Donald Trump Report-DNC
Donald Trump Report-DNC
Donald Trump Report
Democratic National Committee
Submitted: 12/19/15
Confidential Page 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents 2
Background 7
Top Narratives .................................................................................................................................. 7
Top Narratives Backup ................................................................................................................... 11
Trump Is Loyal Only To Himself ................................................................................................ 11
Trump Is A Liar ........................................................................................................................... 16
Trump Proposed Banning All Muslims… .................................................................................. 18
Trump’s Campaign Is Defined By Offensive And Extreme Immigration Rhetoric ................. 22
Trump Has Repeatedly Offended Minorities With Demeaning Comments ............................. 26
Bad Businessman ........................................................................................................................ 29
Trump’s Business Have Gone Into Bankruptcy Multiple Times .............................................. 31
Trump’s Predictions On The 2007 Downturn Were Wildly Off ................................................ 33
Trump Has Repeatedly Proven To Be Clueless On Key Foreign Policy Issues ....................... 33
Trump’s Foreign Policy Could Make America An Enemy Of The World ................................. 35
Trump’s Gun Policy: More Guns ................................................................................................. 39
Repeal Without A Plan On Health Care .................................................................................... 41
Climate Change Denier ............................................................................................................... 42
Trump Has Supported The GOP’s Reckless Approach To Governing ...................................... 42
Trump Has Devalued And Demeaned Women Repeatedly Throughout His Career ............... 44
Trump On Military Sexual Assaults… ....................................................................................... 47
Out of Touch/Hand-Outs For The Wealthy At The Expense Of The Middle Class ................. 48
Trump’s Ex-Wife Accused Him Of Rape ..................................................................................... 50
Trump Timeline 53
Trump’s Career Overview 57
Early Life ......................................................................................................................................... 57
Family and Upbringing ............................................................................................................... 57
Childhood ..................................................................................................................................... 58
Education ..................................................................................................................................... 59
Draft Deferments ......................................................................................................................... 60
Business Ventures ........................................................................................................................... 61
Employees and Contractors ........................................................................................................ 61
Rent-Controlled Housing ............................................................................................................ 63
Licensing Agreements ................................................................................................................. 63
Casinos ......................................................................................................................................... 65
Golf Courses ................................................................................................................................. 66
Hotels ........................................................................................................................................... 68
Trump University ........................................................................................................................ 68
Development and Land Deals ..................................................................................................... 68
Beauty Pageants .......................................................................................................................... 69
Business Associates ..................................................................................................................... 69
Bankruptcies and Debts ................................................................................................................. 70
Bankruptcy: “A Great Deal” and a “Business Tool” ................................................................... 70
Bankruptcy Filings ...................................................................................................................... 71
Debts ............................................................................................................................................ 71
Lawsuits .......................................................................................................................................... 72
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Labor and Employment Issues ................................................................................................... 72
Trump as Plaintiff ....................................................................................................................... 73
Philosophy on Leadership, Business and Management ................................................................ 75
Loving Bad Markets and “Amazing” Housing Market Collapses ............................................. 75
Use of Eminent Domain .............................................................................................................. 75
Negotiations ................................................................................................................................. 76
Reliance on Chinese Goods ......................................................................................................... 76
Trump On The Issues 77
Agriculture ....................................................................................................................................... 77
Campaign Finance and Ethics ....................................................................................................... 78
Criminal Justice System ................................................................................................................. 78
Body Cameras .............................................................................................................................. 78
Death Penalty .............................................................................................................................. 79
Marijuana Legalization ............................................................................................................... 79
Crimes Committed By Undocumented Immigrants .................................................................. 80
Defense and Foreign Policy ............................................................................................................ 80
“Advisers” ..................................................................................................................................... 80
Hawkish Tendencies .................................................................................................................... 81
Defense Spending ........................................................................................................................ 81
Foreign Aid .................................................................................................................................. 81
Military ........................................................................................................................................ 82
Nuclear Triad ............................................................................................................................... 83
Afghanistan .................................................................................................................................. 84
China ............................................................................................................................................ 85
Cuba ............................................................................................................................................. 86
Egypt ............................................................................................................................................ 87
France ........................................................................................................................................... 87
Germany ....................................................................................................................................... 88
Iran ............................................................................................................................................... 88
Iraq ............................................................................................................................................... 90
ISIS ............................................................................................................................................... 91
Israel ............................................................................................................................................ 93
Kuwait .......................................................................................................................................... 93
Libya ............................................................................................................................................. 94
Mexico .......................................................................................................................................... 96
Russia ........................................................................................................................................... 96
Saudi Arabia ................................................................................................................................ 97
South Korea ................................................................................................................................. 97
Syria ............................................................................................................................................. 98
Vietnam ........................................................................................................................................ 99
Economic Issues .............................................................................................................................. 99
Great Recession ........................................................................................................................... 99
Wall Street Reform .................................................................................................................... 101
Employment and Job Creation ................................................................................................. 103
Government Assistance ............................................................................................................. 103
Debt Ceiling ............................................................................................................................... 104
Federal Reserve and Monetary Policy ...................................................................................... 107
Federal Budget .......................................................................................................................... 108
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Business Regulations ................................................................................................................ 109
Treasury ..................................................................................................................................... 110
Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records ......................................................................... 111
Education ....................................................................................................................................... 111
K-12 ............................................................................................................................................ 112
Higher Ed ................................................................................................................................... 113
Entitlements .................................................................................................................................. 113
Social Security ........................................................................................................................... 114
Medicare ..................................................................................................................................... 115
Environment and Energy ............................................................................................................. 116
Energy Extraction ..................................................................................................................... 116
Keystone XL ............................................................................................................................... 116
Energy Prices ............................................................................................................................. 117
Climate Change Denier ............................................................................................................. 118
Nuclear Energy .......................................................................................................................... 118
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) .............................................................................................. 119
Wind Power ................................................................................................................................ 119
Gaming .......................................................................................................................................... 121
Guns ............................................................................................................................................... 122
Background Checks ................................................................................................................... 123
Magazine Limits ........................................................................................................................ 124
Permits and Concealed Carry ................................................................................................... 124
Assault Weapons Ban ................................................................................................................ 125
Gun Free Zones .......................................................................................................................... 125
NRA ............................................................................................................................................ 126
Mass Shootings .......................................................................................................................... 126
Health Care ................................................................................................................................... 129
Health Care Plan ....................................................................................................................... 129
Affordable Care Act ................................................................................................................... 130
Universal Health Care .............................................................................................................. 132
Homeland Security/Terrorism ...................................................................................................... 132
Torture ....................................................................................................................................... 132
Surveillance ............................................................................................................................... 133
Immigration ................................................................................................................................... 137
Immigration Plan Overview ...................................................................................................... 137
Mass Deportation ...................................................................................................................... 138
Path to Citizenship .................................................................................................................... 140
Border Security .......................................................................................................................... 140
Undocumented Immigrants ...................................................................................................... 141
Birthright Citizenship ............................................................................................................... 142
Visas ........................................................................................................................................... 143
Executive Actions on Immigration ........................................................................................... 145
Offensive Rhetoric Towards Hispanics And Latinos ............................................................... 145
Conspiracy Theories .................................................................................................................. 150
Undocumented Laborers at Trump Projects ............................................................................ 151
Miscellaneous Comments .......................................................................................................... 153
Labor .............................................................................................................................................. 154
Salaries and Wages ................................................................................................................... 154
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Unions/Right-To-Work .............................................................................................................. 155
LGBT .............................................................................................................................................. 156
Religious and Racial Minorities ................................................................................................... 156
Affirmative Action And Quotas ................................................................................................ 156
Black Lives Matter (BLM) ........................................................................................................ 157
Muslim Surveillance and Database Proposal .......................................................................... 157
Offensive and Insensitive Comments on Minority Groups ..................................................... 161
Support from White Supremacists ........................................................................................... 164
Taxes .............................................................................................................................................. 165
2016 Tax Plan ............................................................................................................................ 165
Tax Burden ................................................................................................................................ 168
Deductions and Incentives ........................................................................................................ 170
Flat Tax and Fair Tax ............................................................................................................... 171
Bush Tax Cuts ........................................................................................................................... 173
Net Worth Tax ........................................................................................................................... 173
Corporate Taxes ......................................................................................................................... 174
Capital Gains and Carried Interest .......................................................................................... 175
Estate Tax .................................................................................................................................. 176
IRS .............................................................................................................................................. 176
Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................................. 177
Trade .............................................................................................................................................. 178
TPP ............................................................................................................................................. 178
Free and Fair Trade .................................................................................................................. 178
Trade Wars ................................................................................................................................ 179
NAFTA and WTO ...................................................................................................................... 179
Tariffs ......................................................................................................................................... 180
Trade with China and Currency Devaluation ......................................................................... 181
Transportation and Infrastructure .............................................................................................. 184
Women and Families .................................................................................................................... 184
Abortion ...................................................................................................................................... 184
Planned Parenthood and Women’s Health Care ..................................................................... 185
Equal Pay ................................................................................................................................... 188
Employer-Provided Child Care ................................................................................................. 188
Sexual Assaults ......................................................................................................................... 189
Offensive Comments .................................................................................................................. 191
Working for Trump .................................................................................................................... 196
Working Families .......................................................................................................................... 196
Comments on Contributors to American Society ..................................................................... 196
Minimum Wage ......................................................................................................................... 197
SNAP Benefits ........................................................................................................................... 197
“Free Stuff” ................................................................................................................................ 197
Veterans ......................................................................................................................................... 198
Plan for the VA .......................................................................................................................... 198
Trump’s Politics 200
2016 ................................................................................................................................................ 200
GOP Loyalty Pledge .................................................................................................................. 200
Campaign Finance ..................................................................................................................... 201
Going Negative .......................................................................................................................... 204
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Staffing Problems ...................................................................................................................... 205
Polling ........................................................................................................................................ 205
Dishonesty .................................................................................................................................. 205
Political Philosophy ....................................................................................................................... 206
Changing Party ID .................................................................................................................... 206
Obama Administration ................................................................................................................. 207
Birtherism .................................................................................................................................. 207
Impeachment ............................................................................................................................. 208
Press Corps. ................................................................................................................................... 208
Endorsements ................................................................................................................................ 208
Trump’s Personal Life 209
Finances ......................................................................................................................................... 209
Member Of The Elite ................................................................................................................. 209
Net Worth .................................................................................................................................. 210
Inheritance ................................................................................................................................. 211
Dodging Personal Bankruptcy .................................................................................................. 212
Personal Health ............................................................................................................................. 213
Marriages and Other Relationships ............................................................................................. 216
Ivana Trump .............................................................................................................................. 216
Marla Maples ............................................................................................................................. 218
Melania Trump .......................................................................................................................... 219
Comments on Fidelity and Pre-Nuptial Agreements .............................................................. 220
Children ......................................................................................................................................... 221
Parents and Siblings ..................................................................................................................... 222
Parents ....................................................................................................................................... 222
Siblings ....................................................................................................................................... 222
Religion .......................................................................................................................................... 223
Trump’s Top Video Clips By Issue 224
Confidential Page 6
BACKGROUND
TOP NARRATIVES
TRUMP HAS NO CORE
One thing is clear about Donald Trump, there is only one person he has ever looked out for and that’s
himself. Whether it’s American workers, the Republican Party, or his wives, Trump’s only fidelity has
been to himself and with that he has shown that he has no problem lying to the American people. Trump
will say anything and do anything to get what he wants without regard for those he harms.
Trump Is Loyal Only To Himself. Trump has repeatedly proven that he is only loyal to himself.
Trump has switched his policy positions and political party affiliations multiple times over the course of
the last few decades, most often latching on to whatever set of ideas or party is in power or whichever
reactionary bandwagon he could jump on to keep his name in the headlines. And despite his rants against
outsourcing, China, and free trade deals, Trump has eagerly invested abroad and showed little loyalty to
America in allowing his clothing line to import clothes from China. He’s laid off American workers and
even complained that American wages are “too high.” Even in his personal life, Trump has openly
discussed his view that fidelity is the right thing to do unless a marriage is going poorly, and described
his relationship with women as a game.
Trump Is A Liar. While Trump’s campaign speeches and commentary have grabbed attention for
being outrageous and often offensive, they have also been marked by a consistent theme: dishonesty.
Trump has repeatedly used dishonesty and straight-up lies to back up his extremist rhetoric. Trump
repeatedly defended a bold-faced lie that he watched “thousands” of Muslims celebrating the attack on
the World Trade Center in New Jersey on 9/11. Trump falsely claimed that President Obama was not
born in the United States, and when challenged on the facts, simply resorts to polling evidence showing
the popularity of the issue among the GOP base. What is clear is that Trump will say anything – no
matter how untrue and ugly it may be – to advance his position in the presidential race.
DIVISIVE AND OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN
There’s no nice way of saying it – Donald Trump is running a campaign built on fear-mongering,
divisiveness, and racism. His major policy announcements have included banning all Muslims from
entering the U.S., and calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “drug dealers” while proposing a U.S.-
Mexico border wall. And Trump’s campaign rallies have become a reflection of the hateful tone of his
campaign, with protestors being roughed up and audience members loudly calling for violence.
Trump Proposed Banning All Muslims From Entering The U.S. In December 2015, Donald
Trump called for a “total and complete” ban on all Muslims entering the United States. Trump’s
spokeswoman said under his plan, even American citizens traveling abroad would be prohibited from
reentering the United States and Trump defiantly told his supporters he didn’t care if his plan was
politically incorrect. Trump claimed his plan was “common sense,” citing two polls for support; however,
one of the polls was published by a group the Southern Poverty Law Center called an “extremist think
tank” and was widely discredited. The other poll’s publisher — the highly respected, nonpartisan Pew
Research Center — said it could not even determine what polls Trump was referring to. Trump’s call to
ban all Muslims from entering the U.S. was widely condemned — one of his rivals for the Republican
nomination likened it to Nazism, and even former Vice President Dick Cheney denounced it, saying it
“goes against everything we stand for and believe in.” Trump’s plan was supported by some groups,
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however. White Supremacists and neo-Nazis are thrilled about Trump’s call to ban all Muslims from
entering the U.S. and see it as an energizing force for their movement.
Trump’s Campaign Is Defined By Offensive And Extreme Immigration Rhetoric. Trump’s
campaign is fueled by extreme, xenophobic and sometimes dangerous rhetoric about immigration. Trump
doesn’t just oppose comprehensive immigration reform like his fellow GOPers, he vilifies immigrants for
political gain and proposes outrageous solutions based on absurd and false information. One of the
centerpieces of Trump’s campaign is his pledge to build a “great wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border to
keep out the “druggies, drug dealers, rapists and killers” coming up from Mexico. As if his promise to
rescind President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, deport American citizens whose family
members lack proper documentation, and end birthright citizenship for children he proudly derides as
“anchor babies” weren’t bad enough on their own, Trump’s declared he will use a “deportation force” to
execute the mass deportation of approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants based on the model
of Dwight Eisenhower's brutal and deadly mass deportation of the mid-1950s.
→ Trump Says He Would Build A Border Wall To Keep “Druggies, Drug Dealers,
Rapists, And Killers” Out Of The U.S. One of the centerpieces of Trump’s campaign is his
pledge to build a “great wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border to keep out the “druggies, drug dealers,
rapists and killers” coming up from Mexico. Trump then repeatedly stood by his assertion after it
created considerable controversy.
→ Trump Has Banned Univision From Events And Kicked Its Reporters Out Of Press
Conferences. Donald Trump’s disrespectful behavior towards Univision and its reporters is
unlike anything we’ve seen from a presidential candidate in recent memory. Trump has barred
Univision from covering his rallies, and removed a Univision reported from a press conference
after getting angry at questions regarding his broad mischaracterizations about immigrants being
criminals.
Trump Has Repeatedly Offended Minorities With Demeaning Comments. From the start of
his campaign, and well before it, Donald Trump has repeatedly made demeaning and offensive comments
about minority groups in the U.S. In June 2015, Trump said Black youths are at “a point where they’ve
just about never done more poorly, there’s no spirit, there’s killings on an hourly basis, virtually, in places
like Baltimore and Chicago and many other places.” And his comments pre-date his presidential
campaign by decades: in 1991, he was quoted as saying “laziness is a trait in blacks.”
BAD BUSINESSMAN
Despite Trump’s continual boasting about his business success, he has repeatedly run into serious
financial crises in his career and his record raises serious questions about whether he is qualified to
manage the fiscal challenges facing this country. Trump’s business resume includes a long list of
troubling issues, including his company’s record of forcing people from their homes to make room for
developments and outsourcing the manufacturing of his clothing line to take advantage of lower-wage
countries like China and Mexico. His insight about the marketplace has proven wrong many times,
including in the run-up to the Great Recession. And Trump’s record of irresponsible and reckless
borrowing to build his empire – behavior that sent his companies into bankruptcy four times – is just one
indication of how out-of-touch he is with the way regular Americans behave and make a living, and it
casts doubt on whether he has the right mindset to tackle the country’s budget problems.
Trump’s Business Have Gone Into Bankruptcy Multiple Times. Donald Trump likes to brag
that he is “very smart,” tout his ivy league education and exaggerate his net worth, but in reality, Trump
is not the master businessman he claims to be. Donald Trump’s businesses have gone bankrupt four times
and he only barely was able to avoid personal bankruptcy himself. Finally, and most ironically, Donald
Confidential Page 8
Trump and would actually have become more wealthy by simply putting his inheritance in a boring
mutual fund than he became by “making deals.”
Trump’s Predictions On The 2007 Downturn Were Wildly Off. Despite his false claims later on,
Trump also failed to foresee the economic crisis, which he blamed, at least in part, on ordinary Americans
who got mortgages that eventually went underwater.
DANGEROUS & IRRESPONSIBLE POLICIES
Trump’s policies – if you can call them that – are marked by the same extreme and irresponsible thinking
that shape his campaign speeches. There is no question that Donald Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous – but
his actual agenda could be a catastrophe.
Trump Has Repeatedly Proven To Be Clueless On Key Foreign Policy Issues. Over the
course of his campaign, Donald Trump has proven time and again that he lacks the knowledge and
expertise to be America’s Commander-in-Chief. During a debate in December, Trump clearly did not
understand the principle of the “nuclear triad.” Earlier, for example, Trump admitted during a radio
interview that he did not know the answers to many of the foreign policy questions he was asked. Trump
wasn’t familiar with the commander of Iran’s Quds force, and then mistook “Quds” for “Kurds” during a
subsequent answer. When Trump was asked who advised him on foreign policy, he stated he gets a lot of
advice from the “weekend shows.”
Trump’s Foreign Policy Could Make America An Enemy Of The World. While everything
about a Trump presidency is frightening, the notion of Trump as commander and chief and America’s
principal geopolitical strategist might take the cake. He has repeatedly boasted about his interest in
using extreme force to solve problems around the world, and at almost every campaign rally, Trump brags
that he is the “most militaristic person” there is. At the same time, he has antagonized other countries on
multiple occasions while on the campaign trail.
→ Trump Supports Using Waterboarding And Other Methods Of Torture, Because
“Even If It Doesn’t Work, They Deserve It Anyway.” When asked if he would approve
waterboarding, Trump boasted, “You bet your ass I would.” Despite evidence that waterboarding is
ineffective as an intelligence gathering method and serves as a recruitment tool for America’s
enemies, Trump insisted “only a stupid person would say it doesn’t work” but declared even “if it
doesn’t work, they deserve it anyway.
→ Trump Has Repeatedly Antagonized Other Countries On The Campaign Trail.Trump
has repeatedly antagonized other countries, and proposes outrageous foreign policy plans that use
aggression to resolve differences – even with allies. Trump has repeatedly and explicitly called for
starting a trade war with China, said he’d bomb countries in the Middle East to take their oil and
bragged that he would force Mexico to build a wall along the U.S. border. He has said that he
views the Chinese as our “enemies.” At almost every campaign rally, Trump brags that he is the
“most militaristic person” there is.
→ Trump’s Strategy For ISIS: “Bomb The Sh*t Out Of Them” And Send 10,000
American Ground Troops. Despite an utter lack of specificity or detail, Donald Trump insists
he does have a plan to combat ISIS: “People are thinking like I don't have a plan…I would bomb
the shit out of them... I would just bomb those suckers…and I’ll take the oil.” Trump boasted he
would employ a policy of “shoot first, talk later” and he supports sending 10,000 American ground
troops to Syria.
Confidential Page 9
Trump’s Gun Policy: More Guns. Trump doesn’t just oppose gun control like most of his GOP
colleagues; he has actively pushed the idea that more guns are the answer to gun violence. Trump claims
that fewer people would be killed by guns if more people carried guns and could thus fight back if
attacked. Trump has also bragged repeatedly that he has a “concealed carry” license and sometimes
carries a handgun, despite his own admission that “I’m not such a great shot.” Like he has on most issues,
Trump has positioned himself as far to the right as possible on gun control. Trump opposes nearly all gun
control measures and has frequently claimed that had the victims of recent attacks — such as those in
Paris and San Bernardino, California — been armed, fewer people would have died. Trump opposed
expanding background checks, opposed regulations on the number of rounds allowed in magazines, and
even opposed a ban on military-style assault weapons designed to kill people. Trump also said he would
get rid of gun-free zones in public places, because, he claims, “Gun free zones are like meat to these
animals.”
