I was actually thinking that ice cream might make a nice dessert in the Trump Library’s cafeteria. You could get a regular one scoop serving for, say, $5; or you could “President Size” it: two scoops for $9.
First, there will be the presidential library grifting, where multiple folks collect money for the “library” that ends up going into their own pockets (see Bannon and funding for “the wall”).
Next will be presidential library skimming, where money is collected that will actually go to a library, but only 5%, with the rest of the proceeds going to “administration”, and “branding fee” (AKA paying Trump to put his name on it)
Finally, the actual library, which will be as you described. A simplistic shrine with entry fees to continue to fleece the rubes.
In the Hamberder Room there’s a 60’ X 30’ projection screen showing a looped montage of him playing tennis with the see-through shorts; picking up a golf ball, looking around, then chucking it out of the rough; signing an executive order then holding up the menu; tweeting on a gold toilet; spasmodic handicap tauntings; at his Presidential desk recieving a McDonalds delivery from a ten-man SS detail; close-up of his face with a smiling, full mouth, nod, and a wink.
In the middle of the H.R., on a small, column-shaped holder, sits the moldering Onion of Elizabeth, with a small gold plack* underneath, quoting her plight - verbatim - about getting maced.
You forget the gift shoppe with a mexican wall of The Apprentice box sets, the last of the Trump steaks [‘walking out the door’ does not do justice to the biological processes involved with these vintage premium meats], golf wear for the whiter, huskier gentleman and plaques with inspirational sayings gleaned from the greatest twittering in English or any language [available in gold, golder or Trumpulence finish].
To say the least, Trump has shown little ability to operate a legitimate nonprofit foundation, never mind build an endowment. He’ll have considerable difficulty doing so in his home state of New York. Under a 2019 court order, after “admitting to personally misusing funds at the Trump Foundation,” Trump agreed to a settlement that—should he succeed in persuading anyone to give him the money at all—puts an extremely short leash on any nonprofit he might launch in that state.
If he does build a library, it’s likely Trump would want the legitimacy and imprimatur of the federal government, as a “seal of approval” for his story, told his way. He might even like to have the National Archives host his exhibits about how “great” he made America (again), and, perhaps, how great was the “theft” of his second term. But to do any of that, the law will require him not only to spend the money on the grounds and building, but to raise hundreds of millions of additional dollars—and give it, almost unthinkably, to the government .
There may or may not be a physical library, but I do want to point out that the online portion of it, maintained by the National Archives, is now in place. It appears to contain the documents he shredded.
The betting now is that Trump will leave his papers, such as they are, at the national archives and set up a museum to highlight his “accomplishments”. I believe there is a used museum in Petersburg, KY, that isn’t doing too well. Maybe he could take it over.