# Is Trump, plain and simple, a traitor to his country?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-plain-and-simple-a-traitor-to-his-country/818154>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 18, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-plain-and-simple-a-traitor-to-his-country/818154 "2018-07-18T16:37:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 442

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-plain-and-simple-a-traitor-to-his-country/818154/442 "2018-07-25T02:40:13Z")

</div>

> [@Bricker](#):
>
> Are you, then, predicting that one of these cases will proceed on the merits, and will end on appeal with a finding that hotel ownership in the way Trump’s doing it is violative of the Emoluments Clause?
> 
> Because I say it won’t. And I’ll put up $500, or any smaller amount, as a wager that I’m right.
> 
> Because I’m willing for my prediction in this instance to carry an actual consequence for error.
> 
> Are you?
> 
> Now, those attorneys – I doubt very seriously they believe they will prevail on the merits. I strongly suspect that they’re doing it to be a thorn in Trump’s side, with the added bonus that maybe lightning will strike.

I am saying you were expressing concern over my misunderstanding of the emoluments clause. I am merely noting that I am in good company and you need not worry. It’s not just those attorneys arguing that point either. Lots of other attorneys and academics agree so it is hardly some fringe notion my untutored mind conjured up.

And I am not taking the bet since I agreed with you before. Not because the courts will get it right though but because I am confident in the courts allowing corrupt practices as long as they have the merest fig leaf of cover and give massive deference to the president no matter how egregious his actions.

> [@Dems sue Trump over emoluments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dems-sue-trump-over-emoluments/788924/101):
>
> I confidently predict the courts will not decide anything that substantively affects Trump’s practices.
> 
> > [@Dems sue Trump over emoluments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dems-sue-trump-over-emoluments/788924/102):
> >
> > I confidently you predict you are right.

And are you accusing those attorneys of unethical behavior? Or is it ethical to bring nuisance lawsuits?

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-plain-and-simple-a-traitor-to-his-country/818154)._