The Don, Reputation, and the Curious Case of Integrity

In his December 15, 2025, defamation lawsuit against the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), The Don claimed that the BBC had caused substantial harm to him, including damage to:

• His professional and occupational interests;
• The value of his brand, properties, and businesses;
• His reputation as a politician, leader, and businessman in the eyes of the American public and people around the world;
• His brand value, resulting in massive economic damage;
• His reputation as President of the United States; and
• His future financial prospects.

Now, let's all take a little peek, shall we, at some of the esteemed and profoundly magnanimous actions The Don has taken over the years—actions that, according to absolutely nobody who has been paying attention, prove beyond all doubt that he has a sterling reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and, most importantly, integrity.

Among the highlights:

• An alleged adulterous affair with adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, followed by a criminal case involving payments made during the 2016 campaign.
• A New York jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Apparently, the accountants' version of “alternative facts” didn't quite hold up in court.
• TrumpUniversity: The Don agreed to pay $25 million to settle fraud claims brought by former students. Apparently, the university's most valuable course was “How to Get Your Money Back.”
• The Bonwit Teller demolition: In the 1980s, approximately 200 Polish immigrant workers were hired during the demolition of the Bonwit Teller building on New York's Fifth Avenue. The workers alleged they were paid illegally low wages and worked without proper safety equipment. The dispute ultimately resulted in a settlement after years of litigation.
• The Taj Mahal casino: Numerous contractors and suppliers accused The Don of failing to pay millions of dollars owed for work and materials. Among them was a supplier of Italian marble who reportedly filed for bankruptcy after not being paid. Apparently, even marble isn't immune to the laws of gravity—or unpaid invoices.
• E. Jean Carroll's sexual-assault case: A federal jury found The Don liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.
• E. Jean Carroll's subsequent defamation case: Another jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages.

Now, I could spend even more time discussing evidence that might support The Don's claim that his reputation has been unfairly damaged by the BBC.

But let's be generous.

Despite everything the BBC allegedly did to tarnish his reputation, The Don remains highly respected by an absolutely breathtaking collection of world leaders, politicians, and other admirers.

For example:

Pope Francisonce criticized The Don's proposed immigration policies and questioned whether someone who builds walls can call himself a Christian.

Kim Jong Un, apparently not a member of The Don's official fan club, referred to him as a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard.”

British Conservative MP Victoria Atkins called him a “wazzock,” which, for those unfamiliar with British political terminology, is not exactly an affectionate term.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox famously responded to The Don's proposed border wall with the immortal observation that Mexico wasn't going to pay for the “fucking wall.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also publicly accused The Don of lying.

An Iranian military spokesperson described The Don as “the biggest liar among the presidents of the countries of the world” and said he was not trustworthy.

And former President Barack Obama has also used considerably less-than-flattering language when discussing The Don and members of his administration.

Let's be honest here for a moment, okay?

Can anyone name another former president who has inspired such a remarkable collection of complimentary descriptions concerning his honesty, intelligence, character, temperament, and integrity?

Take your time.

I'll wait.

As soon as I finish my third Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, I'm hopeful I'll come to my senses and recognize that perhaps I should tone things down a little.

But after having lived through the presidencies from Dwight Eisenhower forward, I feel reasonably qualified to offer one personal observation:

In my opinion, The Don is among the most deeply flawed individuals ever to occupy the presidency.

And that's saying something.

Finally, let's consider Richard Nixon.

Nixon had plenty of serious faults, and Watergate alone guarantees him a permanent spot in the presidential hall of shame. But Nixon also accomplished some things during his presidency that were genuinely significant and, in some cases, admirable.

So, when it comes to the comparison between Nixon and The Don, I never thought I'd live to see the day when Richard Nixon would start looking like the male version of Mother Teresa.

Yet here we are.

History has a funny way of lowering the bar just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any lower.