accepting gifts or profits from foreign or domestic governments[1][4].
The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., became a symbol of these conflicts. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of State, hosted events at the property, while foreign diplomats frequented it to gain political access[1]. Despite multiple lawsuits alleging constitutional violations, the administration dismissed concerns, normalizing the use of public office for private gain[1][4].
## Ethics Scandals and Abuse of Power
### Obstruction of Justice and Interference in Law Enforcement
Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation uncovered evidence that President Trump sought to obstruct justice by pressuring FBI Director James Comey to drop the probe into National Security Advisor Michael Flynn[1][2]. Trump’s subsequent firing of Comey and public attacks on the integrity of the Mueller investigation further demonstrated efforts to undermine judicial independence[1][2]. These actions mirrored tactics historically associated with authoritarian regimes, where leaders weaponize their authority to shield allies and evade accountability[1][4].
### Misuse of Government Resources
Senior officials in the Trump administration routinely exploited taxpayer funds for personal benefit. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned after spending over $1 million on private and military flights, while EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt faced scrutiny for extravagant expenses, including a $25,000 soundproof phone booth[1]. These incidents reflected a broader culture of impunity, where ethical guidelines were treated as optional rather than binding[1][4].
## Erosion of Democratic Norms and Transparency
### Weaponization of Federal Agencies
The administration’s “drain the swamp” rhetoric masked aggressive efforts to install industry lobbyists in regulatory roles. At least 17 officials received ethics waivers to oversee industries they previously represented, including energy and finance[1]. This revolving door between corporate interests and policymaking prioritized private profit over public welfare, particularly in environmental deregulation and financial oversight[1][4].
### Suppression of Public Accountability
Transparency safeguards eroded significantly under Trump. The White House ceased disclosing visitor logs, while agencies like the EPA instructed staff to avoid creating written records, violating the Federal Records Act[1]. Such secrecy obstructed congressional oversight and public scrutiny, enabling unchecked abuses of power[1][4].
## Legal and Ethical Implications of Recent Executive Actions
### Assault on Educational Equity
In early 2025, President Trump issued an executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federally funded universities, labeling them “dangerous” and “immoral”[5]. This directive, framed as promoting “merit-based opportunity,” disregards systemic inequities in education and violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs[5]. By pressuring institutions to abandon DEI efforts, the administration risks exacerbating racial and gender disparities in higher education[5].
## Societal Consequences and Long-Term Risks
### Normalization of Corruption
The Trump administration’s disregard for ethics has had a corrosive effect on public trust. A 2023 PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll found that 75% of Americans believe Trump engaged in illegal or unethical conduct, yet partisan polarization has insulated him from accountability[3]. When leaders face no consequences for violating norms, it signals that corruption is permissible, eroding civic engagement and democratic participation[3][4].
### Threats to Institutional Integrity
By blurring the lines between governance and self-enrichment, Trump’s actions set a dangerous precedent for future leaders. The expansion of presidential power under his tenure, including claims of “absolute immunity” from legal scrutiny, weakens checks and balances essential to democracy[4][5].
## Conclusion
The Trump administration’s legacy is defined by systemic ethical failures and legal violations that prioritized personal and political gain over national interest. From unconstitutional financial conflicts to obstruction of justice, these actions have weakened democratic institutions and jeopardized the rule of law. For supporters of the MAGA movement, it is critical to recognize that excusing such conduct undermines the very principles of accountability and integrity foundational to American democracy. Restoring trust in government requires leaders who uphold ethical standards, respect constitutional boundaries, and prioritize the public good above all else.