Repeal Without A Plan On Health Care. Like every member of the current Republican presidential
field, Trump has called for the repeal of Obamacare. He called it a “total catastrophe,” despite the fact
that it has provided more than 17 million Americans with quality, affordable health care. When asked
what he would do in the ACA’s place, Trump said he would replace it with “something terrific.”
Climate Change Denier. Donald Trump seems to be on a mission to out-do his fellow GOP candidates
when it comes to denying the scientific reality of climate change and has repeatedly called climate change
a hoax. Like on every issue, Trump uses over-the-top language to get attention, like when he declared,
“This very expensive global warming bullshit has got to stop.” However, Trump’s bombast doesn’t stand
up to reality. Just two weeks after he told a South Carolina crowd “you can’t get hurt by extreme
weather,” he tweeted his “thoughts and prayers” to the people of South Carolina after 12 people were
killed by historic flooding.
Trump Has Supported The GOP’s Reckless Approach To Governing. Trump has expressed
support for the GOP’s reckless and irresponsible threats to shut down the government over politically-
charged and divisive issues. Trump has expressed support for the shutdown that occurred over
Obamacare, has said he agreed with playing chicken with the debt ceiling, and officially blessed” a
strategy that would force Congress to defund Planned Parenthood or face a government shutdown.
MISOGYNIST IN CHIEF
Through both his words and actions, Trump has made clear he thinks women’s primary role is to please -
men. Trump’s derogatory and degrading comments to and about women, as well as his tumultuous
marriages, have been well publicized. And as a presidential candidate, Trump has adopted many of the
backwards GOP policies that we’ve come to expect from his party.
Trump Has Devalued And Demeaned Women Repeatedly Throughout His Career.Trump has
said men need “support at home…not someone who is always griping and bitching,” and once told Esquire
that “as long as you’ve got a nice and young piece of ass,” it didn’t matter what the media wrote. Among
other things, he’s called women pigs, slobs and dogs. He has frequently made disparaging comments
about women’s weight. He’s complained about being asked legitimate questions during a debate by
speculating about a news anchor’s menstrual cycle, and once said of the high rate of sexual assaults in the
military: “What did these geniuses expect when they put men and women together?”
→ Trump On Military Sexual Assaults: “What Did These Geniuses Expect When They Put Men &
Women Together?” In 2013, Trump weighed in on the high rate of sexual assault and rape in the
military—and in doing so, pinned the blame on women who volunteered to fight for their country.
Referring to the increase in the number of reported sexual assaults in the military, Trump asked
rhetorically, “What did these geniuses expect when they put men and women together?
Confidential Page 10
OUT OF TOUCH
Trump’s policies clearly reflect his life as a 1-percenter. His plans would slash taxes for the rich and
corporations while shifting more of the burden to the shoulders of working families. He stands with
Republicans in opposing Wall Street reform and opposing the minimum wage. Trump clearly has no
conception of the everyday lives of middle class Americans. His description of the “small” $1 million loan
that his father gave him to launch his career is proof enough that his worldview is not grounded in
reality.
Hand-Outs For The Wealthy At The Expense Of The Middle Class. Trump’s policies put him
and those like him ahead of hardworking American families. Like Bush and Rubio, Trump's tax plan
would give the rich a tax cut by slashing top marginal rates, the corporate tax rate, and eliminating the
estate tax. All told, Trump's tax plan will give the wealthiest 1% of Americans 34% of the benefit. He also
stands with fellow Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in opposing
Wall Street Reform, which was passed to help protect our economy from another Bush-like recession.
Further, Trump opposes raising the federal minimum wage, which could lift millions of American families
above the poverty line.
Trump’s Tax Plan Would Save Him Millions Each Year. According to analyses of Donald
Trump’s tax plan, his proposals would cost in the area of $12 trillion while saving him millions in
personal taxes each year. The plan would represent the lowest tax rate since World War II – but would
shift more of the tax burden onto middle class families while creating windfalls for Trump and his fellow
1-percenters. The plan would dramatically lower the tax rate for the top income earners in America, lower
the capital gains rate, eliminate the estate tax, and cut the corporate tax rate to 15%.
PERSONAL HISTORY
Trump’s Ex-Wife Accused Him Of Rape. Ivana trump once accused the real-estate tycoon of
“rape,” although she later clarified: not in the “criminal sense.”Not only does the current front-runner for
the Republican presidential nomination have a history of controversial remarks about sexual assault, but
as it turns out, his ex-wife Ivana Trump once used the word rape to describe an incident between them in
1989. She later said she felt “violated” by the experience.Ivana Trump’s assertion of rape came in a
deposition in her early 1990s divorce case. The episode was described as a “violent assault.”
→ Trump’s Organization Responded By Claiming “You Can’t Rape Your Wife.” Michael
Cohen, special counsel at The Trump Organization, defended Trump, saying, “You’re talking about
the front-runner for the GOP, presidential candidate, as well as private individual who never
raped anybody. And, of course, understand that by the very definition, you can’t rape your
spouse…You cannot rape your spouse. And there’s very clear case law.” Of course, that is not true,
but it is not surprising coming from the mouth of one of Donald’s yes men.
TOP NARRATIVES BACKUP
Trump Is Loyal Only To Himself
OVER THE YEARS, TRUMP SWITCHED HIS PARTY AFFILIATION MULTIPLE
TIMES
Confidential Page 11
Trump Was A Registered With The Republican Party, The Independence Party,
The Democratic Party, And Was Unaffiliated. “Mr. Trump registered in New York as a
Republican in 1987, switched to the Independence Party in 1999, became a Democrat in 2001,
returned to the Republican Party in 2009, gave up his party affiliation in 2011 and came back to
the GOP in 2012.” [Wall Street Journal, 12/10/15]
TRUMP SWITCHES HIS POLICY POSITIONS AND LATCHES ON TO THE IDEAS
OF THE MOMENT
ON GAY MARRIAGE
In 2005, Trump Suggested He Was In Favor Of Marriage Equality. TRUMP: “Well,
there's nothing like family. And there's nothing like a great marriage. I mean, having a great
marriage is a very important thing and a very good thing, if you find the right person. Male,
female, I don't care. I mean, having a great marriage and a great family to me is ultimately the
most important thing.” [Canada AM, CTV Television, 9/7/05]
But In 2015, Trump Said He Was Against Gay Marriage Because Of Religious
Teachings. TRUMP: “I’ve gone to gay weddings. I’ve been at gay weddings. I have been against
[gay marriage] from the standpoint of [the] Bible, from the standpoint of my teachings as
growing up and going to Sunday school and going to church and I’ve been opposed to it and we’ll
just see how it all comes out.” [“With All Due Respect,” BloombergPolitics, 8/26/15]
ON TAX POLICY
Trump On Tax Policy: “High-Income People Should Pay High Percentages.”
TRUMP: “Well, what they did is they just kept cutting the tax rates, cutting the tax rates. And
I'm not talking about for the middle income or the poor. Leave 'em. Keep 'em low. And I
shouldn't say this, but high-income people should pay high percentages, but have the ability to
spend vast amounts of money on bringing their tax rates down to nothing. If a man is in the 50
or 60 percent bracket, he's going to invest. If a man's in the 25 percent bracket or the 30 percent
bracket, which is what you have now, there's no real reason for him to invest. He'll say, 'Hey,
look, I'll pay the tax and that's it.' So what's happened.” KING: “So you're saying the rich are
under-taxed?” TRUMP: “I'm saying the rich should be taxed at a much higher rate and should
have the incentive that, if they want to spend some money by investing in housing, investing in
other things, they can get their tax rate down to nothing, if need be.” [Larry King Live, CNN,
11/19/91]
2015: Trump Proposed Lowering The Top Individual Tax Rate From 39.6% To 25%.
“All other Americans will get a simpler tax code with four brackets – 0%, 10%, 20% and 25% –
instead of the current seven. This new tax code eliminates the marriage penalty and the
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) while providing the lowest tax rate since before World War II.”
[Trump Tax Plan, Donald J. Trump For President, Released 9/28/15]
ON HEALTH CARE
Confidential Page 12
Trump In 1999: “I'm Very Liberal When It Comes To Health Care. I Believe In
Universal Health Care.” KING: “Patients' Bill of Rights: You mentioned health care as one of
the social issues; you for it?” TRUMP: “I think you have to have it, and, again, I said I'm
conservative, generally speaking, I'm conservative, and even very conservative. But I'm quite
liberal and getting much more liberal on health care and other things. I really say: What's the
purpose of a country if you're not going to have defensive and health care? If you can't take care
of your sick in the country, forget it, it's all over. I mean, it's no good. So I'm very liberal when it
comes to health care. I believe in universal health care. I believe in whatever it takes to make
people well and better.” [Larry King Live, CNN, 10/7/99]
Trump On Obama’s 2009 Health Care Plan: “I Love The Idea.” VAN SUSTEREN:
“What is your thought about the health care reform that is being at least proposed, at this
point?” TRUMP: “Well, I think it's noble, except I just don't know how a country that's in such
debt -- we are really a debtor nation right now, and I just don't know how a country in this kind
of trouble can afford it. It's very -- I love the idea, but can this country afford it? Will it destroy
the country? Will it destroy other people that have been paying into health care for years? I
mean, will that destroy other people? It's a very, very tough situation. I love it from many
standpoints, but can this country afford it? And maybe this isn't the right time.” [On The Record
With Greta Van Susteren, Fox News, 6/29/09]
2015: Donald Trump Called For Obamacare To Be Repealed. There’s no question.
Obamacare is a catastrophe, and it has to be repealed and replaced. And it was only approved
because President the different provisions kick in over the next few years, individual deductibles
are going to continue to rise. People will have to get hit by a truck to be eligible for coverage
because those deductibles are going to be so high. [Trump, Crippled America, 68]
ON ABORTION
Trump: “I Used To Not Be Pro-Life. I Have Become Pro-Life.” O'REILLY: “Ok. Real
quick, social issues. Abortion…You favor it?” TRUMP: “No, I'm as you know, I'm pro-life.”
O'REILLY: “Ok, so you're pro-life on abortion. But would you outlaw abortion?” TRUMP: “Well,
I'd -- I'd go a step -- I'd go a pretty strong step. Something I don't like, I used to not be pro-life. I
have become pro-life. I have seen friends that had children that they didn't want. And now they
have children and they are the apple of the eye. So I really have changed in my views over the
years but I am pro-life. I would -- I would really -- I'm forming an opinion, I'm forming a very
strong opinion but I'll let you know in about three or four weeks if I decided it.” [The O’Reilly
Factor, Fox News, 3/30/11]
ON GUNS
Donald Trump Played Up His Support For Nearly Unrestricted Gun Rights
Despite Having Supported The Assault Weapons Ban And Longer Background
Checks In The Past. “Donald Trump said Tuesday he supports allowing Americans to legally
buy and own assault weapons…. Trump has played up his support for nearly unrestricted gun
rights throughout the campaign as he has looked to bolster his conservative credentials,
especially given his past support for some gun control measures. ‘I generally oppose gun control,
but I support the ban on assault weapons and I also support a slightly longer waiting period to
purchase a gun,’ Trump wrote in his 2000 book ‘The America We Deserve.’” [CNN, 10/6/15]
Confidential Page 13
TRUMP HAS RANTED AGAINST CHINA, OUTSOURCING AND FREE TRADE
DEALS…
Trump Has Eagerly Taken Advantage Of The Global Marketplace Despite His
Rhetoric Against Outsourcing And Free Trade Deals. A Significant Percentage Of
Trump’s hotels Company’s Hotels And Major“Donald Trump’s appeal is said to be his straight
talk. But when it comes to international trade, he sounds like a hypocrite, the classic ‘Do what I
say, not what I do’ politician. While bashing companies for investing in foreign countries, Donald
Trump’s own company has shown no inclination to invest and build only in America. In fact, a
significant percentage of his company’s hotels and major real estate properties are located
abroad.” [Forbes, 8/17/15]
BUT HE HAS EAGERLY INVESTED ABROAD AND HIS BUSINESSES HAVE
IMPORTED MATERIALS FROM CHINA
Trump’s Clothing Brand Imports Clothes From China. “Perry notes Trump has
imported clothing from China and Mexico produced for his brand. ‘For Trump to operate,
outsource and invest globally while criticizing companies like Ford for doing the same is the
ultimate hypocrisy. To be fair to Ford, Trump should either agree to impose a 35% tax on Trump
Collection clothing and agree to stop investing overseas, or he should stop his threats against
Ford for operating as a global carmaker.’” [Forbes, 8/17/15]
TRUMP HAS LAID OFF AMERICAN WORKERS AND COMPLAINED THAT
WAGES ARE “TOO HIGH”
Donald Trump Laid Off Or Furloughed 370 Employees From His Taj Mahal Casino
Resort And Trump Shuttle Operations. “Two of developer Donald Trump's operations, the
Taj Mahal Casino Resort and the Trump Shut-tle airline, announced Friday they are eliminating
a total of about 370 jobs as part of streamlining efforts. The cutbacks come amid speculation that
Trump has overextended himself with rapid expansion into the airline and Atlantic City, N.J.,
casino industries. The Taj Mahal Casino Resort said it is cutting 300 jobs, mostly in its culinary
section, less than two months after it opened. In a separate announcement, a spokesman said the
Trump Shuttle, which serves air passengers on the busy Boston-New York-Washington, D.C.
route, had furloughed about 70 of its roughly 1,000 employees.” [Associated Press, 5/25/90]
9/20/90: Donald Trump’s Taj Mahal Casino In Atlantic City, NJ Laid Off 500
Employees, And The Trump Plaza Hotel Laid Off Another 150. “The post-summer
casino slowdown and a weak gaming market spell 500 layoffs at Donald Trump's Taj Mahal
Casino Resort, a top Trump official said in a published report. Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino
will also end up with 150 fewer workers, the official said. The casino industry traditionally lays
off employees after the busy summer months. Few casinos have been able to turn a profit or
boost gross gaming revenues this year, due largely to competition from the Taj Mahal, which
opened in April.” [Newsday, 9/20/90]
Donald Trump Laid Off Nearly 200 Employees From His Trump Castle Casino
Resort In Atlantic City, New Jersey. “Nearly 200 employees were laid off Monday at the
Trump Castle Casino Resort in a money-saving move. Casino president Roger Wagner, who was
Confidential Page 14
hired away from rival Claridge Casino Hotel earlier this month to cut costs at Trump Castle,
said the layoffs of 190 workers came across the board at the management and executive levels.
The layoffs leave the casino with about 3,400 employees, Wagner said. Wagner said the declining
economy and flat gaming market prompted the need to cut costs.” [Associated Press, 1/29/91]
4/6/11: Trump Entertainment Resorts, Of Which Donald Trump Owned 10 Percent,
Laid Off 600 Workers. “Marc Lasry, chairman and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, was given
final approval Wednesday by New Jersey casino regulators to control the Atlantic City casino
company that was founded by Donald Trump. Avenue, which specializes in distressed
investments, won the company in a bankruptcy battle last year, and is the largest shareholder at
nearly 22 percent. Trump, the real estate magnate and reality television star, owns 10 percent.
… The company has been paying down debt and cutting jobs since the new owners took over last
July. The sale next month of Trump Marina Hotel Casino to a Texas firm will bring its debt to
near $300 million from its current level of $332 million, Griffin said. … Trump Entertainment
Resorts has cut 600 jobs since last fall and now has a work force for their three casinos of about
8,000 employees, Griffin said.” [Associated Press, 4/6/11]
Donald Trump Opposed Raising The Minimum Wage, Saying American Wages
Were “Too High” And That Workers, “Have To Work Really Hard.” “The Fox Business
Republican Debate kicked off Tuesday night with a question about raising the minimum wage,
as protesters across the country call for the floor to be raised to $15-an-hour. Donald Trump was
the first candidate to answer. ‘Taxes too high, wages too high,’ said Trump, arguing it would
damage the United States’ ability to compete internationally. ‘We’re not going to be able to
compete against the world,’ he said. ‘I hate to say it, but we have to leave it the way it is. People
have to go out, they have to work really hard, and they have to get into that upper stratum. But
we cannot do this if we are going to compete with the rest of the world, we just can’t do it.’”
[Boston Globe, 11/10/15]
TRUMP ONLY BELIEVES IN FIDELITY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL
Trump: “I'm An Absolute Believer In Fidelity. But If A Marriage Isn't Working,
That's A Different Ball Game.” WALTERS: “Do you believe in fidelity in marriage?”
TRUMP: “Yes, absolutely I do. Absolutely. I think that there's nothing better than a good
marriage. There is nothing worse than a bad marriage. I'm absolutely a believer in marriage, I'm
an absolute believer in fidelity. But if a marriage isn't working, that's a different ball game.”
[20/20, ABC News, 8/17/90]
TRUMP THINKS RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN ARE A GAME
Trump: “I Think The Hunt Is Always Fun, Whether It's Deals, Whether It's
Women, Whether It's Anything.” WALTERS: “I want to clear something up. In your book,
the new book, you say, ‘The fun is in the getting, not the having.’ Does that include women? No
kidding.” TRUMP: “Interesting question. I think the hunt is always fun, whether it's deals,
whether it's women, whether it's anything. I think, however, that with respect to women, there
would be nothing that would make me happier than having a great marriage. An absolutely
great marriage, and that would certainly supersede the hunt.”[20/20, ABC News, 8/17/90]
Confidential Page 15
Trump Is A Liar
TRUMP HAS HABITUALLY LIED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ABOUT MATTERS
OF POLICY
Drezner: Trump “Will Continue To Lie As Long As It Works For Him.” “To sum up:
Trump has lied so many times about so many things during the past week that it’s difficult to
keep track of all of them. But it doesn’t matter whether one focuses on Trump’s attitudes about
crime or American Muslims or trade policy. He lies about all of these issues. And he will continue
to lie as long as it works for him.” [Post Everything, Washington Post, 11/23/15]
USA Today: “Trump Claimed That Economic Growth Has ‘Never’ Been Below Zero
Until Last Quarter's Drop, Which Is Far From True. It Has Been Below Zero 42
Times Since 1946.” [USA Today, 6/16/15]
USA Today: “[Trump] Said ‘There Are No Jobs’ To Be Had. In Fact, There Were
5.4 Million Job Openings Recorded At The End Of April, The Most In 15 Years.”
[USA Today, 6/16/15]
USA Today: “[Trump] Said The ‘Real’ Unemployment Rate Is ‘Anywhere From 18
To 20%’ And ‘Maybe Even 21%.’ We See No Factual Basis For This Opinion.”[USA
Today, 6/16/15]
USA Today: “[Trump] Boasted He Would Have Blocked New Ford Plants In Mexico
By Threatening To Impose A 35% Tax On Vehicles And Parts Made In Mexico And
Shipped To The U.S. But Only Congress Can Impose Taxes And Such A Tax Would
Violate The North American Free Trade Agreement.”[USA Today, 6/16/15]
USA Today: “Trump Claimed The Five Taliban Leaders Exchanged For Sgt. Bowe
Bergdahl ‘Are Now Back On The Battlefield Trying To Kill Us.’ But All Five
Remain In Qatar, Where They Continue To Be Monitored And Are Subject To A
Travel Ban, According To The State Department.”[USA Today, 6/16/15]
USA Today: “[Trump] Also Made The Misleading Claim That Health Care
Premium Costs Are Going ‘Up 29, 39, 49 And Even 55%.’ He's Talking About Some
Proposed Rate Increases On The Individual Market That Still Need Regulatory
Approval. There Are Also Proposed Rate Decreases Or Single-Digit Increases That
Did Not Have To Be Submitted For Review.” [USA Today, 6/16/15]
Trump Pushed Falsehoods About Syrian Refugees, Claiming They Were Flooding
The United States And Could Be Affiliated With ISIS. “Trump said: ‘Refugees are
pouring into our great country from Syria. We don’t even know who they are. They could be ISIS.
