Unlike typical political graft, Kasparov explains that under Trump, corruption is the fundamental system. It's not a bug or an isolated problem but the deliberate and systematic use of state agencies and policies as a mechanism for personal enrichment. This reframes it from a moral failing to a systemic takeover.
Cleaning house in a post-Trump administration presents a paradox. Necessary actions to restore nonpartisanship will inevitably be framed by opponents as a "hyperpartisan" purge. Kasparov suggests the only solution is a deliberate strategy focused on restoring institutional credibility, not just winning political battles.
Kasparov argues it's a "huge strategic mistake" to focus on the 2028 presidential race. He identifies the upcoming midterm elections as the true inflection point. Their outcome will "prepare the landscape" and represent the most critical opportunity to legislatively check executive power and alter the country's political trajectory.
Kasparov argues the greatest danger isn't just high-level political cronies. The critical inflection point is when a "critical mass of the second and third tier of officers of the law and bureaucrats" become loyalists. This cements authoritarian control by taking over the permanent machinery of the state itself.
Garry Kasparov argues that dictators don't hide their intentions; they state them plainly, like Hitler in *Mein Kampf*. The public's failure is not a lack of information but a failure to believe what is being said. This playbook applies directly to Donald Trump's rhetoric and actions, which should be taken seriously.