[dantillberg]

That's what I thought as well at first, but I've come to think that is just the cover story. While some of his base likely did buy in, I expect that _most_ of the inflows were from individuals or groups looking to influence the administration (aka bribes).

[thrance]

Yet he didn't feel the need to hide the plane he received from the Saudis, or the gold bars he got from tech companies. Hell, he even bragged about those. Because there's no one able and willing to stop his naked corruption, he has zero reason to hide it. Shamelessness is his signature, after all. No, his coins were organically fed by people who believe his lies.

[autoexec]

He doesn't have any shame, but some of the people bribing him may not want to be so public about that. His bribecoins gave them the ability to funnel money without having to worry about any fallout (legal or reputational).

[lavezzi]

> Yet he didn't feel the need to hide the plane he received from the Saudis, or the gold bars he got from tech companies.

You are willfully obtuse if you believe these are equivocal examples.

And not that it matters, but the plane in question was 'gifted' from the Qatari royal family, not 'the Saudis'.