They could be anybody…’ In fact, the U.S. has resettled fewer than 2,000 refugees from Syria,
out of the millions of people displaced by a civil war that started more than four years ago. In a
country of 322 million people, 500 refugees a year is better described as a trickle. Trump actually
hit the daily double of falsehood in this claim that refugees are flooding into the U.S…[Trump
was also on Laura Ingraham’s talk show talking] about Syrian refugee resettlement. Not only
are Syrian refugees “pouring” into the country, according to Trump, they are also being directed
Confidential Page 16
exclusively to states with Republican governors. This one also go the “pants on fire” treatment
from Politifact, for several reasons. Trump also used the show to restate the 250,000 refugee
number, and the host pushed back. You know when Laura Ingraham is trying to get you to dial
back the anti-immigrant rhetoric, you may be crossing a line.” [Fiscal Times, 11/24/15]
TRUMP INSISTED HE WITNESSED PEOPLE CHEERING IN THE STREETS OF
JERSEY CITY AS THE TWIN TOWERS FELL – BUT THERE’S NO EVIDENCE IT
EVER HAPPENED
Trump Said That On 9/11, He Watched “Thousands And Thousands” Of People
Cheering In Jersey City As The World Trade Center Came Down. TRUMP: “Hey, I
watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. And I watched in Jersey City, New
Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming
down. Thousands of people were cheering.” [Campaign Rally, Trump For President, Birmingham
AL, 11/21/15]
On 9/11/01, The New Jersey Attorney General Ordered An Investigation Of
Reports That Muslims Were Dancing In The Streets Of Jersey City And Paterson
To Celebrate The Destruction Of The World Trade Center, And That Investigation
Found Those Reports To Be Bogus. “How alarmed were New Jersey officials by reports of
Muslims dancing in the streets of Jersey City and Paterson on Sept. 11, 2001, to celebrate the
destruction of the World Trade Center? They feared riots would break out and were ready to
send in the National Guard and the State Police to preserve order. But John J. Farmer Jr., then
the New Jersey attorney general and the state’s chief law enforcement officer, said on Tuesday
that he ordered an investigation that very day and found the reports to be bogus, [just] more wild
stories born in the stricken hours after the attacks.” [New York Times, 11/24/15]
Politifact Gave Donald Trump A “Pants On Fire” Rating For His Claim That
Thousands In New Jersey Cheered When The World Trade Center Fell On
September 11, 2001. “Trump said he ‘watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and
thousands of people were cheering’ as the World Trade Center collapsed. This defies basic logic.
If thousands and thousands of people were celebrating the 9/11 attacks on American soil, many
people beyond Trump would remember it. And in the 21st century, there would be video or visual
evidence. Instead, all we found were a couple of news articles that described rumors of
celebrations that were either debunked or unproven. Trump’s recollection of events in New
Jersey in the hours after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks flies in the face of all the evidence
we could find. We rate this statement Pants on Fire.” [Politifact, 11/22/15]
Donald Trump Told A Reporter He Was Sure He Saw Thousands In The Streets Of
Jersey City, New Jersey Celebrating The Destruction Of The World Trade Center
Because He Had “The World’s Greatest Memory.” KATY TUR: “Now Donald Trump will
be speaking here [in Columbus, Ohio] in just a few minutes. He called me late today to once
again defend his claims [he saw thousands of people in the streets of Jersey City, New Jersey
celebrating the destruction of the World Trade Center]. Telling me that although he doesn’t
remember where exactly he saw that video, he does know that he saw it because he has, quote,
‘the world’s greatest memory.’” [NBC Nightly News, NBC, 11/23/15]
Confidential Page 17
TRUMP CLAIMED THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS NOT BORN IN THE UNITED
STATES, AND CITED OPINION POLLING AS HIS EVIDENCE
2011: Trump Floated Idea That Obama May Be A Muslim And Mounted Campaign
To Release Long-Form Birth Certificate. “Four years ago, Trump mounted a campaign to
pressure Obama to release his long-form birth certificate, even saying he would send
investigators to Hawaii to find out the truth. The effort helped fuel the so-called "birther"
conspiracy theory that held that Obama was born in Kenya -- and Trump also floated the idea
that Obama's birth documents may label him a Muslim.” [CNN, 9/18/15]
Trump Said The Birther Issue Was “Very Popular.” TRUMP: “Well, I think it's a very
popular issue, and I think that nobody has solved anything. A lot of people are calling my office.
They just did a poll, 75 percent of the Republicans think there really could be something to it and
about 30 percent of the Republicans don't think that Obama was born in this country. He hasn't
provided a birth certificate. It's a certificate of live birth, which is totally, totally different. He
hasn't -- I mean, there's so many different things that he hasn't done. He's spending a fortune in
legal fees to try and get away from the issue.” [On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, Fox
News, 4/11/11]
Trump Proposed Banning All Muslims…
DECEMBER 2015: TRUMP PROPOSED A “TOTAL AND COMPLETE” BAN ON
ALL MUSLIMS ENTERING THE U.S.
Donald Trump Called For The United States To Bar All Muslims From Entering
The U.S. Until The Nation’s Leaders Could “Figure Out What’s Going On.” “A
prohibition of Muslims – an unprecedented proposal by a leading American presidential
candidate, and an idea more typically associated with hate groups – reflects a progression of
mistrust that is rooted in ideology as much as politics. … Saying that ‘hatred’ among many
Muslims for Americans is ‘beyond comprehension,’ Mr. Trump said in a statement that the
United States needed to confront ‘where this hatred comes from and why.’ ‘Until we are able to
determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be
the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of
reason or respect for human life,’ Mr. Trump said.” [New York Times, 12/7/15]
• Trump Called For A “Total And Complete Shutdown Of Muslims Entering
The United States,” Citing Polls That Showed “Great Hatred Towards
Americans By Large Segments Of The Muslim Populations.” “Donald J. Trump
is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until
our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on. According to Pew Research,
among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim
populations. Most recently, a poll from the Center for Security Policy released data
showing ‘25% of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United
States is justified as a part of the global jihad’ and 51% of those polled, ‘agreed that
Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah.’
Shariah authorizes such atrocities as murder against non-believers who won’t convert
beheadings and more unthinkable acts that pose great harm to Americans, especially
Confidential Page 18
women.” [Donald J. Trump Statement on Preventing Muslim Immigration, Press Release,
Donald J. Trump For President, 12/7/15]
• Trump Said “Our Country Cannot Be The Victims Of Horrendous Attacks By
People That Believe Only In Jihad, And Have No Sense Of Reason Or
Respect For Human Life.” “Mr. Trump stated, “Without looking at the various polling
data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred
comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and
understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the
victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of
reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for President, we are going to Make
America Great Again.” – Donald J. Trump” [Donald J. Trump Statement on Preventing
Muslim Immigration, Press Release, Donald J. Trump For President, 12/7/15]
Donald Trump Said He Did Not Care If His Call To Ban All Muslims From
Entering The United States Was Politically Incorrect; “We Have No Choice. We
Have. No. Choice.” “The billionaire developer and reality television star released a statement
Monday calling for ‘a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until
our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.’ Later Monday, Trump, 69, read
the statement out loud at a rally in Charleston, S.C., where an enthusiastic crowd greeted him
with cheers and chants of ‘Trump! Trump!’ and ‘U.S.A.! U.S.A.!’ ‘We have no choice. We have. No.
Choice,’ Trump said, with a shake of his head. His statement may be politically incorrect, he
said, ‘but I don’t care!’” [Washington Post, 12/8/15]
TRUMP’S SPOKESWOMAN: EVEN MUSLIM AMERICANS ABROAD WOULD BE
PROHIBITED FROM RE-ENTERING THE COUNTRY
Trump Spokeswoman Said His Call To Ban Muslims From Entering The U.S.
Applied To “Everyone,” Including American Muslims Who Happened To Be Abroad
At The Time His Plan Was Implemented. “Trump, in a formal statement from his
campaign, urged a ‘total and complete shutdown’ of all federal processes allowing followers of
Islam into the country until elected leaders can ‘figure out what is going on.’ Asked by The Hill
whether that would include American Muslims currently abroad, Trump spokeswoman Hope
Hicks replied over email: ‘Mr. Trump says, ‘everyone.’’ During a Tuesday morning interview with
ABC's ‘Good Morning America,’ however, Trump clarified that American Muslims would still be
able to travel freely under his plan.” [The Hill, 12/8/15]
TRUMP CLAIMED HIS MUSLIM BAN WAS COMMON SENSE, THEN CITED A
POLL FROM A DISCREDITED EXTREMIST THINK TANK AS PROOF
Donald Trump Said His Call For Banning All Muslims From Entering In U.S. Was
A “Common Sense” Approach. “Trump said his policy preventing Muslims from coming to
the U.S. is a ‘common sense’ approach to preventing a Paris-like attack on the U.S. ‘I have
common sense. I know what has to be done, and we don't want to have a situation like Paris. And
we don't want to have another World Trade Center,’ he said. ‘We don't want that. We need
intelligence in this country. We need a certain toughness in this country or we're going to end up
like a lot of the other places and we're not going to have a country left.’” [CNN, 12/8/15]
Confidential Page 19
TRUMP CITED DISCREDITED AND APPARENTLY NONEXISTENT POLLING TO SUPPORT
HIS CALL TO BAN MUSLIMS
Donald Trump Cited Data From The “Respected” Center For Security Policy, A
Group That Believes There Is A Secret Global Campaign Against Western
Civilization, And Said “They Want To Change Your Religion.” “Trump then cited data
from the Center for Security Policy — a group that believes there is a secret global campaign
against Western civilization and that the candidate described as ‘respected’ — saying, ‘25 percent
of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a
part of the global jihad.’ That statistic was greeted with loud boos from Trump’s supporters.
‘They want to change your religion,’ said Trump. ‘I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Not going to
happen.’” [Politico, 12/7/15]
The President Of The Southern Poverty Law Center Said The “Center For Security
Policy,” Which Donald Trump Cited In His Call To Ban All Muslims From
Entering The United States, Was “An Extremist Think Tank.” “The CSP has been
criticized across the political spectrum - by high-profile Republicans as well as Democrats - and
by organizations which monitor extremist groups. Terri Johnson, executive director of the Center
for New Community and J Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, called
it ‘an extremist think-tank’ led by an ‘anti-Muslim conspiracist’. The group was heavily criticized
in 2012 after it repeatedly accused Huma Abedin, an aide to Hillary Clinton, of being a secret
member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Leading Republicans including John McCain and John
Boehner denounced the accusations. [BBC, 12/8/15]
Donald Trump Cited A Poll From The Pew Research Center To Support His Call
To Ban All Muslims From Entering The U.S. But Did Not Identify Which Pew
Report He Was Citing And Pew Was Unable To Identify Which Report He Had
Referenced. “Trump’s other citation has drawn more notice because it came from the Pew
Research Center, a highly-respected, nonpartisan group. ‘According to Pew Research, among
others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population,’
Trump said Monday. But Trump hasn’t made clear which Pew report he’s citing; he has not
linked to one in his social media missives or statements, nor did he elaborate during multiple TV
appearances Tuesday morning. And the group’s research doesn’t paint the dire picture Trump
says it does. … ‘The statement released by Mr. Trump’s campaign does not specify a data point,
so we can’t identify the report that he may be referencing,’ said James Bell, Pew’s vice president
for global strategy.” [Time, 12/8/15]
TRUMP’S PROPOSAL WAS WIDELY CONDEMNED BY FELLOW REPUBLICANS, ONE OF
WHOM LIKENED IT TO NAZISM…
People: “No More Mr. Nice John Kasich. The Republican Presidential Hopeful's
Campaign Has Released An Anti-Donald Trump Web Ad That Draws On A Famous
Poem About Nazi Germany To Attack The GOP Front-Runner.” [People, 11/28/15]
Vietnam Combat Veteran And POW: You Might Not Care About What Donald
Trump Says About Muslims, Hispanic Immigrants, Black Protesters, Or
Journalists, “Because You’re Not One. But [If Trump] Actually Becomes President,
He Might Just Get Around To You, And You Better Hope That There’s Someone
Confidential Page 20
Left To Help You.” “Later in the day, Kasich’s campaign held yet another media availability
with Rep. Steve Stivers, Shaker Heights Councilman James Brady, and retired Col. Tom Moe,
who the Kasich campaign noted was shot down during combat duty in Vietnam and spent ‘the
next five years alongside U.S. Sen. John McCain.’ … ‘You might not care if Donald Trump says
Muslims must register with their government because you’re not one. And you might not care
that Donald Trump says he's going to round up all the Hispanic immigrants because you're not
one. And you might not care that Donald Trump says it’s OK to rough up black protesters
because you're not one,’ Moe said. ‘And you might not care if Donald Trump wants to suppress
journalists because you’re not one. But think about this: If he keeps going and he actually
becomes president, he might just get around to you, and you better hope that there’s someone
left to help you.’” [Politico, 11/23/15]
Former Vice President Dick Cheney Said Donald Trump’s Call To Ban All Muslims
“Goes Against Everything We Stand For And Believe In.” “Former Vice President Dick
Cheney shot down GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump's latest proposal to ban all
Muslims from entering the country, saying it goes against the country's principles. ‘I think this
whole notion that we can just say, 'No more Muslims,' just ban a whole religion, goes against
everything we stand for and believe in,’ Cheney said Monday on Hugh Hewitt's radio show. ‘My
ancestors got here because they were Puritans,’ Cheney said.” [Newsmax, 12/7/15; Hugh Hewitt
Radio Show, 12/7/15]
…WHILE WHITE SUPREMACIST AND NEO-NAZI GROUPS WELCOMED
TRUMP’S IDEA
Donald Trump Was A Boon For White Supremacists, Who Used His Candidacy As
A Tool To Expand Their Movement. “The Ku Klux Klan is using Donald Trump as a
talking point in its outreach efforts. Stormfront, the most prominent American white
supremacist website, is upgrading its servers in part to cope with a Trump traffic spike. And
former Louisiana Rep. David Duke reports that the businessman has given more Americans
cover to speak out loud about white nationalism than at any time since his own political
campaigns in the 1990s. As hate group monitors at the Southern Poverty Law Center and the
Anti-Defamation League warn that Trump’s rhetoric is conducive to anti-Muslim violence, white
nationalist leaders are capitalizing on his candidacy to invigorate and expand their movement.”
[Politico, 12/10/15]
• Politico: “The Ku Klux Klan Is Using Donald Trump As A Talking Point In Its Outreach Efforts.”[Politico,
12/10/15]
Experts From The Anti-Defamation League And Southern Poverty Law Center
Said Donald Trump’s Rhetoric was Likely To Inspire Violence Against Muslims.
“According to experts at the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center who
monitor hate groups and anti-Muslim sentiment, Trump’s call on Monday to halt the entrance of
Muslims to the United States is driving online chatter among white supremacists and is likely to
inspire violence against Muslims. ‘When well-known public figures make these kind of
statements in the public square, they are taken as a permission-giving by criminal elements who
go out and act on their words.’ said Mark Potok of the SPLC. ‘Is it energizing the groups? Yeah.
They’re thrilled.’” [Politico, 12/10/15]
Confidential Page 21
Marilyn Mayo, Co-Director Of The Anti-Defamation League’s Center On
Extremism, Said Donald Trump’s Candidacy Energized Neo-Nazis And The White
Supremacist Movement. “‘When well-known public figures make these kind of statements in
the public square, they are taken as a permission-giving by criminal elements who go out and act
on their words.’ said Mark Potok of the SPLC. ‘Is it energizing the groups? Yeah. They’re
thrilled.’ Marilyn Mayo, co-director of the ADL’s Center on Extremism, said Trump’s proposal
this week to halt the entrance of Muslims into the United States is only the latest statement to
inject vigor into the racist fringe of American politics. ‘Since the beginning of Donald Trump’s
candidacy, we’ve definitely seen that a segment of the white supremacist movement, from racist
intellectuals to neo-Nazis have been energized,’ she said.” [Politico, 12/10/15]
Trump’s Campaign Is Defined By Offensive And Extreme Immigration Rhetoric
TRUMP PLEDGED TO BUILD A “GREAT WALL” ALONG THE SOUTHERN U.S.
BORDER…
New York Times: “[Trump] Vowed To Build A ‘Great Wall’ On The Mexican Border
To Keep Out Rapists And Other Criminals, Who He Said Were Sneaking Into The
United States In Droves.” “Mr. Trump’s policy views can be just as provocative as his
demeanor. In the past, he has called climate change ‘a hoax’ and said he has a ‘foolproof’ plan to
defeat the Islamic State, which he will not reveal so as not to tip off the group. On Tuesday, he
vowed to build a ‘great wall’ on the Mexican border to keep out rapists and other criminals, who
he said were sneaking into the United States in droves.” [New York Times, 6/17/15]
Donald Trump Said He Would Build A Wall Along The Mexican Border With “A
Big, Fat Beautiful Door” Through Which Immigrants Could Enter Legally.
“Presidential hopeful Donald Trump insisted Wednesday night that he has what it takes to get
Mexico to build a wall along the U.S. border. ‘We're going to do a wall; we're going to have a big,
fat beautiful door on the wall; we're going to have people come in, but they're going to come in
legally,’ Trump said at the third Republican debate, hosted by CNBC. ‘Mexico's going to pay for
the wall,’ he said. ‘I love the Mexican people; I respect the Mexican leaders, but their leaders are
much sharper, much smarter and more cunning than our leader.’” [CNBC, 10/29/15]
Donald Trump Said The Mexican Government Would Pay For The Wall Along The
U.S.-Mexican Border Because The U.S. Has A Trade Imbalance Of $50 Billion Per
Year With Mexico. “TRUMP: And Mexico’s going to pay for the wall because Mexico — I love
the Mexican people; I respect the Mexican leaders — but the leaders are much sharper, smarter
and more cunning than our leaders. And just to finish, people say, how will you get Mexico to
pay? A politician other than the people in the states — I don’t want to — a politician cannot get
them to pay. I can. We lose, we have a trade imbalance — Excuse me, John. — of $50 billion per
year. Believe me the world is peanuts by comparison.” [Republican Primary Debate, Boulder,
CO, 10/28/15]
Donald Trump Radio Ad: “I’ll Secure Our Borders, And Yes, We Will Have A Wall.
You Can’t Have A Country Without Borders.” Donald Trump: “I’m Donald Trump and
I’m running for president. Our country is in deep trouble because let’s face it: politicians are all
talk, no action. … I’ll secure our borders, and yes, we will have a wall. You can’t have a country
without borders. … If the people of Iowa vote for me, you’ll never be disappointed. I don’t
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disappoint people. I produce. Together we’re going to make America great again.” [Make America
Great Again – Radio Spot 2, Donald Trump Presidential Campaign, 11/5/15
IN ORDER TOSTOP THE FLOW OF “DRUGGIES, DRUG DEALERS, RAPISTS
AND KILLERS” FROM MEXICO
Trump: “Druggies, Drug Dealers, Rapists And Killers Are Coming Across The
Southern Border. When Will The U.S. Get Smart And Stop This Travesty?”
[@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 6/19/15]
Trump On Immigrants Crossing The Border From Mexico: “They Are Bringing
Drugs And They Are Bringing Crime, They’re Rapists.” “When Mexico sends its people,
they are not sending their best. They are not sending you. They are not sending you. They are
sending people that have lots of problems, and they are bringing those problems with us, they
are bringing drugs and they are bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some are good people, and I
speak to border guards and they tell us what we are getting. It only makes common sense. It only
makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people. It's coming all over south and
Latin America and it's coming probably, probably from the Middle East, but we don't know
because we have no protection and we have no competence, we don't know what is happening
and it has got to stop and it has to stop fast.” [Donald Trump Presidential Campaign
Announcement, 6/16/15]
Trump Issued A Lengthy Statement Refusing To Back Off Comments Referring To
Mexican Immigrants As Criminals. “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
stood firm Monday on his description of Mexican immigrants as criminals. The businessman,
under fire from critics in and out of his party, issued a lengthy statement refusing to back off
comments he made in the speech launching his presidential bid last month. In it, he called
Mexican immigrant criminals and rapists, prompting several businesses, including NBC,
Univision and Macy's, to cut ties with Trump.” [Associated Press, 7/6/15]
TRUMP VOWED TO RESCIND PRESIDENT OBAMA’S EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON
IMMIGRATION
Trump Would Rescind Pres. Obama’s Executive Actions On Immigration.
“Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wants more than a wall to keep out
immigrants living in the country illegally. He also wants to end ‘birthright citizenship’ for their
children, he said Sunday. And he would rescind Obama administration executive orders on
immigration and toughen deportation, allowing in only ‘the good ones.’” [Associated Press,
8/16/15]
Trump On Deporting Undocumented Immigrants: “We're Going To Keep The
Families Together, But They Have To Go.” “Trump told NBC News' ‘Meet the Press’
today, ‘We're going to keep the families together, but they have to go,’ referring to the illegal
immigrants he would deport.” [ABC News, 8/16/15]
• Donald Trump Said He Would Rescind The Dream Act Executive Order And Deport Entire Families Of
Immigrants, Even If Some Family Members Were Legally Documented. CHUCK TODD: “What do you do about
the DACA order now? The Dream Act, however you want to refer to it. The executive order that is—” DONALD
TRUMP: “The executive order gets rescinded. One good thing about … One good thing about—” TODD: “You'll
Confidential Page 23
rescind the Dream Act executive order—” TRUMP: “You're going to have to. … We have to make a whole new set of
standards. And when people come in, they have to come in legally—” TODD: So you're going to split up families? …
You're going to deport children—” TRUMP: “Chuck. No, no. We're going to keep the families together. We have to
keep the families together.” TODD: “But you're going to keep them together out—” TRUMP: “But they have to go. But
they have to go. … They have to go. Chuck, we either have a country or we don't have a country.” [Meet The Press,
NBC, 8/16/15]
TRUMP HAS INSISTED ON USING THE OFFENSIVE SLUR “ANCHOR BABIES”
Trump When Told The Term “Anchor Baby” Was Offensive: “You Mean It’s Not
Politically Correct, And Yet Everybody Uses It?…I’ll Use The Word ‘Anchor Baby.”
