If the billionaire class treats American politicians like marionettes, why not just elect a billionaire directly? That’s the unconventional message behind Donald Trump’s campaign for president. The real-estate developer from New York City, who is worth an estimated $4 billion, openly talks about how the politicians to whom he’d donated money were “there for me” when he wanted a favor. In this “broken system”, Trump says he is the ideal candidate because he cannot be bribed.
A former Democrat, Trump embraces some Republican ideas, such as a strong military, while often departing from party orthodoxy. America can manufacture its own products, he says; the Saudis can fight their own wars; and the US must rebuild its roads and airports. Trump’s unfiltered way of speaking has earned him a lot of admirers — and detractors. He is by far the most popular, and the most unpopular, Republican in the race.
Donald Trump speaks in Laconia, New Hampshire, July 16, 2015. Photo: Michael Vadon (CC2.0)
Donald Trump
Stated priorities: renegotiating trade agreements to bring jobs back to the United States; ending illegal immigration; rebuilding infrastructure; “making America great again”
Current age: 69
Age on election day: 70Career path: real-estate developer with his own reality TV show
Marriages: 3
Children: 5
Religion: Presbyterian
Religious fervor: 0
Campaign funds: $$$$$ (self-funded)
Skeletons in closet: **
Clown factor: ****
Cuckoo factor: **
Ability to stretch the truth: **
Distinguishing features: orange skin, unique hair
Best resembles: an orangutan
Gimmicky product: “Make America Great Again” plastic megaphone
Interview clip
Why they won’t elect him
Party insiders question whether Trump is a real Republican, given that he used to be a Democrat — but his unscripted and provocative remarks are a much greater nightmare to the party establishment. When Trump said that “Mexico” is “sending” criminals and rapists into the US, and that he would “build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall,” Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus called Trump and told him to knock it off. Significant support from Hispanic voters is seen as essential to a Republican victory next year.
The party chairman called Trump to tell him to knock it off
The candidate’s remarks about Mexico led several corporations to cancel business deals with him, while Trump piñatas with “a flange of blonde hair and a big mouth” became a popular item in Mexico. Trump’s insult of a Fox News anchorwoman for bringing up earlier sexist remarks of his earned him a reprimand from Roger Ailes, the head of the network.
Trump is known as a conspiracy theorist, having long held onto the idea that Barack Obama is not a US citizen. He now applies that theory to fellow candidate “Ted” Cruz, who was born to an American mother in Canada.
Donald Trump touts his business success as proof that his judgment is sound — but four of his businesses went bankrupt.
Trump’s status as a political outsider makes him invigorating, but if elected, he would have to depend on good advisers. This is what George W. Bush said he would do in 2000 to compensate for his lack of foreign-policy experience. What happened instead was that the advisers wound up running the show.
Why they might
Trump is proving that any publicity is good publicity. Every time he offends someone, thousands of people express their support for him, and the media give him more attention at the expense of the other candidates.
Trump emphasizes making deals and getting things done
Trump is undeniably genuine. He loves being the center of attention and answers every question thrown at him, often thinking on his feet. Trump’s emotional, almost primal, language — with its frequent use of the words “winning”, “losing”, “great”, “smart”, “stupid”, “love” and “hate” — appeals to a large segment of Republican voters who believe, for various reasons, that America is in decline. Trump’s slogan, “Make America great again”, and the ideas behind it, worked wonders for Ronald Reagan, who first used it in 1980.
With his emphasis on making deals and getting things done, Trump might be able to inspire Congress to return to the political culture of bipartisan deal-making.
As Trump says, he is able to finance his own campaign. Asked in Iowa recently, “Would you spend a billion dollars on the election?” he answered, “I would do that, yeah, if I had to.” And at the first official Republican debate, he said he would not rule out running as an independent if he does not receive the party’s nomination.
Plus, Trump is Batman.
In his own words
“I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t, frankly, have time for total political correctness — and to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China. We lose to Mexico, both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody.”
Best quote about him
“He’s like that monster in Star Trek: the more you fire the phasers at him, the stronger he grows.” (Cenk Uygur, July 2015)
Official website
Simpsons parody
Hearing that Trump had hired extras off the street for $50 each to attend his campaign announcement speech, the creators of The Simpsons could not resist satirizing the event, along with the deals canceled by NBC, Macy’s, and the Miss Universe pageant.
