the better term for the money to politicians is grease. Grease makes the wheels go round. Trump is a New Yorker where tips are actually grease
It is sad that politicians have been able to set up such a situation. In my ideal world, politicians would never play favorites, and would set rules fairly for everyone. Unfortunately, this world is not ideal, and Trump has had to make his fortune in the real world, not a fair world.
You can call it "grease" or "protection money"--I guess the distinction is whether the money goes to government or the mafia--it's all the same thing.