“Trump said he'd still use the term after a reporter asked him on Wednesday night in New
Hampshire if he was aware the term was considered offensive. ‘You mean it’s not politically
correct, and yet everybody uses it?’ Trump asked the reporter, and then asked for an alternative
term to use. ‘The American-born child of undocumented immigrants,’ the reporter suggested to
which Trump said, ‘I’ll use the word ‘anchor baby.'” [Talking Points Memo, 8/20/15; Trump Press
Conference, 8/19/15]
TRUMP MODELED HIS PLANS FOR THE MASS DEPORTATION OF
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATIONS ON DWIGHT EISENHOWER’S INHUMANE
PROGRAM, OPERATION WETBACK
Washington Post: Donald Trump’s Immigration Plan Calls For A “Deportation
Force,” To Execute An “Unprecedented, Expensive Roundup Of Undocumented
Residents At Home.” “The Washington Post took a close look at the immigration proposals of
the five top-polling GOP candidates: Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Rubio, Cruz and
former Florida governor Jeb Bush. … Trump’s plan calls for a wall on the border, and a
‘deportation force’ to carry out an unprecedented, expensive roundup of undocumented residents
at home.” [Washington Post, 11/15/15]
Donald Trump Praised Dwight Eisenhower’s Mass Deportation Program During
The GOP Presidential Primary Debate In Milwaukee, Wisconsin. DONALD TRUMP:
“Let me just tell you that Dwight Eisenhower — good president, great president, people liked
him. ‘I like Ike,’ right? The expression ‘I like Ike?’ — moved a million and a half illegal
immigrants out of this country, moved them just beyond the border. They came back. Moved
them again, beyond the border, they came back. Didn't like it. Moved them way south, they never
came back. Dwight Eisenhower. You don't get nicer, you don't get friendlier. They moved a
million and a half people out. We have no choice. We have no choice.” [Republican Presidential
Candidates Debate, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Fox Business News, 11/10/15]
Donald Trump Modeled His Plan For “Humane” Mass Deportations On
Eisenhower’s “Operation Wetback.” “These deportation procedures, detailed by historian
Mae M. Ngai, were not anomalies. They were the essential framework of Operation Wetback — a
concerted immigration law enforcement effort implemented by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
in 1954 — and the deportation model that Donald Trump says he intends to follow. Trump made
his affinity for Operation Wetback clear during an interview with CBS’s Scott Pelley over the
weekend. Speaking on 60 Minutes Overtime, Pelley asked Trump to explain his plans for curbing
illegal immigration. ‘We’re rounding them up in a very humane way, a very nice way,’ Trump
said, as he has expressed before. ‘What does that roundup look like to you?’ Pelley pressed. ‘How
Confidential Page 24
does it work? Are you going to have cops going door-to-door?’ Trump interjected: ‘Did you like
Eisenhower? Did you like Dwight Eisenhower as a president at all?’ ‘He did this,’ the presidential
candidate said. ‘He did this in the 1950s with over a million people, and a lot of people don’t
know that…and it worked.’ ” [Washington Post, 9/30/15]
Donald Trump Touted His Plan To Deport 11 Million Undocumented Immigrants
And Cited Dwight Eisenhower’s Deportation Program But Failed To Mention That
Program Was Named “Operation Wetback.” “GOP frontrunner Donald Trump’s plan to
deport 11 million undocumented immigrants from the United States has been criticized, even by
some fellow immigration hawks, as highly unrealistic. But at Tuesday night’s Fox Business
debate, he cited a historical precedent: ‘Let me just tell you that Dwight Eisenhower, good
president, great president, people liked him. …Moved a million and a half illegal immigrants out
of this country, moved them just beyond the border. They came back. Moved them again, beyond
the border, they came back. Didn’t like it. Moved them way south. They never came back. Dwight
Eisenhower. You don’t get nicer, you don’t get friendlier.’ He did not mention the name of that
program: ‘Operation Wetback.’” [Slate, 11/10/15]
TRUMP BOOTED AND BANNED UNIVISION FROM HIS EVENTS AND
ESTABLISHMENTS
Trump Banned All Univision Officers And Representatives From One Of His Golf
Courses. “Donald Trump sent a letter to Univision CEO and president Randy Falco on Friday
informing him that ‘no Univision officer or representative’ is allowed to use his Trump National
Doral, the resort and golf club immediately adjacent to Univision offices in Miami, the On Media
blog has learned. The move is the latest in a public dispute that started Thursday when
Univision announced it would end its business relationship with the Miss Universe
Organization, which is co-owned by Trump and NBCUniversal, based on what it described as
Trump's ‘insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants’ during the launch of his presidential
campaign. Trump later announced that he would sue Univision for breach of contract and
defamation, and accused Univision of defaulting on an ‘iron-clad’ $13.5 million contract, which he
said it had no right to terminate. In the letter, Trump writes to Falco, ‘Please be advised that
under no circumstances is any officer or representative of Univision allowed to use Trump
National Doral, Miami—its golf courses or any of its facilities. Also, please immediately stop
work and close the gate which is being constructed between our respective properties. If this is
not done within one week, we will close it.’” [Politico, 6/26/15]
HEADLINE: “Donald Trump Kicks Univision Out of Florida Rally, Campaign
Confirms.” [Hollywood Reporter, 10/26/15]
Donald Trump Barred Univision From Covering His Event At The Trump National
Doral In Miami. “He made no mention about Univision — the Spanish-language broadcaster
whose studios are next door to Trump National Doral — which wasn’t allowed into the rally on
account of Trump’s lawsuit against the company for canceling his Miss Universe pageant. He
dismissed the pro-immigration protesters, first with a friendly ‘Don’t hurt ’em’ to security guards
physically escorting them out of the room, and then with a more impatient, ‘The fourth group, I’ll
say, ‘Get the hell out of here!’’” [Miami Herald, 10/23/15]
Confidential Page 25
Donald Trump Had Univision News Anchor Jorge Ramos Ejected From His News
Conference — “You Haven’t Been Called On, Go Back To Univision.” “Separately, Mr
Trump had a journalist ejected from a news conference. Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos was
trying to question Mr Trump about his call to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants from
the US and build a wall the length of the Mexican border. But Mr Trump insisted that he had
not been invited to submit a question. ‘You haven't been called, go back to Univision,’ Mr Trump
said, before Mr Ramos was ejected from the news conference. As security officers approached the
Mexican-American journalist, he said: ‘I am a reporter. Don't touch me. I have a right to ask the
question.’” [BBC, 8/26/15]
• After Ramos Was Removed From The Trump Press Conference, A Trump Supporter Yelled At Ramos To “Get
Out Of My Country.” “Just when we thought there was no more controversy to add, Univision posted footage of
Ramos out in the hall at which time an apparent Trump supporter —whether he’s a staffer or security personnel was
unknown at the time of this writing— clearly tells the Mexican-born (and U.S. citizen, by the way) journalist to ‘Get out
of my country’” [Latino Rebels, 8/26/15; Univision Noticias/Fusion, 8/25/15]
Trump Has Repeatedly Offended Minorities With Demeaning Comments
ON HISPANICS AND LATINOS
Trump On Immigrants Crossing The Border From Mexico: “They Are Bringing
Drugs And They Are Bringing Crime, They’re Rapists.” “When Mexico sends its people,
they are not sending their best. They are not sending you. They are not sending you. They are
sending people that have lots of problems, and they are bringing those problems with us, they
are bringing drugs and they are bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some are good people, and I
speak to border guards and they tell us what we are getting. It only makes common sense. It only
makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people. It's coming all over south and
Latin America and it's coming probably, probably from the Middle East, but we don't know
because we have no protection and we have no competence, we don't know what is happening
and it has got to stop and it has to stop fast.” [Donald Trump Presidential Campaign
Announcement, 6/16/15]
ON AFRICAN AMERICANS
1991: Trump: “Laziness Is A Trait In Blacks.” [Gawker, 7/24/15]
1991: Trump: “Black Guys Counting My Money! I Hate It. The Only Kind Of
People I Want Counting My Money Are Short Guys That Wear Yarmulkes Every
Day.’’ TRUMP: “Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want
counting my money are short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.’’ [Gawker, 7/24/15]
Trump On African American Youths: We Are At “A Point Where They’ve Just
About Never Done More Poorly, There’s No Spirit, There’s Killings On An Hourly
Basis, Virtually, In Places Like Baltimore And Chicago And Many Other Places.”
“At a June 23 Maryland Republican Party fundraiser, reporters asked GOP presidential
candidate Donald Trump about his views on race relations. Trump said Black youths are at ‘a
point where they’ve just about never done more poorly, there’s no spirit, there’s killings on an
hourly basis, virtually, in places like Baltimore and Chicago and many other places,’ according to
The Independent. The real estate magnate didn’t stop there. He added, ‘I thought that President
Confidential Page 26
Obama would be a great cheerleader for the country. And he’s really become very divisive.’” [The
Root, 6/25/15]
Trump: “And When Obama Gets 95 Percent Of The Black Vote, Is That Racist?”
HANNITY: “But isn't it a danger on his part, class warfare, and more importantly, the
Democratic Party has been attacking the Tea Party conservatives as racist, you know, Maxine
Waters, the consecutive Tea Party movement can go straight to hell. One congressman says that
conservatives want black people hanging from trees. They double down on insane rhetoric. The
president has wrapped his arms twice now around the Occupy Wall Street crowd? And is there a
danger.” TRUMP: “I think the race card is such a horrible thing. And I've been watching it more
and more lately. And I think it's disgraceful. And when Obama gets 95 percent of the black vote,
is that racist? I mean, you know, does anybody have ever mention that? He gets 95 percent of the
vote. And I see your compatriots, your announcers saying yes, he got 95 percent of the black vote
but this wasn't a racial thing. They like his policy. That's a lot of crap. But he's creating a racial
divide and I think he's doing it on purpose and I think it's a very unfair thing and it's a very bad
thing.” [Hannity, Fox News, 10/18/11]
When Asked If He Was Perpetuating African- American Stereotypes, Trump Said
“I Don't Know What You Mean By Stereotypes.” TRUMP: “Well, I really have to go, but I
want to tell you I am the least racist. I am a wonderful person as far as you would be concerned
as to race. And I think everybody that knows me knows that.” LEMON: Are you aware of the
stereotypes about African-Americans? Are you?” TRUMP: “Well, I don't know what you mean by
stereotypes. Why don't you define that a little bit in greater detail?” LEMON: “The stereotypes
that take place in America about African- Americans, one is that they are not as smart as whites.
And when you talk about someone like the President and you challenge whether or not he has an
education or deserve to go to Ivy League schools, you're talking -- you're bringing up, you're
promoting one of those stereotypes about African-Americans.” [Newsroom, CNN, 5/1/11]
• Trump Called Accusations That He Was Racist “Ridiculous.” LEMON: “The
stereotypes that take place in America about African- Americans, one is that they are not as
smart as whites. And when you talk about someone like the President and you challenge
whether or not he has an education or deserve to go to Ivy League schools, you're talking --
you're bringing up, you're promoting one of those stereotypes about African-Americans. And
as someone running for president of the country, which means everyone, then wouldn't you be
sensitive to those issues in the culture?” TRUMP: “It certainly does mean everyone, and it
means everyone to me. As far as I'm concerned, the President is a very smart man. And I
think a comment about racism is ridiculous as it applies to me. And people that know me
laugh at it. They think it is so stupid. I mean it is a ridiculous statement and is certainly
ridiculous as it applies to me.” [Newsroom, CNN, 5/1/11]
Trump Often Used The Phrase “Silent Majority” Which Historically Was Seen As
A Racial Dog Whistle. “In a press conference after a rally in South Carolina on Thursday,
Donald Trump insisted that there is a ‘silent majority [who] wants this country to have victories
again.’ It's not the first time Trump has used that phrase -- ‘silent majority.’… As far back as
July, Trump was using the phrase. ‘The country is fed up with what's going on,’ he said at the
time. ‘You know, in the old days they used the term 'silent majority.' We have the silent majority
back, folks.’ Trump's use of that term is 1) 100 percent on purpose and 2) decidedly controversial.
For many, the ‘silent majority’ is a not-so-subtle reference to white people who need/want to take
Confidential Page 27
‘their’ culture and country back. And, the argument goes, they would be taking it back from those
who aren't white.” [Washington Post, 8/27/15]
Donald Trump Was Criticized For Retweeting – In Response To A Twitter Thread
About His Support From White Supremacists – A Graphic Containing Statistics
Purporting To Show That The Vast Majority Of Murdered Black People Are Killed
By Other Black People. “Donald Trump is taking heat on social media for a Sunday
afternoon tweet of statistics purporting to show that the vast majority of murdered black people
in the U.S. are killed by other black people. The tweet was apparently Trump’s response to a
Twitter thread about support from white supremacists for the GOP front-runner. … The image
Trump posted includes a list of ‘USA Crime Statistics ~ 2015.’ The two that are highlighted are
‘Blacks Killed by Police ~~ 1%’ and ‘Blacks Killed by Blacks ~~ 97%.’ A drawing of a black man
wielding a sideways pistol and wearing army pants, military boots and a bandana and mask
accompanies the statistics, which are sourced to the ‘Crime Statistics Bureau’ in San Francisco.
… Indeed, an initial search to confirm the numbers couldn’t turn up a ‘Crime Statistic Bureau’ in
San Francisco.” [The Hill, 11/22/15]
Donald Trump Said That The “Black Lives Matter” Protester Who Interrupted His
Rally Was “So Obnoxious And So Loud” That “Maybe He Should Have Been
Roughed Up.” “Donald Trump said Sunday that the protester who interrupted his rally at a
convention center here on Saturday morning was ‘so obnoxious and so loud’ that ‘maybe he
should have been roughed up.’ Mercutio Southall Jr. — a well-known local activist who has been
repeatedly arrested while fighting what he says is unfair treatment of blacks — interrupted
Trump’s rally and could be heard shouting, ‘Black lives matter!’ … ‘Get him the hell out of here,
will you, please?’ Trump said on Saturday morning. ‘Get him out of here. Throw him out!’”
[Washington Post, 11/22/15]
ON NATIVE AMERICANS
Donald Trump Did Not Find The Washington Redskins’ Team Name Offensive,
And Said He Knew “Indians That Are Extremely Proud Of That Name.” “After
months of name-calling, Jeb Bush and Donald J. Trump have finally found a name that they can
agree on: the Washington Redskins. … But in this case, Mr. Trump says he thinks that Mr. Bush
is right. ‘Honestly, I don’t think they should change the name, unless the owner wanted to,’ Mr.
Trump said in an interview. Mr. Trump. who has made bluntness a hallmark of his presidential
bid, said that the Redskins moniker was yet another issue of unnecessary political correctness.
The name has been that way for years, he said, and not everyone considers it to be a slur. ‘I know
Indians that are extremely proud of that name,’ he said. ‘They think it’s a positive.’” [New York
Times, 10/5/15]
• The Oneida Indian Nation Criticized Donald Trump For His Opposition To
Changing The Name Of The Washington Redskins. “The Oneida Indian Nation on
Monday blasted Donald Trump after the GOP presidential candidate said he knows Indians
who are proud of the Washington Redskins football team name, and he sees no reason to
change it….’It is hardly surprising that a candidate who labeled Mexican immigrants rapists
and calls women 'pigs' now says he wants the NFL to continue slurring Native Americans,’
the statement said. ‘Donald Trump joins some of the NFL's ignoble fraternity of billionaires
Confidential Page 28
who sit in their office suites and owner's boxes happily spending their fortunes denigrating
people of color.’” [Syracuse Post-Standard, 10/5/15]
Trump On Indian Casinos: “You Have To Check And See Whether Or Not They're
The Real Indians.” KING: “Because they have gambling casinos in which they don't have to
pay tax, right? Indian's property?” TRUMP: “They have gambling casinos where they're paying
no tax and every politician knows it's not appropriate or not right, but they haven't done
anything about it yet.” KING: “But don't you think we owe them something?” TRUMP: “I think
we do. I think to a certain extent, we do, if they're real Indians. I mean, you have to check and
see whether or not they're the real Indians. You know, you have--” KING: “You're questioning
that, Donald?” TRUMP: “No, no, you have to see who's running the casinos. And you know, I
made a statement, they don't look like Indians to me. And everyone said, oh, what a terrible
statement. I said, what's wrong? They don't. If you take a look at these folks, they don't like
Indians to me. And then, actually, a number of shows did a story that my statement was 100
percent correct. I never liked to apologize and there's no reason to apologize. But I think the
Indian casinos are -- you know, they're being looked at very seriously.” [Larry King Live, CNN,
7/23/97]
ON ASIAN AMERICANS
Trump Assumed A Young Asian Man At A Campaign Event Was From South
Korea, When He Was Really An American-Born Citizen. “Finally, a young Asian man
attempted to correct Trump on his incorrect claim that South Korea takes advantage of the
United States in defense spending. ‘Are you from South Korea?’ Trump asked. ‘I’m not. I was
born in Texas, raised in Colorado,’ the man responded as Trump literally shrugged. ‘I just want
to say that no matter where I’m from, I like to get my facts straight and I want to tell you that
that’s not true. South Korea paid $861 million—’ Then, Trump interrupts him permanently and
says the phrase, ‘It’s peanuts’ around ten times.” [The Slot Blog, Jezebel, 10/12/15]
Bad Businessman
TRUMP BUSINESS CAREER IS FULL OF TROUBLING DECISIONS, LIKE
FORCING PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES…
Trump Forced A Widow To Sell Him Her House So He Could Expand The
Limousine Parking Lot Outside One Of His Casinos. JOHN STOSSELL: “When Donald
Trump wanted a bigger parking lot for limousines outside one of his casinos, he tried to get this
widow to sell him her house for $1 million. She said no. So Trump then got his allies in
government to condemn her house and force her to sell it for a quarter of his original offer.”
WIDOW, FEMALE: “He doesn't have no heart, that man.” STOSSELL: “You're bullying these
people out because…” TRUMP: “I'm not, excuse me, that's wrong. For you to use the word ‘bully,’
John, is very unfair.” STOSSELL: “Well, that's not what's happening here?” TRUMP: “No,
absolutely not. Not at all. And I think it's a pretty sick assumption.” STOSSELL: “In the old
days, big developers came in with thugs with clubs. Now you use lawyers, you go to court, and
you force people out.” TRUMP: “Excuse me. Other people maybe use thugs today, okay? I don't.”
[20/20, ABC News, 3/29/04]
OR OUTSOURCING WORK TO OTHER COUNTRIES
Confidential Page 29
Trump’s Clothing Brand Imports Clothes From China. “Perry notes Trump has
imported clothing from China and Mexico produced for his brand. ‘For Trump to operate,
outsource and invest globally while criticizing companies like Ford for doing the same is the
ultimate hypocrisy. To be fair to Ford, Trump should either agree to impose a 35% tax on Trump
Collection clothing and agree to stop investing overseas, or he should stop his threats against
Ford for operating as a global carmaker.’” [Forbes, 8/17/15]
Donald Trump Used Mexican Workers To Produce Is Donald J. Trump Signature
Collection Menswear Line. “Not much gets past the Internet. Donald Trump is currently
embroiled in a steaming pot of controversy after making derogatory comments about Latin
American immigrants, claiming criminals and rapists are coming to the United States from
Mexico and advocating for "a great wall" at the border to keep people out. However, he seemed to
forget that he uses Mexican workers to produce his Donald J. Trump Signature Collection
menswear line. Adrian Carrasquillo, a political reporter and editor of Latino coverage at
BuzzFeed, decided to remind him.” [Huffington Post, 7/2/15]
Headline: “People Are Really Enjoying This Image Showing Donald Trump’s
Clothing Made In Mexico.” [BuzzFeed, 7/2/15; IMAGES]
TRUMP HAS PROVEN TO BE A POOR PREDICTOR OF ECONOMIC TRENDS
3/19/07: Donald Trump Said The 2007 Real Estate Collapse Would Be “Very
Minor” And That He Was Poised To Take Advantage Of Falling Real Estate
Values. “Donald Trump almost lost his shirt 15 years ago when the North American real estate
bubble burst. The 2007 version of that disaster will be much more benign, the real estate
magnate predicts, although there is softness in some urban markets, such as Toronto and San
Francisco. ‘We're talking very minor [problems] compared with the depression of the early
1990s,’ Mr. Trump said yesterday in a phone interview from Los Angeles. Mr. Trump said he is
poised to invest in depressed property as the downturn moves through individual cities. ‘People
have been talking about the end of the cycle for 12 years, and I'm excited if it is,’ he said. ‘I've
always made more money in bad markets than in good markets.’” [Globe and Mail, 3/20/07]
TRUMP’S POOR DECISION MAKING SKILLS HAVE SENT HIS COMPANIES
INTO BANKRUPTCY FOUR TIMES, AND HE HAS BARELY AVOIDED IT
HIMSELF
Since 1991, Trump-Related Companies Have Filed For Corporate Bankruptcy Four
Separate Times. “But just once for good measure: Donald Trump, personally, never declared
bankruptcy. … Still, since 1991, Trump-related companies have filed for corporate bankruptcy
four separate times. Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a corporation—which is legally
distinct of its shareholders, owners, board, and C.E.O.—to stay in business while it re-structures
and attempts to reduce its debt. So, while he’s been able to keep his personal finances in order,
the businesses that so proudly trumpet his billion-dollar name are something of a different
story.” [Vanity Fair, 6/29/15]
10/29/15: MSNBC: Donald Trump’s Claim That He Never Filed For Bankruptcy
Was “A Little Misleading” – Four Of His Businesses Have Declared Bankruptcy.
