Trump’s Sons, Poachers in Africa, Are Protected by Law and by Dad

Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, sons of the billionaire Republican presidential candidate, are particularly fond of hunting large endangered animals. And their father does not have a problem with that.

The hunting of large endangered species is a pastime reserved for the super-rich, and the hunters are usually thrill-seeking Westerners. Remember Walter Palmer, the dentist from Minnesota who, in July 2015, paid $55,000 to slaughter Cecil, one of Zimbabwe’s most famous lions? Like him, the sons of billionaire Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump have been hunting in Africa for many years. But, while the actions of Walter Palmer shook the whole world, Eric and Donald Jr.’s bloodthirsty hobby has not really caused much outrage during the American primaries. “We are not sure that this information will really disappoint the average Midwestern American, who tends to be pro-gun and not particularly bothered about what is happening on the other side of the world. In fact, it is unlikely that this will make any difference whatsoever to the campaign for the Republican nomination in the United States,” laments the regional French daily newspaper Sud Ouest, which published a report on Saturday detailing the “exploits” of the Trump boys: a freshly-slaughtered leopard here, a hung crocodile there, an elephant’s tail, a badger or two, and other such things that hunting fans will undoubtedly get excited about.

Donald Trump Sr. recently defended his sons, saying, “My sons love to hunt. They are members of the NRA, very proudly. I am a big believer in the Second Amendment,” as if the right to bear arms in his own country gives the average Joe the right to use his weapons on animals in other countries.

Unfortunately, the rich clients of these staged hunts, which make a lot of money for their organizers, are very rarely brought to justice in the countries where the hunts take place. Because he did “not know” that he was breaking the law, and because he had the “right paperwork” for hunting Cecil, Walter Palmer was, in the end, never held accountable, and it is highly unlikely that the Trump sons will be either.