The People’s Billionaires

With the presidential primary season practically upon us, Donald Trump is rolling in the endorsements of international heavy hitters. Last weekend, Sean Penn reported that Joaquín Guzmán Loera (aka “El Chapo”) had called Trump, “Mi Amigo!”, a double-edged phrase in organized crime, politics and real estate deals meaning roughly, “My Friend!” It’s true they have different ideas about how a billionaire should dress, but there is a certain eerie similarity.

“I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats,” Guzmán told Penn.

“I mean, part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich,” Trump notes, adding, “Private jets cost a lot of money.”

El Chapo’s praise comes on the heels of Russian president Vladimir Putin calling Trump "an outstanding and talented personality" (or something like that).

“Actually he’s right,” Trump responded, “I am brilliant,” and praised Putin for being a strong and hugely popular leader, with “an 80 percent approval rating.”

“We’re all tough guys.”

Three billionaires masquerading as popular heroes.

With drugs and national security high on the list of issues important to Republican voters, Trump continues to lead by a substantial margin.

“One of the key problems today,” Trump has noted, “is that politics is such a disgrace. Good people don’t go into government.”