Several of the world’s wealthiest men stood behind Donald Trump as he was inaugurated for a second term, contradicting his image as a populist president. This prompts the question, how much influence do the wealthy have on U.S. politics?

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy joins FP Live to share his take on the state of U.S. democracy, and whether the United States is becoming more corrupt, to mark the launch of Foreign Policy’s latest print issue: “Billionaire Rule.”

Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free): 

Spring 2025 Print Issue: Billionaire Rule

Jodi Vittori: Is America a Kleptocracy?

Adam Tooze: Elon Musk’s First Principles

James Crabtree: How Modi and Trump Treat Billionaires Differently

Priya Satia: The Deep Roots of Oligarchy

James Palmer: Did China Get Billionaires Right?

Andrew O’Donohue: The U.S. Judicial Crisis Is Uniquely Dangerous

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