Confidential Page 30
“As NBC News points out, Trump has never personally filed for bankruptcy. But it’s a little
misleading, as four of his businesses have. That includes the Trump Taj Mahal in 1991, Trump
Plaza Hotel in 1992, Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts in 2004 and Trump Entertainment
Resorts in 2009.” [MSNBC, 10/29/15]
TRUMP WOULD HAVE MADE MORE MONEY BY INVESTING HIS
INHERITANCE IN A MUTUAL FUND, BUT INSTEAD DECIDED TO MAKE A
LIFE OUT OF “MAKING DEALS”
Donald Trump Would Have Made More Money By Simply Investing His Money In
A Mutual Fund Indexed To The Stock Market Than He Made Through His Real
Estate And Other Business Ventures. “As ‘really rich’ as Donald Trump is today, he might
have been even richer if, instead of dabbling in skyscrapers and casinos, he’d simply taken his
eight-figure inheritance decades ago and sunk it into the stock market. Had the celebrity
businessman and Republican presidential candidate invested his eventual share of father’s real
estate company into a mutual fund of S&P 500 stocks in 1974, it would be worth nearly $3 billion
today, thanks to the market’s performance over the past four decades. If he’d invested the $200
million that Forbes magazine determined he was worth in 1982 into that index fund, it would
have grown to more than $8 billion today.” [National Journal, 9/2/15]
TRUMP’S BUSINESS HAVE GONE INTO BANKRUPTCY
MULTIPLE TIMES
TRUMP’S POOR DECISION MAKING SKILLS HAVE SENT HIS COMPANIES
INTO BANKRUPTCY FOUR TIMES, AND HE HAS BARELY AVOIDED IT
HIMSELF
Since 1991, Trump-Related Companies Have Filed For Corporate Bankruptcy Four
Separate Times. “But just once for good measure: Donald Trump, personally, never declared
bankruptcy. … Still, since 1991, Trump-related companies have filed for corporate bankruptcy
four separate times. Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a corporation—which is legally
distinct of its shareholders, owners, board, and C.E.O.—to stay in business while it re-structures
and attempts to reduce its debt. So, while he’s been able to keep his personal finances in order,
the businesses that so proudly trumpet his billion-dollar name are something of a different
story.” [Vanity Fair, 6/29/15]
10/29/15: MSNBC: Donald Trump’s Claim That He Never Filed For Bankruptcy
Was “A Little Misleading” – Four Of His Businesses Have Declared Bankruptcy.
“As NBC News points out, Trump has never personally filed for bankruptcy. But it’s a little
misleading, as four of his businesses have. That includes the Trump Taj Mahal in 1991, Trump
Plaza Hotel in 1992, Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts in 2004 and Trump Entertainment
Resorts in 2009.” [MSNBC, 10/29/15]
TRUMP NARROWLY AVOIDED PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY
Donald Trump’s Creditors Could Have Forced Him Into Bankruptcy But Chose Not
To Because They Were Reluctant To Face Him In Bankruptcy Court. “After a decade
Confidential Page 31
of profligate borrowing, Trump lacked the cash to make his loan payments. Although he owned
hotels, skyscrapers, casinos and an airline, his debts exceeded the value of his properties by
hundreds of millions of dollars. Trump's lenders could have forced him into personal bankruptcy
and stripped him of almost every-thing. But that didn't happen. Instead, the bankers and
investors to whom Trump owed money made a series of deals that left him wealthy. They let him
keep some properties and took control of others, and they reduced Trump's personal debt by
about $ 750 million, more than four-fifths of the total. They didn't do it out of charity. Rather, the
lenders were reluctant to confront Trump in bankruptcy court, where they would face years of
delay and massive legal expenses. In the end, lenders said, they feared they would recover less
money in bankruptcy than they could get by striking compromises with Trump.” [Washington
Post, 11/29/92]
Donald Trump Was On The Brink Of Bankruptcy Following The 1990 Real Estate
Collapse But Was Able To Avoid Personal Bankruptcy By Selling Off Some Of His
Cherished Possessions. ZAHN: “If the 1980s were the greed is good era, then Donald Trump
was the decade's poster boy. But by 1990, the real estate mogul nearly lost it all due to a
collapsing real estate market. He was on the brink of bankruptcy. To make matters worse,
Trump was going through a personal crisis. His marriage was falling apart. … With a failed
marriage behind him, Trump now focused on trying to rebuild his business. He was able to avoid
bankruptcy by selling off some of his cherished possessions.” [CNN People In The News, CNN,
5/21/05]
Donald Trump Appeared Upbeat During Negotiations With His Creditors But Was
Personally Worried About Avoiding Bankruptcy. “Donald managed to weather the slings
and arrows of doubters during these lean years and hunkered down with his bankers and with
his debts. As the negotiations progressed, Donald's bankers looked for every alternative they
could find to bankruptcy, because none of the banks wanted to contend with the mess that would
ensue if the talks collapsed. And the Trumpster kept singing a happy tune. ‘He was always
upbeat,’ recalled Harvey Miller, a lawyer representing Citibank. ‘One thing I'll say about Donald,
he was never depressed.’ Unbeknownst to his creditors, Donald was just as worried about a
bankruptcy as they were. He later told me that he wanted to avoid bankruptcy at all costs
because he felt that it would permanently taint him as a failure or a quitter.” [New York Times,
10/23/05]
Donald Trump Took Two Of The Trump Casinos Public In 1995 And 1996,
Enabling Him To Unload Personal Debt Onto The New Company. “In a tribute to the
sucker-born-every-minute theorem, Donald managed to take two of the Trump casinos public in
1995 and 1996, at a time when he was unable to make his bank payments and was heading
toward personal bankruptcy. The stock sales allowed Donald to buy the casinos back from the
banks and to unload huge amounts of debt. The offering also yanked Donald out of the financial
graveyard and left him with a 25 percent stake in a company he once owned entirely. Trump
Hotels and Casino Resorts traded at $14 a share initially and, along with a fresh bond offering,
the new company raised about $295 million.” [New York Times, 10/23/05]
TRUMP VIEWS BANKRUPTCY AS A “GREAT DEAL”
Trump Called Bankruptcy A “Great Deal.” TRUMP: “I'm going to be selling a piece of my
stake for a tremendous infusion of cash that comes into the company. You know, it's been a
Confidential Page 32
great company to me over the years, but it's a very small portion of my net worth, less than 2
percent.” MASON: “And you don't mind having the word 'bankruptcy' attached to your name?”
TRUMP: “Well, I don't love it, but I feel that this is a great deal.” [CBS Evening News, CBS,
8/10/04]
Trump Bragged About Taking Personal Advantage Of The Bankruptcy Laws.
Washington Post on the first 2015 GOP debate: “That appeared to be the case on Thursday.
Trump committed no major mistakes. If he was overbearing at times, well, that has been part of
his appeal. If he was impolitic at other times — bragging about buying access to politicians or
taking personal advantage of the bankruptcy laws — he has done that before” [Washington Post,
8/6/15]
Donald Trump Bragged About Taking Companies With Bad Records, Chaptering
Them, And Ending Up With “A Nice Little Asset.” “I’ve inherited a lot of bad contracts
over the years, you know, where I buy a company cheap. Because the poor guy didn’t know what
he was doing and he made a bad deal. So you buy it cheap, you throw it into a chapter, you beat
up everybody, and you have a nice little asset. Right. You know. You do it. I do it professionally.
There’s always a clause.” [Donald Trump Rally, Sparks, NV, 10/29/15]
Trump’s Predictions On The 2007 Downturn Were Wildly Off
3/19/07: Donald Trump Said The 2007 Real Estate Collapse Would Be “Very
Minor” And That He Was Poised To Take Advantage Of Falling Real Estate
Values. “Donald Trump almost lost his shirt 15 years ago when the North American real estate
bubble burst. The 2007 version of that disaster will be much more benign, the real estate
magnate predicts, although there is softness in some urban markets, such as Toronto and San
Francisco. ‘We're talking very minor [problems] compared with the depression of the early
1990s,’ Mr. Trump said yesterday in a phone interview from Los Angeles. Mr. Trump said he is
poised to invest in depressed property as the downturn moves through individual cities. ‘People
have been talking about the end of the cycle for 12 years, and I'm excited if it is,’ he said. ‘I've
always made more money in bad markets than in good markets.’” [Globe and Mail, 3/20/07]
3/19/07: Donald Trump Advised Investors To Purchase Subprime Mortgages And
Repossessed Houses At Low Prices. “Mr. Trump shrugged off concerns that a crisis in U.S.
subprime mortgage lending, which caters to poor credit risks, would spread to the wider property
market, including Mr. Trump's luxury buildings. "I don't see the subprime problems affecting
the higher-end stuff," he said. In fact, he is advising investors that there are now great deals in
buying subprime mortgages at a discount and repossessed houses at low prices.” [Globe and
Mail, 3/20/07]
TRUMP HAS REPEATEDLY PROVEN TO BE CLUELESS ON
KEY FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
DURING A DEBATE, TRUMP DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF THE
“NUCLEAR TRIAD”
Confidential Page 33
12/16/15: Donald Trump Appeared No Not Understand The Concept Of America’s
Nuclear Weapons ‘Triad’ But Said, “For Me, Nuclear – The Power, The
Devastation Is Very Important To Me.”“When Donald Trump could not answer Hugh
Hewitt’s question on the nuclear triad during the fifth GOP debate Tuesday night, Sen. Marco
Rubio (R., Fla.) was kind enough to take the time to explain what the nuclear triad was to him
and any other Americans who may not have known. Trump was asked to offer his opinion on
which leg of the nuclear triad, decried by many as outdated, he believed was most crucial to
update. The Republican frontrunner did not appear to understand the topic. In his original
answer, Trump said it was important to have a strong leader with sound judgment during
perilous times. He then trailed off to talking about opposing the Iraq War and how important
limiting nuclear proliferation is. The response did not touch on Hewitt’s question, so he asked
again. ‘I think for me nuclear – the power, the devastation is very important to me,’ Trump said
in his second attempt.” [Free Beacon, 12/15/15]
Trump Did Not Answer What His Priority Was Among The Nuclear Triad. HEWITT:
“Dr. Carson just referenced the single most important job of the president, the command, the
control and the care of our nuclear forces. And he mentioned the triad. The B-52s are older than I
am. The missiles are old. The submarines are aging out. It’s an executive order. It’s a
commander-in-chief decision. What’s your priority among our nuclear triad?” TRUMP: “Well,
first of all, I think we need somebody absolutely that we can trust, who is totally responsible;
who really knows what he or she is doing. That is so powerful and so important. And one of the
things that I’m frankly most proud of is that in 2003, 2004, I was totally against going into Iraq
because you’re going to destabilize the Middle East. I called it. I called it very strongly. And it
was very important.” [Republican Presidential Debate, Las Vegas NV, 12/15/15]
TRUMP HAS ADMITTED TO NOT KNOWING MUCH ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY
Trump Admitted He Didn’t Know The Answers To Several Questions During
Foreign Policy Interview. “Among other things, the Republican presidential front-runner
suggested it was not yet important for him to know the difference between Hezbollah and
Hamas, the Islamic militant groups based in Lebanon and Palestine.” [Business Insider, 9/3/15]
TRUMP WASN’T AWARE OF THE NAME OF THE LEADER OF IRAN’S QUDS
FORCE AND CONFUSED THE QUDS AND THE KURDS
Donald Trump Appeared To The Quds Force, An Iranian Military Group, For The
Kurds, A Middle Eastern People In An Interview With Hugh Hewitt. “Donald J.
Trump revealed gaps in his mastery of international affairs during a radio interview on
Thursday, appearing to mistake the Quds Force, an Iranian military group, for the Kurds, a
Middle Eastern people, and growing testy over questions about foreign leaders. … At one point,
according to the interview’s transcript, Mr. [Hugh] Hewitt asked Mr. Trump if he was familiar
with Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the shadowy commander of Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force. ‘Yes,
but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me,’ Mr. Trump replied. ‘He runs the Quds Forces,’
Mr. Hewitt said. ‘Yes, O.K., right,’ Mr. Trump said. But Mr. Trump seemed to think Mr. Hewitt
was referring to the Kurds, a group with its own language and culture. Mr. Trump asserted that
‘the Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated.’ Mr. Hewitt interrupted. ‘No, not the
Kurds, the Quds Forces, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Forces.’ Mr. Trump tried to
Confidential Page 34
recover from the live, on-air tutorial. ‘Yes, yes,’ he said. He added, ‘Oh, I thought you said Kurds,
Kurds.’” [New York Times, 9/3/15]
Donald Trump Appeared To Not Know The Difference Between The Iranian Quds
Forces And The Kurds. HUGH HEWITT: “Are you familiar with General Soleimani?”
DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me.” HUGH HEWITT: “He
runs the Quds Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, okay, right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect
his behavior…” DONALD TRUMP: “The Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated by …”
HUGH HEWITT: “No, not the Kurds, the Quds Forces, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds
Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, yes.” HUGH HEWITT: “…is the bad guys.” DONALD TRUMP:
“Right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect his behavior to change as a result…” DONALD
TRUMP: “Oh, I thought you said Kurds, Kurds.” HUGH HEWITT: “No, Quds.” DONALD
TRUMP: “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you said Kurds, because I think the Kurds have been poorly
treated by us, Hugh. Go ahead.” HUGH HEWITT: “Agreed. So Soleimani runs the Quds Forces.
Do you expect his behavior is going to change as a result of this deal with Iran?” DONALD
TRUMP: “I think that Iran right now is in the driver’s seat to do whatever they want to do. I
think what’s happening with Iran is, I think it’s one of the, and I covered it very well. I assume
you saw the news conference. I think Iran is, it’s one of the great deals ever made for them. I
think it’s one of the most incompetent contracts I’ve even seen. I’m not just talking about
defense. I’m not talking about a contract with another country. I’ve never seen more of a one-
sided deal, I think, in my life, absolutely.” HUGH HEWITT: “Well, Soleimani is to terrorism sort
of what Trump is to real estate.” DONALD TRUMP: “Okay.” HUGH HEWITT: “Many people
would say he’s the most dangerous man in the world, and he runs the Quds Forces, which is
their Navy SEALs.” DONALD TRUMP: “Is he the gentleman that was going back and forth with
Russia and meeting with Putin? I read something, and that seems to be also where he’s at.”
HUGH HEWITT: “That’s the guy.” DONALD TRUMP: “He’s going back and forth meeting with
other countries, etc., etc.” HUGH HEWITT: “That’s the guy.” DONALD TRUMP: “Not good.”
HUGH HEWITT: “And so do you think…” DONALD TRUMP: “Not good for us. And what it
shows is a total lack of respect, I mean, that the other countries would even be entertaining him,
and they’re entertaining him big league, big league.” [Hugh Hewitt Radio Show, 9/3/15]
ASKED WHO ADVISES HIM ON THE MILITARY, TRUMP SAID HE GETS A LOT
OF ADVICE FROM THE “WEEKEND SHOWS”
Donald Trump Said He Got Military Advice From “The Shows.” CHUCK TODD: “Who
do you talk to for military advice right now?” DONALD TRUMP: “Well, I watch the shows. I
mean, I really see a lot of great -- you know, when you watch your show and all of the other
shows and you have the generals.” [Washington Post, 8/17/15; Meet The Press, NBC News,
8/16/15]
Trump’s Foreign Policy Could Make America An Enemy Of The World
TRUMP HAS REPEATEDLY BOASTED OF HIS INTENT TO USE EXTREME
FORCE
TRUMP CLAIMS TO BE THE “MOST MILITARISTIC PERSON” IN THE WORLD
Confidential Page 35
Donald Trump: “I’m The Most Militaristic Person Here, But You Have To Know
When To Use The Military.” [Donald Trump Presidential Campaign Rally, Norfolk, VA,
10/31/15]
Donald Trump: “I Am The Most Militaristic Person Have You Ever Had On Your
Show, Believe Me, OK?” [Fox Business News, 11/6/15]
Donald Trump: “I'm The Most Military-Based And The Most Militaristic Person
On Your Show.” [Face The Nation, CBS News, 10/11/15]
Donald Trump: “Look. I Am The Most Militaristic Person. I Will Make Our
Military So Strong And So Powerful, Nobody's Going To Mess With Us.” [20/20, ABC
News, 11/20/15]
Donald Trump: “I Mean, There's Something Going On. I'm Most Militaristic
Person On The Stage But You Have To Know Who To Attack And When.” [O’Reilly
Factor, Fox News, 11/25/15]
TRUMP FREQUENTLY ANTAGONIZES OTHER COUNTRIES
Donald Trump Said France Was "The Worst Partner That This Country Has Ever
Had" And Would “Sell A Nuclear Weapon To Anybody Giving Them 10 Cents More
Than The Next Guy.” “Mr. Trump used his appearance on Fox to criticize a number of U.S.
allies and trading partners. … He denounced France as ‘the worst partner that this country has
ever had.’ ‘They'll sell a nuclear weapon to anybody giving them 10 cents more than the next
guy,’ he said. ‘They are a very disloyal group in terms of their government, and I think they have
to be taught respect,’ Mr. Trump said.” [Washington Times, 11/1/99]
• 10/31/99: Donald Trump: “France Has To Be The Worst Partner That This
Country Has Ever Had.” They Have “Been A Very Disloyal Partner To The
United States And Virtually Anybody Else They Deal With.” “If you look
throughout the world, France has to be the worst partner that this country has ever had.
They'll sell a nuclear weapon to anybody giving them 10 cents more to the next guy. It's
terrible. … I think France just doesn't respect this country. France is a terrible partner.
They've been a terrible partner over the years. They are a very disloyal group in terms of
their government, and I think they have to be taught respect. I'm not saying what I'm doing
to them, I just think France and I think one thing I'm doing I'm exposing them, because I've
never heard this before. But anybody that knows anything about government, knows that
France has been a very disloyal partner to the United States and virtually anybody else they
deal with.” [Fox News Sunday, Fox News, 10/31/99]
Donald Trump Accused Germany Of Wanting To “Take Over The World
Economically.” “Mr. Trump used his appearance on Fox to criticize a number of U.S. allies and
trading partners. …He accused Germany of wanting ‘to take over the world economically,’ even
though ‘they failed militarily.’” [Washington Times, 11/1/99]
Trump Wanted Saudi Arabia To Pay The U.S. For Their Support. “Trump, who has
repeatedly portrayed Mexico, Japan, and China as ‘ripping us off,’ shifted his focus to Saudi
Confidential Page 36
Arabia in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. ‘They should pay us,’ Trump
said of the oil rich nation. ‘Like it or don’t like it, people have backed Saudi Arabia. What I really
mind, though, is we back it at tremendous expense. We get nothing for it.’ Trump portrayed the
U.S. financial relationship with Saudi Arabia as outdated. ‘The primary reason we're with Saudi
Arabia is because we need the oil,’ Trump said. ‘Now we don't need the oil so much, and if we let
our people really go, we wouldn't need the oil at all and we could let everybody else fight it out.’
The U.S. currently imports more than one million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil each day,
according to the U.S. State Department's website….’Saudi Arabia, if it weren’t for us, they
wouldn’t be here,’ Trump said. ‘They wouldn’t exist.’” [Bloomberg, 8/16/15]
Trump Said That The Chinese Were Enemies. MORGAN: “There are towns in China that
sell 95 percent of the world's duvets. You know, they manufacture 85 percent of the world's
buttons. Now I don't think that's the enemy. I think it's a potential business friend. Isn't it? Can't
we work with them?” TRUMP: “I don't think they're friends. I think they're enemies. I deal with
Chinese. I just sold an apartment to a Chinese person for $33 million a short while ago -- a
couple of months ago. I mean I'm supposed to like the Chinese but I understand the Chinese and
I deal with them all the time. Now this is before they thought I might run for president. They
consider our leaders extremely stupid people. They cannot believe what they get away with.
Whether it's the Olympics where they put people under age and they say, no, no, no, and then we
find out it was true and they say, oh, we just didn't know. Or whether they have the beautiful
girl singing the national anthem, their national anthem, but it wasn't her singing. So many
different things. I mean the Chinese are looking to put us under and believe me they are not our
friends. I'm surprised at you because you're not somebody that's easily misled or misguided…
They are not our friend.” [Piers Morgan Tonight, Fox News, 2/9/11]
In Response To China Devaluing Their Currency, Trump Said He Would Put A
Tariff On Chinese Products And Claimed We “Have To” Have A Trade War With
China. “Challenged by host Bill O'Reilly, the celebrity real estate tycoon doubled down on what
has become a main issue in his campaign, criticizing the U.S. government for allowing China to
devalue its currency. Trump said he would put a tariff on Chinese products, saying ‘you have to’
have a trade war. ‘Their leaders are intelligent, ours aren't,’ Trump said Monday.” [The Hill,
8/25/15; The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 8/24/15]
• Trump Said He Would Start A Trade War With China, Stating “You Have To Do That ... You Have No Choice.”