Citations:
[1] The Most Unethical Presidency: Year One – CREW https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/the-most-unethical-presidency-year-one/
[2] Trump’s dirty tricks: Unethical, even illegal campaign tactics are an … https://theconversation.com/trumps-dirty-tricks-unethical-even-illegal-campaign-tactics-are-an-american-tradition-115872
[3] Are Trump’s legal troubles earning him Republican support? – PBS https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/are-trumps-legal-troubles-earning-him-republican-support
[4] The Age of the Winning Executive: The Case of Donald J. Trump https://harvardlawreview.org/forum/vol-134/the-age-of-the-winning-executive/
[5] Trump puts higher education on notice for ‘dangerous, demeaning … https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-puts-higher-education-notice-dangerous-demeaning-immoral-dei-teachings
[6] Long sourced list of Elon Musk’s criminal, illegal conman … – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/hychbc/long_sourced_list_of_elon_musks_criminal_illegal/
[7] Did Elon Musk Violate U.S. Immigration Laws? – LexisNexis https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insights/legal/immigration/b/outsidenews/posts/did-elon-musk-violate-u-s-immigration-laws
[8] Elon Musk is wrong to say Joe Biden is recruiting immigrants to … https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2024/elon-musk-is-wrong-to-say-joe-biden-is-recruiting-immigrants-to-create-a-democratic-majority/
[9] ‘This is a constitutional crisis’: Democrats blast Musk and Trump over … https://abc7ny.com/post/usaid-staffers-told-stay-washington-headquarters-musk-said-trump-agreed-close/15859884/
[10] The Problem With Elon Musk – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYQxG4KEzvo
[11] 14 States Sue Trump and Musk over Illegal Dismantling of Federal … https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/14/headlines/14_states_sue_trump_and_musk_over_illegal_dismantling_of_federal_agencies_as_firings_continue
[12] Trump Publicly Admits He Thinks He Can Break Any Law He Wants https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-publicly-admits-thinks-break-203511129.html
[13] the ways Elon Musk is breaking the law, explained by a law professor https://www.vox.com/politics/398618/elon-musk-doge-illegal-lawbreaking-analysis
[14] The Courts Can’t Stop the Trump-Musk Coup | The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/courts-cant-stop-the-trump-musk-coup/
[15] Don’t Let Donald Trump and Elon Musk Talk Us Out of Democracy https://msmagazine.com/2025/02/14/trump-musk-democracy-authoritarian-doge-gulf-of-america-courts/
[16] Is Trump Breaking Federal Laws? We Asked Legal Experts – Time https://time.com/7212753/trump-elon-musk-federal-laws-legal-analysis/
[17] A Profoundly Un-American Moment | The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-musk-maga-un-american/
[18] Blips of Trump world bleed into everyday life in S.F. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/trump-musk-maga-ice-doge-20169006.php
[19] Elon Musk promises “temporary hardship” if Trump wins 2024 election https://www.vox.com/politics/381637/elon-musk-donald-trump-2024-election-temporary-hardship
[20] Full Remarks: Raskin Condemns President Trump and Elon Musk’s … https://raskin.house.gov/2025/2/full-remarks-raskin-condemns-president-trump-and-elon-musk-s-illegal-and-unconstitutional-abolition-of-usaid-at-press-conference-outside-the-agency
[21] How Trump’s MAGA Agenda Is Already Sticking It To Red America https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-maga-agenda-already-sticking-215313781.html
[22] Musk, X, and Trump 2024: Where are the Legal and Ethical … https://www.justsecurity.org/100265/musk-trump-legal-boundaries/
[23] Civil Rights Organizations Oppose Musk Data Theft https://civilrights.org/resource/civil-rights-organizations-oppose-musk-data-theft/
[24] Elon Musk’s immoral, dangerous, failing experiment in free speech https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4287616-elon-musks-immoral-dangerous-failing-experiment-in-free-speech/
[25] As Musk’s Tweet Inadvertently Illustrates, the Letter of the Law Has … https://www.corporatecomplianceinsights.com/musk-tweet-letter-of-law/
[26] the ways Elon Musk is breaking the law, explained by a law professor https://www.vox.com/politics/398618/elon-musk-doge-illegal-lawbreaking-analysis
[27] Working from home immoral? A lesson in ethics, and history, for … https://theconversation.com/working-from-home-immoral-a-lesson-in-ethics-and-history-for-elon-musk-205992
[28] On Monday, Join Experts to Discuss How Elon Musk’s Illegal … https://www.freepress.net/news/press-releases/join-experts-discuss-elon-musks-illegal-government-incursion
[29] A Profoundly Un-American Moment | The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-musk-maga-un-american/
[30] Musk shows why he’s such a powerful ally for Trump and … – CNN https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/12/politics/musk-trump-oval-office-analysis/index.html
[31] The Courts Can’t Stop the Trump-Musk Coup | The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/courts-cant-stop-the-trump-musk-coup/
[32] Don’t Let Donald Trump and Elon Musk Talk Us Out of Democracy https://msmagazine.com/2025/02/14/trump-musk-democracy-authoritarian-doge-gulf-of-america-courts/
