Donald Trump and the Self-Made Sham

[Go Braves]

“I built what I built myself.”

This boast has long been at the core of the mythology of Donald Trump, Self-Made Billionaire. As the oft-told story goes, young Mr. Trump accepted a modest $1 million loan from his father, Fred, a moderately successful real estate developer from Queens, and — through smarts, hard work and sheer force of will — parlayed that loan into a multibillion-dollar global empire.

It’s a classic American tale of ambition and self-determination. Not Horatio Alger, exactly, but appealing, and impressive, nonetheless.

Except that, like so much of what Mr. Trump has been selling the American public in recent years, this origin story was a sham — a version of reality so elaborately embellished that it qualifies as fan fiction more than biography. Also, as we’ve come to expect from Mr. Trump, the creation of this myth involved a big dose of ethically sketchy, possibly even illegal activity.

As an in-depth investigation by The Times has revealed, Mr. Trump is only self-made if you don’t count the massive financial rewards he received from his father’s business beginning as a toddler. (By age 3, little Donald was reportedly pulling in an annual income of what today would be $200,000 a year.) These benefits included not only the usual perks of hailing from a rich, well-connected family — the connections, the access to credit, the built-in safety net. For the Trumps, it also involved direct cash gifts and tens of millions in “loans” that never charged interest or had to be repaid. Fred Trump even purchased several properties and business ventures, putting ownership either fully or partly in the names of his children, who reaped the profits.

Opinion | Donald Trump and the Self-Made Sham

 

[Halbhh]

Opinion | Donald Trump and the Self-Made Sham

The American urge that -- to be Bigger.

To be the Big Time one.

here's something about it in a song (the first one):
America

 

[Basil the Great]

Well, I have been predicting that he will not even run for re-election, but what do I know?

 

[Go Braves]

Well, I have been predicting that he will not even run for re-election, but what do I know?

There was this professor who got a lot of attention before the 2016 election for saying that Trump was going to win. He'd correctly predicted who'd win in the past 20 years or so worth of elections so folks paid attention to him. He also predicted that Trump either wouldn't finish his 1st term or not run for a 2nd one. Neither of you know that for sure of course but I think maybe you're both good at discernment.

 

[mama2one]

He'd correctly predicted who'd win in the past 20 years or so worth of elections so folks paid attention to him. He also predicted that Trump either wouldn't finish his 1st term or not run for a 2nd one.

who is the professor?


President Trump raises over $100 million for his 2020 re-election campaign


why file for re-election and raise money then ^

 

[FireDragon76]

This revelation really did not surprise me. Trump's business history has been a series of bankruptcies and tax write-offs. It wasn't until he discovered his true talent as an entertainer, on the Apprentice in 2004, that his fortunes seemed to turn around.

 

[Go Braves]

who is the professor?


President Trump raises over $100 million for his 2020 re-election campaign


why file for re-election and raise money then ^

Allan Lichtman.