‘Corrupt’ regimes find influence in Trump’s D.C.
In Chrystia Freeland’s new book, “Unreliable Boyfriend,” the former deputy prime minister of Canada details recent strains between the United States and her country, and recounts an encounter she had in 2025 with a Canadian businessman.
According to Freeland, he asked her whether the Canadian government had considered giving gifts to the Trump family. “[I]n Trump’s Washington, the opportunities for corruption are vast, blatant, and evergreen,” she wrote.
“Part of the perversity of what is happening right now, of how America is treating the world, is it is better to be a corrupt authoritarian regime in Washington than a democracy that is a traditional U.S. ally,” Freeland told Compass Points host Nick Schifrin.
Compass Points from PBS News analyzes prominent international affairs topics and America’s role in a shifting world, breaking down global conflicts, rising tensions, and their implications for U.S. interests. Visit the PBS News website to watch this week’s episode.
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