Trump's transactional relationship with the Mafia in his early days is no big secret, as David Cay Johnston made clear in his 2017 book, "The Making of Donald Trump." Now the Philadelphia Inquirer is asking why Trump just had his picture taken with allegedly former mob boss "Skinny Joey" Merlino. Via the Inquirer:

They share an affinity for golf and an aversion to cooperating witnesses who “flip” to help federal investigators.

But former president Donald Trump and former Philly mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino don’t have much to say about how they wound up in a photo together at a South Florida golf course.

Trump posed for the photo with Merlino earlier this month at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach. The two, along with an unidentified third man, flash Trump’s customary “thumbs-up” hand signs and smiles while wearing golfing attire.

Who, me? What?

“President Trump takes countless photos with people. That does not mean he knows every single person he comes in contact with,” said a Trump spokesperson after The Inquirer shared a copy of the photo with his campaign.

Look, Skinny Joey was making his bloody way up to becoming boss of the same Philadelphia mob crew active in Atlantic City while Trump was running his casinos. There is NO WAY he does not know who Merlino is. (I'm sure he knows who Kelly Anne Conway's grandfather Jimmy "The Brute" DiNatale is, too.)

Just saying. He did eventually move on to the Russian mob, but you never really forget your first, amirite?