Thread by @SethCotlar

Donald Trump is the Jim Bakker of Richard Nixons.
washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/maga…

I mean, look at this grifting e-mail Trump sent his supporters today. "How dare people try to use the border as a political stunt...oh, and while you're here, we need to raise $500,000 TODAY for my Official [totally made up thing called a] Secure the Border Fund."

"I've asked my team to send me a list of EVERY AMERICAN PATRIOT who sends me money today." The mark for Trump's grift is the same as Bakkers...the lonely TV watcher who thinks their contribution just might get them closer to heaven or gain the approval of the big man up there.

It's basically presidential elder abuse, carried out by the guy who claimed he was so rich that he'd fund his own campaigns. "Act now, this offer expires soon, not available in stores, [quiet voice] shipping & handling not included."

I know people who fell for Bakker's schtick in the 80s. They were kind, decent, generous, working-class people who had absolutely no money to spare, but they would send Bakker checks regularly because they bought his schtick.

There's no way to actually know this, but I'd love to see what chunk of Trump's base fits the Jim Bakker-fraud-victim profile.