Trump running to make money?

[apcalc]

I just have this feeling that Trump is running for president solely to make money, shore up his finances.
Reports are out there that he is paying himself, his family, his many and varied business interests with campaign money. He sure isn't using the money for advertising.
Expenses for travel, food, rental for campaign headquarters, whatever - he is planning to write it off .
Why else campaign in Connecticut? I am thinking he has business interests there.

Truly, I don't think he wants to be president. Money is/has always been his main motivator.

Anyone else think so?

[rurallib]

1. Just talking about that very thing with Mrs. Lib

For one thing, I think he ran to bolster the Trump brand name. That seems to be backfiring big time.

But to your point, I don't think the original plan was to make money while running, but the opportunity presented itself and the professional grifter in him took over.

I doubt he ever really loaned his campaign money - only on paper. But I think he is intent on being repaid that money while as you note he is getting paid for running, and charging the campaign for using his facilities, and paying many of his other companies for travel, food, advertising etc.

In short it seems to me he is swindling his party to the hilt.

But then, maybe I am being sarcastic? No, I don't think so.

[apcalc]

3. Yes, I agree. Especially about paying himself back!

[get the red out]

4. I think you are correct

But I also think he might have some mental issues going on.

[PatSeg]

6. I think you summed it up quite well

That is pretty much how it has looked to me. Meanwhile, Trump loves attention as much as money, so it is a win-win for him, as long as he doesn't actually "win" the election.

There will probably more books and Trump products in the future!

[catbyte]

16. I think he's irreparably harming his "brand"

People who can afford to buy a luxury condo or stay at a Trump resort won't want to touch him with a 10-foot pole, and his fan base look like they don't have a pot to piss in, much less afford luxury items. I see Trump mobile home parks, Trump paper plates, and Trump Luxury Urinal Cakes in his future. Unless his spawn are as deluded as he is, I'll bet they're freaking out big time, and perhaps considering a name change.

[PatSeg]

17. Trump Mobile Homes!

I can see that.

He could always go to Russia, at least until his loans become past due. I don't think Russian oligarchs are as flexible as U.S. banks.

His best bet is to return to reality TV. Maybe a show like Gene Simmons' Family Jewels. His fans would eat it up and he could advertise the Trump Luxury Urinal Cakes during the commercials.

[catbyte]

18. I think you're right. Reality Teevee, the last refuge for a scoundrel like him.

Or Trump Taj Mahal Luxury Outhouses for the Duck Dynasty poaching crowd's hunting shacks.

[PatSeg]

20. The possibilities are endless!

After all, gold goes with everything.

[apcalc]

19. Yes, attention, money, more Trump products...

[mcar]

2. A long con

By don.

[Coyotl]

5. Does he have millions in side bets going?

And if he does, is he betting against himself?

[Wounded Bear]

7. Would not surprise me at all...

Money seems to be the only thing he really cares about, well, except his elementary school ego.

[Koinos]

8. I cannot bring myself to feel sorry for those who donated to his campaign.

The "marks" in his con game are just as reprehensible as he is.

He will take their money, use a big chunk to pay back so-called loans he has allegedly made to his campaign and make the rest of it disappear via his family "campaign staff" and Trump enterprises. This is likely to go down (and I mean "down&quot in history as the most expensive fake campaign ever conducted. Even TV advertising money will mostly end up in the personal accounts of family.

When are the FEC reports due? Do you think he will file them on time?

[lark]

9. Think there's more to it than $.

Although, I do believe it is the root of what he's trying to accomplish. Think he's promised Russia free access to Ukraine if they will write off all his debts and they agreed, think that's his principal motive. Motive #2 is making money from campaigning and paying himself, family aNd businesses. He's taken in 82 million, is spending very little on staff salary and the rest is being siphoned of somewhere, want to bet where it's going?

[Pluvious]

10. Check out the RW article on this very topic

Surprisingly well written piece linked in the post I made last night:

Right Wing convincing themselves tRump is throwing election to Hillary
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512363951

IMHO, he's looking to leverage his run much like Palin did, only much moar YUUUGER !!1!!!

[turbinetree]

11. Meet Donald Trump-----------------

Maybe the "guy" that likes to associate himself with some people and running for the highest office in the country should go to Barnes and Noble, buy the book out of the millions "he's made", sit back and reflect on the his "deals" or he can go to the public library there in New York and check it out, since he likes to "pinch pennies",just like in the book were a fake company sent checks for $1.11 cents to Trump and Kashoggi and fifty of the richest people would cash them, well guess what he did, he cashed a faked check.
David Cay Johnston ---------------The Making of Trump

Johnston should be on every news show from here on out about this "guy", why is he associated with Sater, and just for more information lets add Bill Moyers from his disscussionist site

http://discussionist.com/1015954497

In fact if this "guy" the "carnival barker" shows up for the "debates", maybe just maybe, quotes should be thrown out from the book to get it on video for his responses, here is a trailer that was released and if anyone is interested they can go on you tube and then itunes and the documentary that he fought tooth and nail, here is a trailer from Libby Handros------Trump: The Making of a Deal, which is mentioned in Johnston book

[sarcasmo]

12. Running to start

Trump TV

[Blue Idaho]

13. Many do...

Time and time again. Just look at all the perennial republican candidates for president. They know they will never win, but they have figured out that they can make millions losing. Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and the rest of the usual suspects all know they can get rich by fleecing the sheep along the campaign trail.

[cab67]

14. It's as good an explanation as any.

Even better than most. He certainly doesn't seem to be motivated by a desire to govern (as opposed to rule) or serve the public.

[jimmil]

15. Absolutely!

He will make millions on this campaign. He holds conferences, etc. at his hotels, golf courses, other holdings and you can bet he is charging his campaign. He is using his company jet to get to venues. Did you realize when someone uses a corporate jet not for business like Trump is doing all the must pay is the cost of a first class ticket. The company owning the jet declares that as revenue and the rest of the expenses as a loss. That is tax code. So Trump charges the campaign the cost of a ticket while Trump Aviation has a huge deduction which is written off and written off and written off among Trump holding companies. Meanwhile he pays his looser kids out of campaign coffers and not his pocket so they are off the dole for a while. It is a money making machine for the quickest payoff in the shortest amount of time. He will end up with a half a bil to a billion at the end of the campaign.