Oh the irony. Trump never had any real intention of becoming President. From the very beginning, this was purely a Trump brand marketing exercise – a way to get enormous publicity for free.
That is why Trump could say whatever he wanted, make all sorts of crazy promises and threats – because he wasn’t even trying to get elected. He never envisaged he would actually be put in the position of having to explain to people why he can’t make the Mexican government pay for a wall to be built along their border, why he can’t stop manufacturing jobs being lost to automation, why he can’t make the world demand for coal grow.
This pursuit of publicity was revealed by Donald’s sons in an interview in May.
When asked about what happens to the Trump Organisation should their father lose the presidential race, Don Jr. said the company comes out ahead because of the enhanced name recognition.
Eric added, “I think he’s already won,” and he certainly wasn’t talking about the vote.
Asked about The Apprentice, Don Jr said “It has been great for the brand, and ultimately, that is something that’s very important to all of us.”
In a shock to everyone, the Trump camp probably most of all, 70 year old Trump will now have to, for the first time in his life, devote himself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the next four years, to public service.
I would imagine he is dreading the prospect. He can’t just declare himself bankrupt and walk away as he has done on six previous occasions when things got tricky.
There are several current or threatened court cases brought both by and against Trump.
He is accused of raping a 13 year old .
In addition to several suits over Trump University, Trump has threatened lawsuits against a dozen or more women who’ve accused him of sexual impropriety in recent months—and several of those women have threatened to countersue if he comes after them.
There’s also a New York state investigation into his charitable foundation and a reported federal investigation into some of his advisers’ ties to Russia.
Beyond that, there’s litigation that Trump himself launched, like the pair of suits against celebrity chefs who backed out of plans to open restaurants in his new luxury Washington hotel.
This is how Trump has lived, using other people’s money to make a fortune, walking away from creditors when it suits him, ripping people off, suing and being sued (reminiscent of Clive Palmer), and at all times promoting the Trump brand. All publicity is good.
Well the marketing worked Donald. The trouble is, you can’t walk away when things go pear-shaped this time and you can’t get your kids to take on the workload for you.
The people of America have just handed executive power to a property developer to unwind any regulation he wants to. And they will have to endure being represented on the world stage by an even bigger embarrassment than Abbott who looks positively statesmanlike in comparison.
The moral of this tale, for all concerned, is be careful what you wish for.
