Living in an oligarchy?

Dianne Douthat
Published: 05/11/2025

A recent poll found that many voters think America is becoming an oligarchy, which Merriam-Webster defines as “government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes.”

You may be living in an oligarchy when the world’s richest man uses his fortune to help elect a billionaire president, then gets appointed to lead a so-called “government efficiency” panel that fires thousands of hardworking federal employees without cause and pushes for more government contracts for his businesses. Another tip-off might be the president’s appointing an unprecedented number of billionaires, whose combined wealth is more than the GDP of 174 countries, to Cabinet positions. You may be living in an oligarchy if these wealthy elites ignore conflicts of interest to promote self-dealing policies.

You may be living in an oligarchy if the president and his family create unheard-of conflicts of interest, not just by hawking Bibles and watches, but also by striking real estate deals with foreign nations and making a killing selling cryptocurrency. You may be living in an oligarchy if the president’s son’s new D.C. club, with a $500,000 membership fee, lets the richest schmooze with the president and his inner circle.

You may be living in an oligarchy if this billionaire administration is looking to slash Meals on Wheels, public health, the Veterans Crisis Line and other programs ordinary Americans need, to give themselves and their wealthy pals even bigger tax breaks.

These are just the highlights. If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.

Topics: OligarchyDonald Trump