“Trump, who has made a similar call with Mexico, said Monday that he would initiate a trade war with China, saying
‘you have to do that ... you have no choice.’: [CNN, 8/25/15; The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 8/24/15]
• CNN Money: Trump Massive Tariffs “Would Start An Immediate Trade War That Would Likely Hurt American
Jobs And Exports.” “Trump's big claim is that he will bring back American jobs -- ‘from China, from Mexico, from
Japan, from so many places.’ If you listen closely, Trump has proposed doing this two ways: slapping tariffs on foreign
goods and negotiating better trade deals. In his campaign announcement speech, he threatened a 35% tax on Ford
(F) vehicles made in Mexico that are brought back to the U.S. to be sold, and in 2011, he has made headlines for
suggesting a 25% tariff on goods coming from China to the U.S. At face value, what Trump has proposed would start
an immediate trade war that would likely hurt American jobs and exports.” [CNN Money, 7/28/15]
Trump: “I Will Build The Best Wall, The Biggest, The Strongest, Not Penetrable.
They Won’t Be Crawling Over It Like Give It A Little Jump And They Are Over
The Wall Because They’re Australians And I’ll Have Mexico Pay For That Wall.”
[Donald Trump at Tuscan Kitchen restaurant, 4/27/15]
Confidential Page 37
TRUMP HAS ADVOCATED THE USE OF WATERBOARDING AND OTHER
TORTURE METHODS
HEADLINE: “Donald Trump On Waterboarding: ‘If It Doesn’t Work, They Deserve
It Anyway.’” [Washington Post, 11/23/15]
Donald Trump Said He Would “Absolutely” Bring Back Waterboarding As An
Accepted Form Of Interrogation. “Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said
Sunday he would allow U.S. interrogators to waterboard suspected terrorists in the wake of the
recent attacks in Paris. ‘I would bring it back, yes,’ Trump said on ABC’s ‘This Week.’ … ‘I would
bring it back,’ Trump said. ‘I think waterboarding is peanuts compared to what they’d do to us,
what they’re doing to us, what they did to James Foley when they chopped off his head. That’s a
whole different level, and I would absolutely bring back interrogation and strong interrogation.’”
[Politico, 11/22/15]
Donald Trump Said “You Bet Your Ass” He Would Approve Waterboarding In A
Heartbeat, And “If It Doesn’t Work, They Deserve It Anyway For What They’re
Doing.” “‘Would I approve waterboarding? You bet your ass I would — in a heartbeat,’ Trump
said to loud cheers during a rally at a convention center here Monday night that attracted
thousands. ‘And I would approve more than that. Don't kid yourself, folks. It works, okay? It
works. Only a stupid person would say it doesn't work.’ … ‘It works,’ Trump said over and over
again. ‘Believe me, it works. And you know what? If it doesn't work, they deserve it anyway, for
what they're doing. It works.’” [Washington Post, 11/23/15]
Donald Trump Said Osama Bin Laden Would Not Have Been Killed If U.S. Had
Not Used Waterboarding, Despite A 2014 Senate Intelligence Committee Report’s
Determinations To The Contrary. “Trump said bin Laden ultimately would not have been
killed in 2011 if the United States did not use waterboarding, the controversial interrogation
technique that the Obama administration considers torture and no longer uses. An exhaustive
2014 Senate Intelligence Committee report deemed that harsh interrogation measures like
waterboarding do not work and did not produce breakthrough intelligence in the hunt for bin
Laden, assertions that the CIA and former officers vehemently dispute. Trump has said he would
resume waterboarding and approve even more aggressive techniques.” [Washington Post,
11/24/15]
TRUMP’S PLAN FOR ISIS: “BOMB THE SH*T OUT OF THEM”
Donald Trump Said He Knew “More About ISIS Than The Generals Do,” And That
He Would “Bomb The Shit Out Of Them.” “‘I know more about ISIS than the generals do,’
Trump said. ‘Believe me.’ Trump said he would go after the oil fields in Iraq and Syria that he
says nets the terrorist group ‘millions of dollars a week.’ ‘I would bomb the s--- out of them,’ he
said to raucous applause. ‘I would just bomb those suckers. And that's right: I'd blow up the
pipes, I'd blow up the refineries. I would blow up every single inch. There would be nothing left.’”
[Washington Post, 11/13/15; Donald Trump Campaign Rally, Fort Dodge Iowa, 11/12/15]
Trump Supported Putting 10,000 Ground Troops In Syria To Defeat ISIS.
SCARBOROUGH: “Right. But you need ground troops to do that?” TRUMP: “Yes, you'll need
some ground troops. Yeah. You'll need ground troops.” SCARBOROUGH: “What do you think?
Confidential Page 38
10,000, 20,000? Do you have a number?... So -- I want to get specific with you like I will with Ted
Cruz and everybody else because I think people need to start giving us specifics on how we get
there.” TRUMP: “Well, I've been specific.” SCARBOROUGH: ”So 10,000 troops?... I'm talking
specifically about ground troops… So would you support taking it, say, ten thousand ground
troops as part of an international force?... Would you support 10,000 ground troops?” TRUMP: “I
would. Yes, I would.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 12/8/15]
Trump’s Gun Policy: More Guns
TRUMP BELIEVES THAT MORE GUNS CAN LIMIT CASUALTIES DURING
MASS SHOOTINGS
Trump Said If He Were At The Paris Or San Bernardino Shooting, “And If I Had A
Gun, I'm -- We're Going Down Shooting. We're Going To Knock Them Out, OK,
One Way Or The Other.” TRUMP: “What's too far? What's too far? They're killing people,
whether it's what we just saw in California or in Paris. They're killing people, innocent people,
people without guns. You look at Paris, no guns, nothing. You look at California, no guns. I can
tell you one thing. If I'm in there and if I had a gun, I'm -- we're going down shooting. We're going
to knock them out, OK, one way or the other. And if a couple of guns are in that room, you talk
about Second Amendment, which I'm a big believer in the Second Amendment. In Paris, they
had no guns. In California, they had no guns. Only the bad guys had the guns. So, they were like
sitting ducks, every one of them.” [Face The Nation, CBS, 12/6/15]
1/7/15: Donald Trump Tweeted About French Gun Control Laws After The
Shootings At The French Satirical Newspaper Charlie Hebdo. “As such, it was no
surprise that after shootings at the satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris this
week, some Americans began to wonder about gun control laws. ‘Isn't it interesting that the
tragedy in Paris took place in one of the toughest gun control countries in the world?’ American
reality television star Donald Trump wrote on Twitter shortly after the news broke. The tweet
prompted both praise (over a thousand retweets) and scorn (Trump was labelled a ‘moron’ and an
‘idiot’ by other tweeters).” [Washington Post, 1/9/15]
• 1/7/15: Donald Trump: “Isn’t It Interesting That The Tragedy In Paris Took Place In One Of The Toughest Gun
Control Countries In The World?” [@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 1/7/15]
11/18/15: Donald Trump Said, “If You Had A Guy Like You Or Me, Or Some Other
Guys In That Room That Had Guns,” The Terrorist Attacks In Paris Would Have
Been Mitigated. “Donald Trump said on Wednesday that, if he or somebody else with a gun
had been present during last Friday’s attacks in Paris, things would have gone differently. ‘So
they were just shooting people: ‘Next! Next!’’ the former reality TV star told Boston radio host
Jeff Kuhner. ‘Just people were totally defenseless. If you had a guy like you or me, or some other
guys in that room that had guns, it wouldn’t have been that way, Jeff. You know. It wouldn’t
have been that way.’ Trump made the comments after saying that, because of French gun laws,
‘nobody had a gun’ to shoot the attackers, adding that ‘the only ones that had the guns are the
bad guys.’” [Buzzfeed, 11/18/15]
TRUMP OCCASIONALLY CARRIES A GUN, BUT ADMITS HE’S “NOT SUCH A
GREAT SHOT”
Confidential Page 39
Donald Trump Said He Carries A Gun “On Occasion” Because “I Like Tobe
Unpredictable.” “Donald Trump said he carries a firearm ‘on occasion’ — but not always,
because he likes to keep people guessing. Trump said he’d feel ‘more comfortable’ if employees at
his company were armed, but he noted that having a permit is ‘very unusual in New York.’
‘I do carry on occasion, sometimes a lot,’ he said. ‘But I like to be unpredictable.’ Trump said his
carrying decisions are in contrast to the country's military policy, which he said is ‘totally
predictable.’” [Politico, 10/28/15]
12/11/15: Donald Trump: “I’m A Member Of The NRA, But I’m Not Such A Great
Shot.” [Donald Trump Presidential Campaign Rally, Des Moines, Iowa, 12/11/15]
TRUMP OPPOSES NEARLY ALL GUN CONTROL MEASURES
Donald Trump Played Up His Support For Nearly Unrestricted Gun Rights
Despite Having Supported The Assault Weapons Ban And Longer Background
Checks In The Past. “Donald Trump said Tuesday he supports allowing Americans to legally
buy and own assault weapons…. Trump has played up his support for nearly unrestricted gun
rights throughout the campaign as he has looked to bolster his conservative credentials,
especially given his past support for some gun control measures. ‘I generally oppose gun control,
but I support the ban on assault weapons and I also support a slightly longer waiting period to
purchase a gun,’ Trump wrote in his 2000 book ‘The America We Deserve.’” [CNN, 10/6/15]
• 2015: Donald Trump Supported Allowing Americans To Buy And Own Assault
Weapons And Called For An End To Gun-Free Zones. “Donald Trump said Tuesday
he supports allowing Americans to legally buy and own assault weapons. ‘You have to be
because the bad guys are going to have them anyway,’ Trump told CNN's Chris Cuomo on
‘New Day.’ ‘What happens when the bad guys have the assault weapons and you don't in a
confrontation?’ Trump suggested overturning gun-free zones and said civilians with guns
could have stopped the mass shooting at a community college last week in Oregon.” [CNN,
10/6/15]
• 2000: Donald Trump Supported The Assault Weapons Ban And Longer Waiting
Periods. “‘I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I
also support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun,’ Trump wrote in his 2000
book ‘The America We Deserve.’" [CNN, 10/6/15]
Trump Opposed Regulations On The Number Of Rounds Allowed In Gun
Magazines. TRUMP: “Gun magazine limits do not make common sense. I have long opposed
such limits. For instance, I fought the SAFE Act in New York, which I call the “Unsafe Act.” I
also spoke at a rally in Albany championing gun rights and protesting the Unsafe Act. The law
limited capacity to seven rounds, as if criminals were going to take rounds out of their magazines
before committing a crime. It was later changed to a limit of ten rounds, but the entire episode
was a complete disaster.” [Ammoland, 7/7/15]
Donald Trump Criticized Gun-Free Zones And Said “It’s Going To Be A Lot Safer”
If You Carry A Gun. DICKERSON: “Should people carry?” TRUMP: “If they want to, they
Confidential Page 40
should be able to, because it's going to be lot safer. Look at what's going on. We're going into
these gun-free areas. How about the school few months ago? Gun-free school, gun-free area, and
you look at what happened. It was a disgrace. If people had guns, how about the -- how about the
soldiers that were killed, six soldiers killed, champion marksmen on a military base? They're not
allowed to carry their guns.” [Face The Nation, CBS, 12/6/15]
Repeal Without A Plan On Health Care
TRUMP HAS CALLED FOR THE REPEAL OF THE “CATASTROPHE” KNOWN AS
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT….
Trump Called The Affordable Care Act A “Total Catastrophe.” “Trump presented
himself as a conservative, ‘very conservative’ and as a Republican, but admitted that he is ‘very
disappointed’ with Republican politicians. The crowd shared the sentiment and gave ‘The
Donald’ a huge round of applause. Trump says the GOP has let the president ‘get away with
absolute murder.’ He pointed to Obamacare as a ‘total catastrophe.’” [Breitbart, 1/24/15]
…YET HE HAS FAILED TO OFFER ANY SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD
REPLACE IT WITH
In “Crippled America,” Donald Trump Laid Out His Plan To Replace The
Affordable Care Act: I’ll Hire Smart People And They’ll Come Up With Something.
“My approach is completely different. I approach complicated problems such as how to provide
health care for most Americans at a price we can afford the same way I solve the toughest
business problems. We should hire the most knowledgeable people in the world on this subject
and lock them in a room—and not unlock the door until they’ve agreed on the steps we need to
take. A lot of times when I speak, people say I don’t provide specific policies that some pollster
has determined are what people want to hear. I know that’s not the way the professional
politicians do it—they seem to poll and focus-group every word. But there’s nobody like me.”
[Trump, Crippled America, 70, 11/3/15]
• Donald Trump: “Obamacare’s Going To Be Repealed And Replaced,” And “I Am Going To Take Care Of
Everybody” And “The Government’s Gonna Pay For It.” TRUMP: “‘Obamacare's going to be repealed and
replaced. Obamacare is a disaster if you look at what's going on with premiums where they're up 45, 50, 55 percent.
… Everybody's got to be covered. … I am going to take care of everybody. I don't care if it costs me votes or not. …
[The uninsured are] going to be taken care of. … The government's gonna pay for it. But we're going to save so much
money on the other side. But for the most it's going to be a private plan and people are going to be able to go out and
negotiate great plans with lots of different competition with lots of competitors with great companies and they can
have their doctors, they can have plans, they can have everything.’” [60 Minutes, CBS, 9/27/15]
Donald Trump Said He Would Repeal The Affordable Care Act And Replace It
With “Something Terrific.” “Trump once supported the liberal plan to create a national,
single-payer health care system similar to the one in Canada, a position he explained in his 2000
book ‘The America We Deserve.’ But as a Republican presidential candidate, Trump's plan is
now simpler: Repeal Obamacare. And then? ‘Replace with something terrific,’ Trump said,
explaining that the ‘terrific’ would be handled by private companies competing in the private
market. But Trump suggested an alternative system for lower-income individuals -- describing
what, in the broad strokes, appears to sound similar to Medicaid.” [CNN, 7/30/15]
Confidential Page 41
Climate Change Denier
TRUMP BELIEVES CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX, DESPITE ALL EVIDENCE
TO THE CONTRARY
In 2015, Trump Called Climate Change A “Hoax.” “Mr. Trump’s policy views can be just
as provocative as his demeanor. In the past, he has called climate change ‘a hoax’ and said he
has a ‘foolproof’ plan to defeat the Islamic State, which he will not reveal so as not to tip off the
group. On Tuesday, he vowed to build a ‘great wall’ on the Mexican border to keep out rapists
and other criminals, who he said were sneaking into the United States in droves.” [New York
Times, 6/17/15]
Trump: “This Very Expensive GLOBAL WARMING Bullshit Has Got To Stop. Our
Planet Is Freezing, Record Low Temps,And Our GW Scientists Are Stuck In Ice”
[@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 1/1/14]
Trump Argued That The Environment Would Be Fine Without Protection.
“Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Sunday that he would cut government
agencies if he were elected President. Among them? The Department of Education and the
Environmental Protection Agency, Trump told ‘Fox News Sunday’ host Chris Wallace. ‘Would
you cut serve -- would you cut departments?’ Wallace asked Trump. ‘No, I'm not cutting services,
but I'm cutting spending. But I may cut Department of Education. I believe Common Core is a
very bad thing,’ Trump said. ‘I believe that we should be — you know, educating our children
from Iowa, from New Hampshire, from South Carolina, from California, from New York. I think
that it should be local education.’ ‘So the Department of Education is one,’ he continued.
‘Environmental Protection, what they do is a disgrace. Every week they come out with new
regulations. They're making it impossible —‘ Wallace interjected, ‘Who's going to protect the
environment?’ ‘They — we'll be fine with the environment,’ Trump replied. ‘We can leave a little
bit, but you can't destroy businesses.’” [Talking Points Memo, 10/18/15]
Donald Trump Declared, “You Can’t Get Hurt By Extreme Weather,” Then
Tweeted His Support For The More Than 12 People Killed By Flooding In South
Carolina. “Donald Trump sent out prayers to those affected by the deadly flooding in South
Carolina on Monday, just weeks after telling voters people aren't hurt from extreme weather. As
of Monday night, there have been a total of 13 storm related deaths in South Carolina and North
Carolina combined. ‘Thoughts and prayers for those in the floods affecting the great people of
South Carolina,’ Trump tweeted Monday in the wake of the floods. But two weeks ago in Dallas,
Trump told supporters ‘you can't get hurt with extreme weather,’ as he dismissed President
Barack Obama's argument that extreme weather as a result of climate change poses a threat to
America.” [CNN, 10/5/15]
Trump Has Supported The GOP’s Reckless Approach To Governing
TRUMP BACKED THE GOP’S ATTEMPTS TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT
WHEN THEY DON’T GET THEIR WAY
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Confidential Page 42
Donald Trump Said He Would Support Republicans Sticking Together To Shut
Down The Government Over Obamacare. “Real estate mogul Donald Trump said he
supports shutting down the government over legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, adding
that the Republican Party could have done the same thing with Obamacare. ‘I would [support a
government shutdown], and I was also in support if the Republicans stuck together you could
have done it with Obamacare also, but the Republicans decided not to stick together and they
left a few people out there like Ted Cruz,’ Trump said on the ‘Hugh Hewitt Show’ on Monday.”
[Politico, 8/4/15]
DEBT CEILING
Donald Trump Said It Was “Worth The Fight” To Use The Debt Ceiling As
Leverage To Get Spending Cuts Because “If You Had The Right People There You
Could Cut It And You Would Have No Problem Whatsoever.” “HALPERIN: So do you
think it's worth playing a game of chicken with President Obama, and not raising the debt
ceiling and dealing with the market (INAUDIBLE)? TRUMP: I would say that it's worth the
fight, because honestly, there is so much fat in Washington that if you had the right people there
you could cut it and you would have no problem whatsoever. And you wouldn't miss a thing.”
[Interview CNBC/Dow Jones Business Video, 8/26/15]
Donald Trump Said Congress Should Use The Debt Limit As A “Strong
Negotiating Tactic.” TRUMP: “Congress should negotiate the debt limit. They should
negotiate and use it as a strong negotiating tactic, because they’re not doing that. I heard last
night, speaker Boehner: ‘We will never violate the debt limit.’ Now it’s one thing if you believe
that, but you don’t say that because the other side now knows that you’re not going to do
anything with the debt limit and you have given up such leverage by saying that, and I just don’t
understand why would he say that. You have given up such leverage to the Obama side, to the
Democrats, because he said ‘We will not violate,’ and I’m saying to myself, ‘Boy, that’s why so
many people are so angry.’ So many Republicans, on the other side, the smaller group, but a
tough group, they’re not happy about it. So I would use the debt limit to negotiate a great deal. I
just don’t know if they’re going to do that. How can you do that when you’ve already announced
that you’re not going to violate the debt?” [Capital Download, USA Today, 10/22/15; VIDEO]
2013: Donald Trump Thought Republicans Had Cards To Play In Avoiding A
Government Shutdown, But They Needed To Hurry Up, And Ultimately It Was Up
To President Obama To Lead. “Real Estate mogul Donald Trump offered some of his expert
deal-making advice to Congress on Monday as the clock was ticking on avoiding a government
shutdown: Hurry up. ‘I think actually the Republicans have a lot of cards. But if they're going to
play those cards, they better play them now,’ said ‘The Art of the Deal’ author. ‘You have the
debt ceiling coming up. It's going to be another time. But you can't play it twice as easily.’ …
Ultimately, Trump said it's up to President Barack Obama to lead.” [Politico, 9/30/13]
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
Trump Supported Shutting Down The Government To Defund Planned Parenthood.
“Real estate mogul Donald Trump said he supports shutting down the government over
legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, adding that the Republican Party could have done the
Confidential Page 43
same thing with Obamacare. ‘I would [support a government shutdown], and I was also in
support if the Republicans stuck together you could have done it with Obamacare also, but the
Republicans decided not to stick together and they left a few people out there like Ted Cruz,’
Trump said on the ‘Hugh Hewitt Show’ on Monday.” [Politico, 8/4/15]
Trump Has Devalued And Demeaned Women Repeatedly Throughout His Career
TRUMP ATTACKED MEGYN KELLY FOR QUESTIONING HIS COMMENTS
ABOUT WOMEN BEING “DOGS,” “FAT PIGS,” ETC.
