The US is already run by a cabal of gerontocrats with no interest in the long term future of this country or its heritage people. It’s over. Has been for a generation or two.
More to your point, the cartels have bought influence at local levels before. But the amount of money needed to take the US government into pocket at this point is too much for a cartel or gang to come up with. They’re competing with big pharma, big ag, and big tech, after all.