October 17, 2025 - Capitol Riot - capitol-riot.com

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Trump and the art of the political betrayals

GS – AI Overview

While a formal “Art of the Political Betrayals” is not a political concept, many of Donald Trump’s political relationships, actions, and policy shifts have been described by opponents, former allies, and commentators as betrayals. These include instances of disloyalty towards his own appointees, reversals on policy promises, and actions perceived as undermining US foreign alliances. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Betrayals of former political appointees and allies

The “loyalty test”: Trump has consistently demanded personal loyalty from those within his administration and political circle. When he perceived this loyalty to be lacking, he often attacked and severed ties with even his most dedicated supporters, earning him a reputation for being disloyal in turn.
Targeting former staff: After leaving office, Trump targeted former officials he viewed as disloyal, including pressuring the Department of Justice to indict former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Other ex-aides who have spoken out against him, like former Chief of Staff John Kelly and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have also been disavowed and ridiculed.
Weaponizing the Department of Justice: Critics allege that Trump has pressured the DOJ to launch politically motivated prosecutions against rivals and political opponents, such as former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. This is framed as using legal power for political retribution against perceived betrayals. [3, 4, 6, 7, 8]

Betrayals on policy promises

Social Security and welfare: Despite promising voters he would not cut Social Security, Trump’s budgets have included proposals to cut billions from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). He also supported legislation that would have led to massive cuts in social welfare programs and Medicaid, affecting millions of citizens.
Trade and manufacturing: In 2025, during his second term, Trump’s policies, such as the signing of a sweeping budget bill that favors the super-wealthy, were called a “great betrayal” by a union leader who initially gave him a chance. The bill is expected to kill union-friendly jobs and tax incentives. [1, 9, 10, 11, 12]

Betrayals in foreign policy

Ukraine and US alliances: Actions and rhetoric regarding Ukraine have been described as a betrayal of a key US ally. Critics, including former intelligence officers, voiced concern in early 2025 that the US was abandoning Ukraine, a major consequence they attribute to Trump’s pro-Russia stance. His friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and transactional approach to alliances have led to concerns among NATO allies.
Palestinians and peace plans: In October 2025, a commentary piece described a perceived betrayal of the Palestinian people in peace negotiations, linking Trump’s actions to ignoring the Palestinian struggle for return. [2, 5, 13, 14, 15]

Examples of recent accusations (2025)

October 2025:

An op-ed in Countercurrents described Trump’s actions on Palestine as a “repetition of betrayal” for omitting the Palestinian right of return from peace plans.
MSNBC and ABC News covered the increasing accusations from career prosecutors that the DOJ was being used for a campaign of retribution against Trump’s political enemies.

September 2025: A study published in the Wiley Online Library discussed the dynamic of “disloyalty at the top” during Trump’s first administration, where officials were seen as either loyalists or disloyal adversaries.
July 2025: The Guardian reported on Trump signing a major tax and spending bill, describing it as a “big beautiful betrayal” for favoring the wealthy over the poor.
April 2025:
The Center for American Progress published an article highlighting “100 Days of the Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy,” citing the destabilization of global order and alliances as a betrayal of US leadership

.
February 2025:

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) released an update called “The Great Betrayal,” detailing the firing of federal employees and accusing the Trump administration of undermining government services for political reasons.
An op-ed in The Guardian criticized Trump’s approach to Russia and Ukraine, describing it as a “betrayal of Ukraine”. [4, 7, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19]