Megyn Kelly Questioned Trump For Calling Women “'Fat Pigs,' 'Dogs,' Slobs, And
Disgusting Animals.” “Real-estate magnate Donald Trump was confronted by Fox News
moderator Megyn Kelly during the first Republican presidential debate on Thursday, accusing
him of being insensitive toward women. ‘You've called women you don't like, 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,'
slobs, and disgusting animals,’ Kelly opened a question to Trump. ‘Only Rosie O'Donnell,’ Trump
quipped. ‘No it wasn't. For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O'Donnell. Your Twitter account
has several disparaging comments about women's looks. You once told a contestant on 'Celebrity
Apprentice' it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the
temperament of a man we should elect as president?’ Kelly asked Trump. Trump went on to say
he thinks a major problem with America is its trend toward being ‘politically correct.’ And he told
Kelly if she didn't like it, ‘I'm sorry.’ ‘I think the big problem this country has being politically
correct. I've been challenged by so many people and I don't frankly have time for total political
correctness,’ he said. [Business Insider, 8/6/15]
TRUMP SAID THAT A FEMALE JOURNALIST WHO ASKED ABOUT PAST MISOGYNISTIC
COMMENTS HAD “BLOOD COMING OUT OF HER EYES, BLOOD COMING OUT OF HER
WHATEVER”
Trump Hit Megyn Kelly For The Questions She Asked During The First Debate
And Claimed “You Could See There Was Blood Coming Out Of Her Eyes, Blood
Coming Out Of Her Wherever.” “During Thursday's presidential debate, Kelly pressed
Trump about misogynistic, sexist comments he made in the past, such as calling some women
‘fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.’ Trump slammed Kelly, saying her questions were
‘ridiculous’ and ‘off-base.’ ‘You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes,’ Trump told
CNN's Don Lemon on Friday night. ‘Blood coming out of her wherever.’” [CNN, 8/8/15; Don
Lemon, CNN, 8/7/15]
TRUMP ALLEGEDLY CALLED A WOMAN WHO ASKED TO TAKE A BREAK
FROM WORK TO PUMP BREAST MILK “DISGUSTING”
2011: Trump Called A Lawyer Who Requested A Break From A Deposition To
Pump Breast Milk “Disgusting,” Before Ending His Testimony And Leaving The
Room. “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump once called a lawyer who requested a
break from a 2011 deposition to pump breast milk ‘disgusting’ before ending his testimony and
leaving the room. ‘He got up, his face got red, he shook his finger at me and he screamed, 'You're
disgusting, you're disgusting,' and he ran out of there,’ Beck told CNN's Alisyn Camerota on
Wednesday morning, calling it ‘an absolute meltdown.’ The incident was described in a letter
Confidential Page 44
from Jared Beck, Elizabeth's co-counsel and husband, obtained by CNN and first reported
Tuesday by the New York Times. Trump's attorney Allen Garten, who was present for the
deposition, does not dispute that Trump called Beck ‘disgusting.’ Trump slammed Beck's
interview in a tweet to CNN Politics on Wednesday morning: ‘Lawyer Elizabeth Beck did a
terrible job against me, she lost (I even got legal fees). I loved beating her,she was easy,’ he
tweeted.” [CNN, 7/29/15]
• Alan Garten, Executive Vice President And General Counsel At The Trump
Organization, Did Not Dispute Trump’s Remarks And Said That The Lawyer
“Was Disgusting.” “Alan Garten, executive vice president and general counsel at The
Trump Organization, did not dispute the remark, but said Trump called Beck ‘disgusting’
because she was about to use her breast pump in the middle of the deposition room. ‘She was
disgusting,’ Garten said in a phone interview with CNN. ‘She was attempting to breast feed --
to pump in the middle of a deposition, in a deposition room with five lawyers and was not
excusing herself.’” [CNN, 7/29/15]
ON WOMEN’S WEIGHT AND APPEARANCE… INCLUDING HIS OWN
DAUGHTER’S
Trump On What He Would Do If His Wife Gained 40 Or 50 Pounds: “I'd Say, 'Start
Working Out.'” COOPER: “What happens if Marla gained this kind of weight? Would you drop
her?” TRUMP: “Well, I'd probably do the same thing with her. I'd say, 'Start working out.' No, I
wouldn't.” COOPER: “OK. You're sure?” TRUMP: “It's a very interesting question.” [This
Morning, CBS, 1/29/97]
Trump On Miss Universe Pageant Winner: “She Weighed 118 Pounds, Or 117
Pounds, And She Went Up To 160 Or 170. So This Is Somebody That Likes To
Eat.” COOPER: “Enter the man Alisa calls her new boss. You got it, The Donald. Trump and
his wife, Marla, purchased the Miss Universe pageant earlier this month. And Trump decided
this investment needed a little extra attention.” TRUMP: “She weighed 118 pounds, or 117
pounds, and she went up to 160 or 170. So this is somebody that likes to eat.” COOPER: “Now
instead of steaks and French fries, it's medicine balls and jump ropes for Alisa; that is, when
there's room enough to exercise.” [This Morning, CBS, 1/29/97]
Donald Trump Said Wearing Burkas Makes It “Easier” For Women To Look
Beautiful Because They “Don’t Have To Put On Make-Up.” “Trump extended his blunt-
force brand of diplomacy and non-interventionist stance to women's rights, saying that America
should stop meddling in Middle Eastern affairs because women there ‘don't want freedom,’ as
evidenced by their desire to wear burqas or niqabs, which cover their faces. ‘With the women
over there, they don't have to wear the you-know-what,’ Trump said referring to the veils worn
by some Muslim women. ‘And then I said, 'Oh well that makes sense. That's nice.' Then, I saw
women interviewed. They said, 'We want to wear them. We've worn them for a thousand years.
Why would anyone tell us?' They want to. What the hell are we getting involved for? The fact is
it's easier. You don't have to put on make-up. Look how beautiful everyone looks. Wouldn't it be
easier if ‘mwah’ (kissing sound)? Right? Wouldn't that be easy? I tell you if I was a woman -
‘mwah’ - I'm ready darling. Let's go.’” [CBS News, 10/26/15]
Confidential Page 45
Trump: Doesn’t Matter What Media Say About You “As Long As You’ve Got A
Young And Beautiful Piece Of Ass.” In 1991, Trump told Esquire, "You know, it doesn't
really matter what (the media) write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass.”
[Des Moines Register, 9/13/15]
Trump On His Daughter: “She Does Have A Very Nice Figure . . . If [She] Weren’t
My Daughter, Perhaps I’d Be Dating Her.” “She was replaced by Trump’s eldest
daughter, Ivanka, of whom Trump once said, ‘She does have a very nice figure . . . if [she] weren’t
my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.’” [Anna Holmes, Washington Post, 4/30/11]
ON THE “HUNT” FOR WOMEN
Trump: “I Think The Hunt Is Always Fun, Whether It's Deals, Whether It's
Women, Whether It's Anything.” WALTERS: “I want to clear something up. In your book,
the new book, you say, ‘The fun is in the getting, not the having.’ Does that include women? No
kidding.” TRUMP: “Interesting question. I think the hunt is always fun, whether it's deals,
whether it's women, whether it's anything. I think, however, that with respect to women, there
would be nothing that would make me happier than having a great marriage. An absolutely
great marriage, and that would certainly supersede the hunt.”[20/20, ABC News, 8/17/90]
Trump On Not Having A First Lady: “We Could Have One In 24 Hours” If
Necessary. KING: “We will not have a first lady. Who will be? I'm thinking ahead. Who's in
charge of social affairs?” TRUMP: “Well, we could have one in 24 hours. We actually -- it would
be very interesting.” KING: “There's a line out there?” TRUMP: “But we could have one quickly.”
KING: “Are you telling us something?” TRUMP: “No, not all. But I'm saying, if there was a, you
know, prerequisite, 24 hours, it's done.” [Larry King Live, CNN, 10/7/99]
ON A WIFE’S ROLE IN THE HOME
Trump: “I Don't Want To Sound Too Much Like A Chauvinist, But When I Come
Home And Dinner's Not Ready, I'll Go Through The Roof.”NANCY COLLINS: “Well,
you now are married to a woman, and you- who would like to continue her career. Marla says she
does want to have a career….You have said you don't want Marla to work.”… TRUMP: “I think
I'm probably mixed. I have days where I think it's great and then I have days where if I come
home and- you know, I don't want to sound too much like a chauvinist, but when I come home
and dinner's not ready, I'll go through the roof, okay?”[Primetime Live, ABC News, 3/10/94]
Trump: Men Need “Support At Home…Not Someone Who Is Always Griping and
Bitching. "Often, I will tell friends whose wives are constantly nagging them about this or that
that they're better off leaving and cutting their losses. I'm not a great believer in always trying to
work things out, because it just doesn't happen that way. For a man to be successful he needs
support at home, just like my father had from my mother, not someone who is always griping
and bitching." [Des Moines Register, 9/13/15]
ON THE INTELLIGENCE OF WOMEN AND “GETTING AHEAD”
Trump: It Is Rare That Women Are Both “Very Beautiful” And Have High IQs.
ZAHN: “Let's go back to the women for a moment. Because ‘TIME’ magazine calls them, either
Confidential Page 46
the hottest women in your office hot to super model hot, and they say that there is more leg and
naval flashed in most staff meetings outside of Hooters.” TRUMP: “And they know how to use
their looks. Many of the women are very beautiful, super model beautiful but they have 200 IQs,
which is rather rare.” [Paula Zahn Now, 1/7/04]
Trump Said That Women Using Sexuality To Get Ahead Is “Part Of Life.” KING:
“Do you think that some complaining about women use their gender to advantage in this, or is
that also part of life?” TRUMP: “Women? I mean, do women use sex? Absolutely not. You've
never known a woman to use sex, right? On my show, I get criticized when they use sex. The
rest of the world, nobody gets criticized. You know, amazingly, these people were chosen. They're
young people, and they were chosen for their brain, but they happen to be attractive. I mean, the
women, some of the women, happen to be very attractive. And they have used their sexuality to
win certain tasks, as we call them. And hey, that's part of life, I guess. In real life, that
happens, too. I've known it. I've seen it happen. It's actually happened to me a couple of times,
Larry.” [Larry King Live, CNN, 2/27/04]
ON HIS “CREATION PROCESS” – ADMITTEDLY, “IT’S PRETTY SAD” – AND
LEAVING FOR “A PIECE OF ASS”
Trump On His Marriages: “I've Really Given A Lot Of Women Great Opportunity.
Unfortunately, After They're A Star, The Fun Is Over For Me. It's Like A Creation
Process.” NANCY COLLINS: “You know what's interesting, Donald, is you take these women,
these two particular women in your life, and you help them become very well-known. And then,
when they want to act on that appeal, you seem to get upset about it.” TRUMP: “I create stars. I
love creating stars. And, to a certain extent, I've done that with Ivana. To a certain extent, I've
done that with Marla. And I like that. I mean, I've really given a lot of women great opportunity.
Unfortunately, after they're a star, the fun is over for me. It's like a creation process. It's almost
like creating a building. It's pretty sad.”[Primetime Live, ABC News, 3/10/94]
Trump On His Divorce From Ivana: “When A Man Leaves A Woman, Especially
When It Was Perceived That He Has Left For A Piece Of Ass--A Good One-- There
Are 50 Percent Of The Population Who Will Love The Woman Who Was Left.”
WALTERS: “The author, Marie Brenner, quotes you as saying to her, ‘When a man leaves a
woman, especially when it was perceived that he has left for a piece of ass- a good one- there are
50 percent of the population who will love the woman who was left.’” TRUMP: “I do remember
saying that. I don't remember having used those words. That's possible. But I believe that if a
man leaves a woman for almost any reason, that that particular person, the man, is going to be
at a major disadvantage in terms of the public eye, there's no question about it.”[20/20, ABC
News, 8/17/90]
Trump On Military Sexual Assaults…
DONALD TRUMP INSINUATED THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY
WAS THE RESULT OF POLITICIANS WANTING TO BE POLITICALLY
CORRECT
Confidential Page 47
Trump: “26,000 Unreported Sexual [Assaults] In The Military—Only 238
Convictions. What Did These Geniuses Expect When They Put Men & Women
Together?” “Two years ago, Trump weighed in on the alarming rate of sexual assault and rape
in the military—and in doing so, pinned the blame on the presence of women. ‘26,000 unreported
sexual [assaults] in the military—only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when
they put men & women together?’ he tweeted in 2013. ‘The Generals and top military brass
never wanted a mixer but were forced to do it by very dumb politicians who wanted to be
politically [correct]!’ he continued.” [Daily Beast, 7/27/15]
Trump: “The Generals And Top Military Brass Never Wanted A Mixer But Were
Forced To Do It By Very Dumb Politicians Who Wanted To Be Politically
[Correct]!” “Two years ago, Trump weighed in on the alarming rate of sexual assault and rape
in the military—and in doing so, pinned the blame on the presence of women. ‘26,000 unreported
sexual [assaults] in the military—only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when
they put men & women together?’ he tweeted in 2013. ‘The Generals and top military brass
never wanted a mixer but were forced to do it by very dumb politicians who wanted to be
politically [correct]!’ he continued.” [Daily Beast, 7/27/15]
Donald Trump: “26,000 Unreported Sexual Assults In The Military-Only 238
Convictions. What Did These Geniuses Expect When They Put Men & Women
Together?” [@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 5/7/13]
Donald Trump: "The Generals And Top Military Brass Never Wanted A Mixer But
Were Forced To Do It By Very Dumb Politicians Who Wanted To Be Politically C!”
[@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 5/7/13]
Out of Touch/Hand-Outs For The Wealthy At The Expense Of The Middle Class
TRUMP’S TAX PLAN WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFIT THE
WEALTHY
Vox: Donald Trump’s Tax Plan “Substantially” Helps Households Making Six
Figures Per Year, But Forty Percent Of Households That Currently Pay No Income
Taxes “Won’t Get Anything Out Of His Proposal.” “While everyone who pays income tax
would benefit from the bigger initial exemption in Trump's plan, the elimination of the 28, 33,
35, and 39.6 percent tax brackets only helps households making six figures a year, and it helps
them substantially. Those households also benefit from the higher kick-in of the 10 percent, 15
percent, and 25 percent brackets. Given that Trump doesn't call for expansions of the Earned
Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit, the 40.4 percent of households already not paying
any income tax won't get anything out of his proposal.” [Vox, 9/28/15]
Trump Proposed Lowering The Top Individual Tax Rate From 39.6% To 25%. “All
other Americans will get a simpler tax code with four brackets – 0%, 10%, 20% and 25% –
instead of the current seven. This new tax code eliminates the marriage penalty and the
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) while providing the lowest tax rate since before World War II.”
[Trump Tax Plan, Donald J. Trump For President, Released 9/28/15]
Confidential Page 48
Donald Trump’s Tax Plan Would Eliminate The Estate Tax. “No family will have to
pay the death tax. You earned and saved that money for your family, not the government. You
paid taxes on it when you earned it.... The death tax punishes families for achieving the
American dream. Therefore, the Trump plan eliminates the death tax.” [Donald J. Trump For
President, Tax Reform That Will Make America Great Again, 9/28/15]
Donald Trump’s Tax Plan Would Cut The Corporate Tax Rate To 15%. “No business
of any size, from a Fortune 500 to a mom and pop shop to a freelancer living job to job, will pay
more than 15% of their business income in taxes…. Under the Trump plan, America will compete
with the world and win by cutting the corporate tax rate to 15%, taking our rate from one of the
worst to one of the best.” [Donald J. Trump For President, Tax Reform That Will Make America
Great Again, 9/28/15]
Donald Trump’s Tax Plan Would Cut Taxes On Capital Gains. “The top capital gains
rate would be cut to 20 percent from 23.8 percent, through the elimination of Obamacare's 3.8
percent surtax. The first 15 percent capital gains rate would kick in at $100,000 for couples, not
the current $74,900. But the 20 percent rate would kick in a little earlier: $300,000, not
$464,850.” [Vox, 9/28/15]
Citizens For Tax Justice: The Top 1% Wealthiest Americans Would Get 34 Percent
Of Trump’s Tax Cuts. “Now, there are three things to know about Trump's tax plan…. The
second is, well, did I mention it would help the rich the most? The liberal Citizens for Tax Justice
calculates that the top 1 percent would get 34 percent of Trump's total tax cut. That is actually
what passes for egalitarian among Republicans—Jeb would give 53 percent of his tax cuts to our
country's most exclusive centile—but it's still a bigger giveaway than anybody else's because
Trump's tax cuts are bigger too.” [Wonkblog, Washington Post, 10/2/15]
Politico’s Danny Vinik: “Who Would Be The Winners Of The Trump Tax Plan? The
Rich.” “Who would be the winners of the Trump tax plan? The rich. The top tax rate falling
from 39.6 percent to 25 percent will give them a huge windfall, as will eliminating the AMT, the
estate tax for their heirs, and the Obamacare surtax on capital gains and dividends. The huge
cut in the corporate income tax will also benefit the well-off.” [Danny Vinik, Politico, 9/28/15]
TRUMP’S TAX PLAN WOULD BENEFIT PEOPLE JUST LIKE HIM
Headline: “Trump’s Tax Plan Could Cost $12 Trillion, And Save Him Millions In
Taxes Each Year.” [Time, 9/29/15]
Citizens For Tax Justice: The Top 1% Wealthiest Americans Would Get 34 Percent
Of Trump’s Tax Cuts. “Now, there are three things to know about Trump's tax plan…. The
second is, well, did I mention it would help the rich the most? The liberal Citizens for Tax Justice
calculates that the top 1 percent would get 34 percent of Trump's total tax cut. That is actually
what passes for egalitarian among Republicans—Jeb would give 53 percent of his tax cuts to our
country's most exclusive centile—but it's still a bigger giveaway than anybody else's because
Trump's tax cuts are bigger too.” [Wonkblog, Washington Post, 10/2/15]
Politico’s Danny Vinik: Under Trump’s Tax Plan, The Weather Get A “Huge
Windfall.” “Who would be the winners of the Trump tax plan? The rich. The top tax rate
Confidential Page 49
falling from 39.6 percent to 25 percent will give them a huge windfall, as will eliminating the
AMT, the estate tax for their heirs, and the Obamacare surtax on capital gains and dividends.
The huge cut in the corporate income tax will also benefit the well-off.” [Danny Vinik, Politico,
9/28/15]
TRUMP OPPOSED LAWS REFORMING WALL STREET
Trump Opposed Wall Street Reform And Claimed The Reforms Created “A Very
Bad Situation.” TRUMP: “Well, I have to speak two ways. Selfishly, as a developer, I love
cheap money, and I have always loved cheap money, and who wouldn't. Now, I'm not speaking as
somebody that is a great citizen of this country -- and I hope I am and I love this country very
dearly -- but as a developer, I love cheap money. They're giving me cheap money. They -- I will
say this, that the only people that get money are people like me that don't need it. If I don't -- if I
want to make a deal on buying something, I get very, very inexpensive money. If somebody
wants to put together a deal that does -- that is very qualified, and very good, but doesn't have a
lot of money, it's impossible for that person to borrow, even at higher rates, because the
regulators -- you mentioned Dodd-Frank just a minute ago. The regulators under Dodd-Frank
have made it virtually impossible for the banks to lend money to those people, which is a very
bad situation to be in.” [Your World with Neil Cavuto, Fox News, 9/19/13]
Trump Claimed Wall Street Reforms Were “Very Bad For The Country.” TRUMP:
“The legislation that has been passed over the past years Dodd- Frank has been very bad for the
country.” [On The Record with Greta Van Susteren, Fox News, 11/24/11]
TRUMP OPPOSES RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE
Trump Did Not Support An Increase In The Minimum Wage. “Trump is one of the few
Republicans in the 2016 field who isn't skeptical of the usefulness of a federal minimum wage,
but he doesn't think it should be increased from the current rate of $7.25 an hour. Wages are a
hot issue for many Americans. While the country has been adding jobs in the recovery, wages
have barely moved. Trump argues that raising the minimum wage would make U.S. employees
less competitive with foreign workers and thus make it harder to keep jobs in America.” [CNN
Money, 7/28/15]
Trump Said He Would Not Increase The Minimum Wage. “Trump said he would not
increase the minimum wage, adding that the U.S. needs to bring back jobs from places like
Mexico, China and India.” [Politico, 6/18/15]
Trump: “I Don’t Want To Raise The Minimum Wage.” “He wouldn’t go into specifics, but
promised he would create jobs if elected president. ‘I don’t want to raise the minimum wage. I
want to create jobs so people can get much more than that, so they can get five times what the
minimum wage is,’ said Trump.” [The Hill, 7/23/15]
Trump’s Ex-Wife Accused Him Of Rape
DONALD TRUMP’S EX-WIFE IVANA HAS USED THE WORDS “VIOLATED” AND
“RAPE” TO DESCRIBE A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH TRUMP
Confidential Page 50
HEADLINE: “Ex-Wife: Donald Trump Made Me Feel ‘Violated’ During Sex” [Daily
Beast, 7/27/15]
• SUBHEADLINE: “Ivana Trump Once Accused The Real-Estate Tycoon Of
‘Rape,’ Although She Later Clarified: Not In The ‘Criminal Sense.’” [Daily Beast,
7/27/15]
Trump’s Ex-Wife Wife Ivana Trump Accused Trump Of Raping Her In 1989. “It was
an unfortunate turn of phrase for Trump—in more ways than one. Not only does the current
front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination have a history of controversial remarks
about sexual assault, but as it turns out, his ex-wife Ivana Trump once used ‘rape’ to describe an
incident between them in 1989. She later said she felt ‘violated’ by the experience.” [Daily Beast,
7/27/15]
Ivana Trump’s “Rape” Assertion Originally Appeared In A Deposition As A Part Of
The Early 1990s Divorce Case Between The Trumps And Was Described As A
“Violent Assault” In The 1993 Book Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J.
Trump. “Ivana Trump’s assertion of ‘rape’ came in a deposition—part of the early ’90s divorce
case between the Trumps, and revealed in the 1993 book Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald
J. Trump. The book, by former Texas Monthly and Newsweek reporter Harry Hurt III, described
a harrowing scene. After a painful scalp reduction surgery to remove a bald spot, Donald Trump
confronted his then-wife, who had previously used the same plastic surgeon. ‘Your fucking doctor
has ruined me!’ Trump cried. What followed was a ‘violent assault,’ according to Lost Tycoon.”
