That’s a sharp observation—and it reflects a real shift in tone and policy.
2016 Trump positioned himself as the ultimate outsider, railing against foreign entanglements and claiming that America was being “ripped off” by foreign powers, including countries in the Middle East. He specifically criticized politicians for being too cozy with foreign money and influence, promising to “drain the swamp.”
Fast forward to post-presidency Trump, and it’s a different picture:
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Saudi ties: The Trump family has pursued deep business ties in Saudi Arabia. Notably, Trump’s LIV Golf partnership has been heavily funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also received a $2 billion investment from the same fund for his private equity firm shortly after leaving the White House.
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Lavish events and branding deals: Trump-branded events and real estate deals in the Middle East have seen a rise, and some critics argue he’s cashing in on the connections he made as president.
So yeah—2016 Trump would probably have called 2024 Trump a sellout for doing the very thing he once condemned. It’s a classic example of populist rhetoric meeting post-office reality.
