In a short amount of time, Donald Trump has tapped into the anger created by an out-of-control federal government that no longer listens to the people. His solutions to the country’s many problems make great sound bites — but what’s the substance beneath?
In this four-part series, Glenn looks at the man behind the message, including Trump’s early years as a Manhattan developer, his grandiose claims about business dealings and successes and, perhaps most telling, the language he uses when talking about women. Is Trump the kind of man needed to restore America to her founding principles — or is he just adding another notch to his belt and title to his resume? Is he a winner who wins all the time or is he a showman putting on the greatest show of his life?
The four-part series is compiled below for your convenience.
Part I: The Tabloid Years
Donald grew up the son of a successful real estate developer. He didn’t exactly start in the mail room of his father’s company. He started at the top of the family business, which in 1974 was already worth $200 million. In today’s dollars, that translates into a one billion-dollar business. But Trump claims he didn’t have it easy. Here’s how Trump rose to the top of the Manhattan real estate game and began collecting trophy wives along the way.
Part II: The Business Resume
Winning is everything to Donald Trump, and when you win, you put your name on it. Trump Vodka, Trump Plaza, Trump Place, Trump Steaks and Trump University are just a few businesses stamped with Trump’s brand of glittering gold, helping him feel like a winner. While anyone with a net worth in the billions cannot be called a failure, Trump isn’t exactly the winner he claims to be. Many of his business ventures have faded into oblivion. His father bailed him out of a troubled casino venture by purchasing $3 million in chips. He’s defaulted on over $6 billion. Winning may be everything to Mr. Trump, but his record shows not only multiple failures, but also how low he can go. Ask Vera Coking.
Part III: The Chameleon
For as firm a stance as Donald Trump has taken on current issues, he’s just as likely to have held completely opposite opinions in years past. A political chameleon of sorts, Trump has managed to change party affiliations five times. He first registered as a Republican before changing to Democrat and then joined the Reform Party and later became an Independent — only to return to the Republican Party.
While Trump blusters about Obamacare, he is for universal health care for all citizens. He has flip-flopped on abortion, first being very pro-choice and then switching to pro-life. He hates the idea of guns but has a concealed carry permit and owns two pistols.
While he comes off as strong on the border and illegal immigration, he supports a pathway to citizenship. He has contributed to liberal candidates many times, including his would-be opponent, Hillary Clinton. Trump has even said both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were doing a great job. Now that he’s running for president, his opinion of their performance has changed. What has caused Donald Trump to change his opinion so dramatically and so often? What are the pivot points that inspired these changes? Listen to Glenn’s rundown on Trump’s history and then you decide if these changes are genuine or not.
Part IV: The Recent Years
On the campaign trail this election cycle, Donald Trump has been touting the importance of leadership and having the right people around you. When someone lacks any type of record in politics and government, the best place to vet their credentials can often be who and what they publically support. In 2009, Trump stated President Obama was doing a great job and gave him a “solid B+” for his first hundred days as well as saying he would hire him. Not only did he support Obama, but he also agreed with his appointments – most notably a possible democratic nominee for this year, Hillary Clinton.
In 2010, Wolf Blitzer asked if Obama has “saved” us as a country and Donald noted that he had indeed. It was a totally different story in 2011 however, as Trump said that Obama had surpassed Jimmy Carter as the worst president in history. What changed to have Mr. Trump change his tune so drastically? Had Obama crossed him personally or in some other way? Or was it just that Mr. Trump was gearing up for a presidential bid of his own.
Whatever caused the change, Donald switched parties and became a republican despite having been quoted as saying “the economy seems to do better under democrats” and Mrs. Clinton saying “he’s basically a democrat.” Mr. Trump consistently touts his relationships with the democrats and how he is best equipped to work with them, but is that just because he is still ideologically aligned with them or because of he “negotiating genius?”
That will be for the American people to judge.
Featured Image: Donald Trump