Teflon Don

From teflon (“able to easily shrug off or deflect criticism or blame”) + don (“mafia boss”), after three high-profile trials in the 1980s resulted in acquittals.

the Teflon Don

2. (colloquial) John Gotti.
   • 2020 June 22, “Mafia boss John Gotti, aka "Teflon Don," sentenced to life”, in History.com‎^[1]:

     On June 23, 1992, Mafia boss John Gotti, who was nicknamed the "Teflon Don" after escaping unscathed from several trials during the 1980s, is sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty on 14 accounts of conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering.

From teflon (“able to easily shrug off or deflect criticism or blame”) + Don (diminutive of Donald), for Trump’s supposed ability to dodge legal matters.

Teflon Don

2. (colloquial, derogatory, humorous) Donald Trump.
   • 2023 June 10, “Trump faces biggest challenge yet to 'Teflon Don' persona”, in The Hill‎^[2]:

     Former President Trump – long deemed Teflon Don for his ability to dodge legal matters – is facing a series of serious criminal charges brought by the Justice Department, which unsealed a 37-count indictment on Friday related to his handling of classified documents.

   • 2024 September 17, William Thwing, “Vote your conscience”, in Rutland Herald, Rutland, Vt., →OCLC, page A4, column 4:

     We can choose [Donald Trump] a charismatic man who claims to be a billionare having inherited much of his fortune and way of thinking from his father, […] Or we can choose [Kamala Harris] a woman of color, whose parents were world-renowned scientists in the fields of economics and cancer research, and who devoted much of her life to prosecuting criminals much like her “Teflon Don” opponent.

   • 2024 November 10, Ted Fabianski, “Time to respect and work with Trump”, in LNP, 230th year, number 147, Lancaster, Pa.: LNP Media Group, →OCLC, page F3, column 2:

     Not to mention some media outlets regularly calling Trump a “second Adolf Hitler.” Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that Trump was already writing out his list of enemies and would go after his adversaries if elected. Talk about projection! Yet, in this election, Teflon Don managed to appeal to the majority of voters and convince them he would take us from the dark days of the Biden-Harris malaise and destruction.

   • 2025 January 15, Eric Foster, “Teflon Don should have drawn a fine and probation”, in The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Oh., →ISSN, →OCLC, page D8, column 4:

     Here in America, no one is above the law. Except for Donald Trump. Teflon Don.