[33] Is Trump Breaking Federal Laws? We Asked Legal Experts – Time https://time.com/7212753/trump-elon-musk-federal-laws-legal-analysis/
[34] the ways Elon Musk is breaking the law, explained by a law professor https://www.vox.com/politics/398618/elon-musk-doge-illegal-lawbreaking-analysis
[35] Trump and Musk Hunt for Corruption, Very Selectively https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/trump-musk-corruption.html
[36] Donald Trump, Elon Musk and MAGA are the establishment now https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-maga-establishment-elon-musk-rcna179183
[37] We do not know what exactly Elon Musk is doing to the federal … https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/01/politics/elon-musk-federal-government-what-matters/index.html
[38] Is Trump Breaking Federal Laws? We Asked Legal Experts – Time https://time.com/7212753/trump-elon-musk-federal-laws-legal-analysis/
[39] Don’t Let Donald Trump and Elon Musk Talk Us Out of Democracy https://msmagazine.com/2025/02/14/trump-musk-democracy-authoritarian-doge-gulf-of-america-courts/
[40] On judging Trump, Americans are moving from ‘unethical’ to ‘illegal’ https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/07/polling-trump-illegal-unethical/
[41] The danger for Trump in hush money case – The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/15/danger-trump-hush-money-case-refreshing-peoples-memories/
[42] ‘Illegal, unconstitutional and immoral attacks’: Trump vows mass … https://www.yahoo.com/news/illegal-unconstitutional-immoral-attacks-trump-154607018.html
[43] Sanders: ‘What Musk is doing is illegal’ – The Hill https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5130245-sanders-musk-doge-oligarchy/
[44] Elon Musk Equates DEI With Racism. An ER Doc Offers A Different … https://www.forbes.com/sites/arthurkellermann/2024/04/02/elon-musk-is-wrong-about-dei/
[45] Billionaire Elon Musk is an outspoken critic of illegal immigration … https://www.facebook.com/cnn/videos/billionaire-elon-musk-is-an-outspoken-critic-of-illegal-immigration-but-he-has-u/2353274771681791/
[46] Our Government Belongs to the American People, Not Elon Musk https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/urgent-senate-update-our-government-belongs-to-the-american-people-not-elon-musk
[47] Full Remarks: Raskin Condemns President Trump and Elon Musk’s … https://raskin.house.gov/2025/2/full-remarks-raskin-condemns-president-trump-and-elon-musk-s-illegal-and-unconstitutional-abolition-of-usaid-at-press-conference-outside-the-agency
[48] Opinion | Resisting Trump: What Can Be Done? – The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/opinion/trump-resistance.html
[49] Our Government Belongs to the American People, Not Elon Musk https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/urgent-senate-update-our-government-belongs-to-the-american-people-not-elon-musk
[50] Musk vs. MAGA: Trump supporters battle over role of immigrant … https://www.yahoo.com/news/musk-vs-maga-trump-supporters-224151043.html
[51] What is Project 2025? Wish list for Trump second term, explained https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c977njnvq2do
[52] Fight Back Against the Trump-Musk Coup | Indivisible https://indivisible.org/coup
[53] Trump 2.0: Musk in the Oval, a Gift to Mayor Adams and a Win for Putin https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/podcasts/the-daily/trump-musk-mayor-adams-putin.html
[54] Sanders: ‘What Musk is doing is illegal’ – The Hill https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5130245-sanders-musk-doge-oligarchy/
[55] Views of Elon Musk – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Views_of_Elon_Musk
[56] CMV: Elon Musk is a Bad Man : r/changemyview – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/1eycez0/cmv_elon_musk_is_a_bad_man/
[57] Our Government Belongs to the American People, Not Elon Musk https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/urgent-senate-update-our-government-belongs-to-the-american-people-not-elon-musk
[58] How Trump’s MAGA Agenda Is Already Sticking It To Red America https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-maga-agenda-already-sticking-215313781.html
[59] Full Remarks: Raskin Condemns President Trump and Elon Musk’s … https://raskin.house.gov/2025/2/full-remarks-raskin-condemns-president-trump-and-elon-musk-s-illegal-and-unconstitutional-abolition-of-usaid-at-press-conference-outside-the-agency
[60] Fight Back Against the Trump-Musk Coup | Indivisible https://indivisible.org/coup
[61] Trump 2.0: Musk in the Oval, a Gift to Mayor Adams and a Win for Putin https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/podcasts/the-daily/trump-musk-mayor-adams-putin.html
[62] Full Remarks: Raskin Condemns President Trump and Elon Musk’s … https://raskin.house.gov/2025/2/full-remarks-raskin-condemns-president-trump-and-elon-musk-s-illegal-and-unconstitutional-abolition-of-usaid-at-press-conference-outside-the-agency
[63] What is Project 2025? Wish list for Trump second term, explained https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c977njnvq2do
[64] Musk’s influence over mass firings in the federal government – PBS https://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/video/2025/02/musks-influence-over-mass-firings-in-the-federal-government
[65] Fight Back Against the Trump-Musk Coup | Indivisible https://indivisible.org/coup