Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Real Estate Investor Magazine - September 2017 | Page 14

DONALD TRUMP
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Trump International Hotel, Las
Vegas
Trump National Golf Club, West-
chester county, New York
Trump World Tower, New York
Trump Building @ 40 Wall Street,
New York
Trump International Hotel and
Tower, New York
Trump National Golf Club, Colt’s
Neck, New Jersey
Trump International Golf Links,
Aberdeen, Scotland
Trump International Hotel and
Tower, Chicago
Trump National Doral, Miami
Trump 757 airplane
Trump Place, New York
Trump Rink in Central Park, New
York
Trump’s books and licensing deals
Trump the showman
Seemingly enamored with the public
eye, Trump begins producing and star-
ring in The Apprentice in 2004. The
show was a hit, catapulting Trump into
the homes of millions of Americans.
When he wasn’t hawking condomini-
ums or casinos, he was busy building his
own celebrity brand name.
In addition to TV and movie roles,
he went on the motivational lecture cir-
cuit, earning anything from $100,000 to
$1 million per appearance at seminars
hosted by Bill Zanker and Tony Rob-
bins. He had a knack of knowing how to
get attention from the media and even
today manipulates them to get his mes-
sage across.
Political aspirations
The 2016 election wasn't Trump’s
first run at politics. In 1999, he an-
nounces that he’s considering running as
candidate for the Reform Party’s nomi-
nation for the presidential race of 2000.
A poor performance during the prima-
ries, however, sees him withdrawing his
candidacy.
In 2011, Trump expresses his doubts
regarding President Obama’s birth
country. A full-fledged conspiracy the-
ory emerges, with allegations that a
Hawaiian State Health Director’s death
was somehow linked to the President’s
secret. In 2016, wrapped up in his own
run for president, Trump backtracks
on his statements, instead placing the
blame on his political rival: “Hillary
Clinton and her campaign of 2008
started the birther controversy. I fin-
ished it. I finished it. You know what
I mean, President Barack Obama was
born in the United States, period.”
In mid-2015, a national phone poll
12
reveals that Trump is in the lead as Re-
publican nominee. This despite a slew
of controversial statements, including
derogatory remarks about immigrants
and Mexicans, war veterans, and sexism.
While many were shocked by the brash
nature of his campaign, Trump managed
to garner endless free publicity.
Placing himself as the candi-
date-for-the-people, Trump made no
secret of his disapproval of the current
government. Having spent 45 years in
the business world, Trump knew how to
sell himself as the best man for the job.
President Trump
When it became clear that the eventual
candidates for president were Hillary
Clinton and Donald Trump, experts
were confident in their choice. Sure-
ly Clinton, with experience in politics,
would secure the election with ease.
Trump was seen as a joke, albeit a cruel
one. It turns out, however, that Trump
was able to apply his business skills to
the political realm.
The first rule of business is to know
what you're selling - and what you're up
against. Trump soon realised that the
ordinary people of America were frus-
trated. In response to this, he positioned
himself as the candidate for the work-
ing class. Hillary Clinton, according to
many, represented the elite few. Trump
turned his lack of political experience
into an advantage, instead pointing out
his opponent’s past mistakes. As unlike-
ly as it seemed at the time, the strategy
paid off. Knowing how to read the room
is key in any business decision, which is
exactly what Trump did on the national
stage. Playing on the fears of the work-
ing class, he pointed out the inherent
dangers of immigrants, the risk to job
security, and the pending doom at the
hands of ISIS, These fears propelled
many to the voting stations, desperate
for a president that seemed to be on
their side.
“Voters in the white working class
who reported feeling a stranger in their
own country and believed protections
were needed against foreign influence
were 3.5 times more likely to vote for
Trump,” a study by the Public Religion
Research Institute found. It was this
support that eventually lead to Trump’s
victory, along with Trump’s favourite en-
emy: Fake News.
Since his inauguration, the President
has made it clear that he’s not a fan of
mainstream media. Having declared war
on journalists, Trump regularly accuses
news sources of being “fake.” The power
of the media and, more specifically, on-
line media, was a large part of Trump’s
SEPTEMBER 2017 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
election success. Breitbart News Network
is a far-right news network, spreading the
agenda of conservative politicians - in-
cluding Trump. Steve Bannon, previous
executive of the network, was appointed
White House Chief Strategist by Trump
following his victory at the polls. Recent-
ly, he has left the White House, sparking
rumours of tension between himself and
the president.
Bannon, of course,
isn't the first White
House employee to
leave since the start of
Trump’s presidency.
Mike Dubke, the Communica-
tions director, left the White
House after three months.
Michael Flynn, National
Security Adviser, was asked to
resign after two weeks, follow-
ing reports that he had lied to
the vice president regarding
blackmail by Russia.
Reince Priebus, Chief of Staff,
left the White House after
six months, following the
President’s decision to appoint
John Kelly in the position.
Anthony Scaramucci left the
office after one week, follow-
ing controversy and general
vulgarity.
Sean Spicer, Press Secretary
and Communications director,
resigned after six months,
following Trump’s insistence to
employ Scaramucci.
Trump’s reputation as brash and to-
the-point is what won many voters over.
Now that he’s in the Office, however,
his lack of diplomacy has halted many
of his plans for reform. During the first
100 days of his Presidency, Trump soon
realised that making changes weren't
as simple as shouting louder than your
opponent.
With all eyes on President Trump’s
decisions, one can only guess what will
happen next. It’s clear, however, that the
rules