Donald Trump is crowing about major law firms pledging up to $125 million in pro bono work to support his so-called “common causes.” But, as so often with Trump, it’s mostly smoke and mirrors.

After all, these aren’t acts of charity. They’re acts of cowardice, opportunism, and strategic delay — American democracy, let alone their professional reputations, be damned.

The Foxconn playbook comes to K Street

But firms like Paul Weiss, Kirkland & Ellis, and Cadwalader think they can outfox Trump the way Foxconn did so infamously. That’s why these Democratic-leaning firms are stroking his ego by promising the moon. Then, once he’s out of office (or in prison), they’ll ghost him.

Like the liberal tech bros before them, these firms are striking Faustian bargains: cut a deal now to avoid his wrath; sacrifice values for access; reap short-term profits; damn the long-term consequences.

Extortion as public service

These firms are willfully perverting the definition and the spirit of pro bono work. They know Trump couldn’t care less about the poor, unless he’s suing them, evicting them, or exploiting them.

They also know he won’t generate enough work to justify the pledge. Frankly, he couldn’t even if he tried.

The pendulum of retribution

Despite his pretensions, Trump won’t be president forever. And when the pendulum swings, as it surely will, a Democratic president will have a mandate for retribution. Susman Godfrey said as much in its lawsuit, joining hundreds of firms that are fighting back instead of cowering:

If President Trump’s Executive Orders are allowed to stand, future presidents will face no constraint when they seek to retaliate against a different set of perceived foes.

Of course, Susman won that famous $787 million settlement against Fox News for spreading Trump’s “Big Lie” about the 2020 election. No surprise, then, that it landed on Trump’s hit list.

Alas, Trump has triggered a vicious cycle of retribution. So, from tech bros to law firms to MAGA propagandists, those helping him turn Madisonian democracy into Putin-style autocracy should be afraid; be very afraid.

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