[Daily Beast, 7/27/15]
IN RESPONSE TO A STORY ABOUT IVANA’S RAPE ALLEGATIONS, DONALD TRUMP’S
SPECIAL COUNSEL SAID “YOU CAN’T RAPE YOUR SPOUSE AND TOLD THE REPORTER
HE WOULD “MESS YOUR LIFE UP”
Michael Cohen, Special Counsel At The Trump Organization: “Understand That
By The Very Definition, You Can’t Rape Your Spouse.” “Michael Cohen, special counsel
at The Trump Organization, defended his boss, saying, ‘You’re talking about the front-runner for
the GOP, presidential candidate, as well as private individual who never raped anybody. And, of
course, understand that by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse.’ ‘It is true,’ Cohen
added. ‘You cannot rape your spouse. And there’s very clear case law.’ Ivana Trump’s assertion of
‘rape’ came in a deposition—part of the early ’90s divorce case between the Trumps, and revealed
in the 1993 book Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump….That is not true. In New
York, there used to be a so-called marital rape exemption to the law. It was struck down in
1984.” [Daily Beast, 7/27/15]
Trump Special Counsel: “So I’m Warning You, Tread Very Fucking Lightly,
Because What I’m Going To Do To You Is Going To Be Fucking Disgusting. … You
Write A Story That Has Mr. Trump’s Name In It, With The Word ‘Rape,’ And I’m
Going To Mess Your Life Up.” “Trump’s lawyer then changed tactics, lobbing insults and
threatening a lawsuit if a story was published. ‘I will make sure that you and I meet one day
while we’re in the courthouse. And I will take you for every penny you still don’t have. And I will
come after your Daily Beast and everybody else that you possibly know,’ Cohen said. ‘So I’m
warning you, tread very fucking lightly, because what I’m going to do to you is going to be
Confidential Page 51
fucking disgusting. You understand me?’ ‘You write a story that has Mr. Trump’s name in it,
with the word ‘rape,’ and I’m going to mess your life up…for as long as you’re on this frickin’
planet…you’re going to have judgments against you, so much money, you’ll never know how to
get out from underneath it,’ he added.” [Daily Beast, 7/27/15]
COHEN APOLOGIZED FOR SAYING “YOU CANNOT RAPE YOUR SPOUSE”
Michael Cohen, Special Counsel To Trump, Apologized For Saying “You Cannot
Rape Your Spouse.” “Michael Cohen, special counsel to Trump. Cohen has been a long-time
aide to Trump, but he found himself facing the national media glare last month when he
defended his boss to a Daily Beast reporter in a story about rebuffed allegations of sexual
misconduct against Trump. Cohen has since publicly apologized for telling the Daily Beast that
‘you cannot rape your spouse’ and has repeatedly said that he does not believe that statement.
‘As an attorney, husband and father there are many injustices that offend me but nothing more
than charges of rape or racism. They hit me at my core,’ Cohen said in an apology statement to
CNN. Cohen has served as a media liaison to Trump, helping to coordinate interviews. And he
has also appeared on television defending Trump's campaign, but his public appearances have
dwindled following the controversy.” The Hill, 8/14/15]
Confidential Page 52
TRUMP TIMELINE
Donald Trump was born to Fred and Mary Trump on June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York.
• Trump was the second of five siblings, including an older brother Fred Jr., two younger sisters Elizabeth and
Maryanne, and a younger brother Robert. His father was a New York City real estate developer and his mother was
originally from Scotland.
• Trump’s sister Maryanne Trump Barry is a senior United States Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Third Circuit. She was nominated and confirmed in September 1999.
Trump lived with his family from 1946 to 1959 in Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York where
his family owned a mock Tudor-style home on Wareham Place.
• The neighborhood Trump grew up in was predominantly inhabited by Caucasian, upper-middle class individuals and
families
• Trump’s father was chauffeured to work every day in a blue Cadillac limousine.
Trump as a child was poorly-behaved—he was expelled from Kew Forest School in second grade
for punching his music teacher—and in 1959 his parents sent him to New York Military
Academy.
In 1964, Trump graduated from New York Military Academy and began attending Fordham
University in the Bronx, New York during which he received the first of four educational
deferments from the draft.
In 1968, Trump graduated from Wharton School of Finance at University of Pennsylvania and
joined his father’s development projects in Brooklyn and Queens.
• Prior to enrolling at University of Pennsylvania Trump had aspirations to attend USC School of Cinema in order to
pursue a career as a movie producer, but decided instead after graduation to follow his father into real estate as it was
the more stable option.
In 1971, Trump moved to Manhattan to pursue real estate ventures there and was given control
of his father’s real estate company.
On October 15, 1973, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the Trump Management Corporation
for frequently violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against potential African-
American buyers in Brooklyn, Queens and on Staten Island.
• Two years later, on June 11, 1975 Trump reached a settlement with the Department of Justice agreeing not to
discriminate against minorities and send a list of apartment vacancies to a civil rights group for which applicants would
be given priority.
On April 4, 1977, Trump married his first wife, Ivana Zelnickova Winklmayr, a model from
Czechoslovakia.
Confidential Page 53
• On December 31, 1977, Donald and Ivana’s first son, Donald John Trump Jr. was born.
• On October 30, 1981, Donald and Ivana’s second child, but first daughter, Ivanka Marie Trump was born.
• On January 1, 1984, Donald and Ivana’s second son, Eric Frederic Trump was born.
In 1980, Trump finished renovating the Commodore Hotel near Grand Central Station, which he
bought in 1975 after obtaining a 40-year tax abatement. He reopened it with a new name, the
Grand Hyatt New York.
In 1981, Trump’s brother, Fred Trump, Jr., died as a result of alcoholism. Trump frequently
refers to his brother’s death as his reason for abstaining from alcohol and tobacco.
In 1985, Trump bought the Mar-A-Lago Estate, a luxury resort in Palm Beach, Florida
• The Mar-A-Lago Club has sought to bring in the most foreign workers on temporary H-2B visas than any of Trump’s
other businesses.
For its inaugural season in 1983, Trump bought the New Jersey Generals United States Football
League team, only to sell them in the same year to J. Walter Duncan and then repurchase the
team in 1984.
• Trump attempted to recruit the NFL Dolphin’s coach Don Shula with a five-year, one-million dollar contract to coach
the New Jersey Generals, but was unsuccessful.
• On July 29, 1986, the United States Football League won nominal damages equaling $3.76 (including interest) in an
antitrust lawsuit against the NFL and subsequently folded.
In 1986, Trump was asked to take over renovations of the Wollman Ice Rink in Central Park,
which was $12 million over budget. He finished renovations within two-months and $750,000
under the $2.2 million budget given to him by the city of New York.
• During renovations, Mayor Edward Koch’s office did not require Trump to adhere to Executive Order 50, which
mandated city-funded construction projects to include a certain number of minorities and women in their workforce.
Though a firm spokesman at the time stated the company was unaware of the exemption.
On November 1, 1987, Trump published “The Art of the Deal,” which stayed on the New York
Times bestseller list for 51 weeks.
On May 27, 1988, Ivana Trump became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
In 1988, through a transaction with Merv Griffin, Trump acquired the Taj Mahal Casino and the
company Resorts International. Trump also purchased the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Trump first appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine in January 1989, the same year “Trump:
The Game” was released.
In 1989, Trump purchased the Northeast Shuttle form Eastern Airlines claiming he could
increase its market share percentage from 55 to 75 percent and renaming it the Trump Shuttle.
Confidential Page 54
• The union that represented Eastern Airlines employees fought the sale of the Northeast Shuttle to Trump because
they believed it would precipitate the downfall of Eastern Airlines.
• In 1990, Trump missed a $1.1 million loan payment on the shuttle and asked bankers to defer $245 million of future
loan payments.
• In 1992, Trump defaulted on his loans and the Trump Shuttle was turned over to creditors.
In 1990, Marvin Roffman, a securities analyst, published an unfavorable analysis of Trump’s Taj
Mahal Casino for which Trump demanded he be fired. Roffman later filed a $2 million
defamation lawsuit against Trump for allegedly prompting his job loss.
Trump’s financial troubles prompted Forbes Magazine to remove him from its “Forbes 400” List
in 1990. The same year Trump separated from Ivana amidst reports of an affair with former
beauty queen Maria Maples. After two years of rancorous litigation and tabloid intrigue, Donald
and Ivana finalized their divorce with Ivana reportedly receiving $20 million in the divorce
settlement.
In 1991, the Taj Mahal Casino filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is the first of Trump’s
corporate bankruptcies. Trump was $50 million behind in contract obligations and laid off 500
casino employees before filing for bankruptcy. It emerged on October 5, 1991 after Trump ceded
50 percent of ownership to bondholders.
On March 9, 1992, The Trump Castle and The Trump Plaza filed for bankruptcy, but were able
to avoid a lengthy and costly endeavor in a bankruptcy court through a “pre-packaged” debt
restructuring deal that was approved by the court and a majority of the casino’s bondholders.
This was the second of Trump’s corporate bankruptcies.
On October 13, 1993, Trump and Marla Maples had their first daughter Tiffany, Trump’s second
daughter and fourth child. Three months later Trump married Marla on December 20, 1993.
• Only four years later, in 1997, Trump filed for divorce from Marla. They were officially divorced in 1999.
In 1995, Trump formed Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, Inc. and took it public. Trump converted
the residence at Mar-a-Lago into the Mar-a-Lago Club, a social club with $100,000 membership
fees. Trump also purchased 40 Wall Street in 1995, which he renamed “The Trump Building.”
Between 1996 and 1997, Trump bought the Miss Universe Organization and opened the Trump
International Hotel and Tower at One Central Park West.
In 1999, Trump began construction the 90-story Trump World Tower next to the United Nations
and won a lawsuit in 2000 that was filed by the tower’s neighbors over potential lost property
values due to obscured views and sightlines.
• The building was completed in 2001 and named the Trump World Tower.
Confidential Page 55
In 1999, Trump also founded Trump Model Management, which in conjunction with Trump
Management Group, LLC has sought temporary visas for approximately 250 foreign fashion
models since 2000
In 1999, Trump’s father passed away.
On October 7, 1999, Trump formed an Exploratory Committee to consider seeking the Reform
Party’s presidential nomination.
• In 1990, Trump was affiliated with the Republican Party despite voting for democratic Governor Mario Cuomo, but
switched his affiliation to the Reform Party in 1999 saying he had conservative inclinations, but disliked being
categorized.
Beginning in 1999, Trump returned to Forbes Magazine’s List of 400 Wealthiest Americans
ranking 145th, then 167th in 2000, 110th in 2001 and 74th in 2004.
On January 8, 2004, the first season of Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice” aired.
On October 21, 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
His casino properties were nearly $2 billion in debt before filing for bankruptcy. This was
Trump’s third corporate bankruptcy.
• As a result, Trump was forced to resign as CEO, but remained in his role as Chairman of the Board.
In 2005, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, renamed Trump Entertainment Resorts and Holdings
emerged from bankruptcy.
In 2005, Trump opened Trump University and purchased the former headquarters of the
Chicago Sun Times in order to demolish the building and build Trump International Tower
Chicago.
• On January 1, 2008, Trump opened Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago.
On January 22, 2005, Trump married his third wife, the 35-year-old Melania Knauss.
• On March 20, 2006, Donald and Melania’s first son, Trump’s third son and fifth child, Barron Trump was born.
On October 3, 2006, Trump raised a 20 foot by 30 foot American flag on an 80 feet tall flagpole at
Mar-a-Lago, which caused a six-month zoning dispute with the town.
• Since 2006, Trump attempted to bring in 787 foreign workers on temporary visas to work on the resort rather than hire
local workers.
Between 2006 and 2012, Trump licensed his name to a number of endeavors including
TrumpMortgage, an online travel website called GoTrump, Trump Vodka, Trump Magazine, and
Trump Steaks and Steakhouse, which was shut down in 2012 for 51 health code violations.
Confidential Page 56
On February 13, 2009, Trump resigned from the board of Trump Entertainment Resorts, and on
February 17, 2009 Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
This was Trump’s fourth corporate bankruptcy.
In 2010, Trump University changed its name to The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative.
• On August 24, 2013, New York State filed a $40 million lawsuit against The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative
• On October 15, 2014, Trump was held personally liable for The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative’s violations of New York
state education laws.
On April 30, 2011, Trump attended the White House Correspondents Dinner where he was
repeatedly skewered by both President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers on multiple
topics including especially Trump’s calls for President Obama to release his long-form birth
certificate.
On January 16, 2013, Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a
television ad.
In 2014 Trump purchased the Turnberry hotel and golf resort in Ayrshire, Scotland, and on
February 11, he purchased the Doonbeg Golf Club in Ireland.
• Trump’s ambitions to build a luxury golf resort off the coast of Aberdeenshire, Scotland were previously blocked by a
local council in 2007 after a Scottish fisherman refused to sell him his land.
On August 5, 2014, Trump sued Trump Entertainment Resorts in an attempt to remove his
name from Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and then Trump Entertainment
Resorts filed for bankruptcy for a second time on September 9, the fourth time one of Trump’s
companies filed for bankruptcy.
On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his bid he was seeking the Republican Party nomination
for President of the United States.
On June 29, 2015, NBC cut all business ties with Trump over his controversial statements on
immigration issues.
TRUMP’S CAREER OVERVIEW
EARLY LIFE
FAMILY AND UPBRINGING
TRUMP CAME FROM A PRIVILEGED BACKGROUND
Confidential Page 57
Trump’s Father Was One Of The Richest Men In America With $200 In Assets.
“His father was, with $200 million in assets, one of the richest men in America. I don't think that
Donald had to struggle that much.” [“Who Is Donald Trump?”, A&E, 12/16/15]
TRUMP’S BOYHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD WAS “NEARLY ALL WHITE”
Donald Trump’s “Boyhood Was An Exclusive And Nearly All White Place.” “While
his detractors charge that his language on the campaign trail is infected with an Archie Bunker-
era nativism, Mr. Trump points in his defense to his formative years in one of the most diverse
counties in the country. But the Jamaica Estates of Mr. Trump’s boyhood was an exclusive and
nearly all white place, resistant to outsiders and largely impenetrable to minorities.” [New York
Times, 9/22/15]
• Residents Of Donald Trump’s Old Boyhood Neighborhood Were Disgusted By Trump’s Capitalization Of
“Fear Among White Voters.” “But some residents of his old neighborhood, and the more diverse areas that
surround it, do not think he understands what the city, and the country, are all about. Hispanics, Trinidadians, Haitians
and South Asians who walked in front of fried chicken joints, halal butchers and roti shops on Hillside Avenue, down
the road from Mr. Trump’s old house this month, expressed disgust with his blunt vision of an America besieged by
‘rapist’ immigrants who are in the country illegally and black activists who he has said are ‘looking for trouble.’ They
considered him a camera-hungry candidate who is capitalizing on the fear among white voters that the America they
grew up in is fading.” [New York Times, 9/22/15]
Trump’s Boyhood Neighbor: Trump “Grew Up In White America.” “‘I think he’s spot
on,’ said Fred Quint, Mr. Trump’s 52-year-old former next-door neighbor. He recalled watching
Mr. Trump’s father, Fred, leave for work every day in his chauffeured blue Cadillac limousine
and seeing Donald return home for visits in a red convertible with his first wife, Ivana. He
explained that ‘racially speaking,’ both he and Mr. Trump ‘grew up in white America.’ Today, he
added, ‘it’s a much more racially mixed neighborhood, much more diverse,’ with people who are
Hindu, Muslim and Chinese. ‘It’s the way of the world; white America is a thing of the past,’ he
said with a shrug. ‘The white man’s gone.’” [New York Times, 9/22/15]
Trump Threatened To Tell His Father And Call The Police When A Neighbor’s
Ball Bounced Into The Trumps’ Yard. “Young Donald treated his home as a fortress. Laura
Manuelidis, who lived behind Mr. Trump on Wareham Place, recalled that when a ball bounced
into the Trumps’ grassy yard, he would not throw the ball back but instead would yell, ‘I’m going
to tell my dad; I’m going to call the police.’” [New York Times, 9/22/15]
CHILDHOOD
TRUMP WAS SENT TO A MILITARY ACADEMY
Trump Admitted He “Wasn’t The Most Well-Behaved Person” Growing Up, And
Was Sent To A Military Academy.TRUMP: “I really grew up pretty normal. I mean, I lived
in an upper middle-income area. And it was -- it was nice.” ZAHN: “But Trump was an
aggressive and rebellious child. He was almost expelled from Kew-Forest school in the second
grade for punching his music teacher. Trump had said, ‘I didn't think he knew anything about
music.’” TRUMP: “I wasn't the most well-behaved person in the world. And my parents had no
idea what to do with me. And they heard about this school that was a tough place. They sent me
Confidential Page 58
up to New York Military Academy and it was really a great experience for me.”[CNN People In
The News, CNN, 5/21/05]
TRUMP WANTED TO BE A FILMMAKER
Trump Said That He Wanted To Be A Filmmaker When He Was Younger. TRUMP:
“When I was young, younger, or whatever, I wanted to go to USC, the school of cinema. And I
applied and was accepted, and I ventured into- I was going to make movies. I mean, I really
wanted to be filmmaker…. At 18 and 19, and even before that, I wanted to make movies. Then, I
started seeing that it wasn't that good of a business. It's a very risky business and, in theory,
compared to real estate, it wasn't a good business. Now, my father was in real estate in the
boroughs outside of Manhattan, and it was convenient for me. It wasn't the kind of the real
estate I wanted to do, but it was convenient for me to do it, and I knew it well, because I grew up
with a teacher, a great teacher and a friend, who was my father, and I watched and I learned
and I listened, maybe just through osmosis, and I really did learn a lot, and it was very second
nature to me. But I actually wanted to, at the age of 17, 18, I wanted to be a motion picture
producer.”[Larry King Live, CNN, 7/27/90]
Trump Applied To The USC School Of Cinema To Be A Movie Producer. TRUMP: “I
was going to be a movie producer. In fact, I applied at one point, I remember, to the USC School
of Cinema. But then I decided that the movie business wasn't as good as the real estate
business.” ZAHN: “So Trump enrolled in the prestigious Wharton School of Business in
Philadelphia. He graduated in 1968 and joined his father, working on developments in Brooklyn
and in Queens. But Donald was daydreaming of a future on the other side of the East
River.”[CNN People In The News, CNN, 5/21/05]
EDUCATION
CITING HIS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, TRUMP’S PARENTS SENT HIM TO THE NY
MILITARY ACADEMY
Trump Attended The New York Military Academy.TRUMP: “I really grew up pretty
normal. I mean, I lived in an upper middle-income area. And it was -- it was nice.” ZAHN: “But
Trump was an aggressive and rebellious child. He was almost expelled from Kew-Forest school
in the second grade for punching his music teacher. Trump had said, ‘I didn't think he knew
anything about music.’” TRUMP: “I wasn't the most well-behaved person in the world. And my
parents had no idea what to do with me. And they heard about this school that was a tough
place. They sent me up to New York Military Academy and it was really a great experience for
me.”[CNN People In The News, CNN, 5/21/05]
FOR UNDERGRAD, TRUMP ATTENDED FORDHAM UNIVERSITY FOR TWO
YEARS BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO UPENN
Donald Trump Attended Fordham University In The Bronx For Two Years Before
Transferring To, And Graduating From, The University Of Pennsylvania. “[Donald
Trump] did well [at the New York Military Academy], and then went to Fordham University, a
Jesuit school in the Bronx, for two years, before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania
Confidential Page 59
and studied economics for two years, graduating in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree.” [Washington
Post, 7/17/15]
Donald Trump Attended The University Of Pennsylvania, An Ivy League School.
“[Donald Trump] did well [at the New York Military Academy], and then went to Fordham
University, a Jesuit school in the Bronx, for two years, before transferring to the University of
Pennsylvania and studied economics for two years, graduating in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree.
… The University of Pennsylvania is one of the eight private colleges and universities in the
vaunted Ivy League, known for accepting unusually smart students, great test takers, legacies,
and the sons and daughters of famous and/or very wealthy people.” [Washington Post, 7/17/15]
• Donald Trump: “I Went To The Wharton School Of Business. I’m, Like, A Really Smart Person.” [The
Economist, 9/5/15]
Donald Trump Took Undergraduate Classes At The Wharton School Of Business
But Was Not Enrolled In Its MBA Program. “He took undergraduate classes at Penn’s
famed Wharton School of Business. Though he was not enrolled in Wharton’s prestigious MBA
program, the Spring 2007 Wharton Alumni Magazine featured Trump, with this headline, ‘The
Best Brand Name in Real Estate.’” [Washington Post, 7/17/15]
DRAFT DEFERMENTS
TRUMP RECEIVED FIVE DRAFT DEFERMENTS FOR MILITARY SERVICE
Trump Received Four Student Deferments From Military Service Between 1964
And 1968 And One Medical Deferment. “Trump received four student deferments from
military service between 1964 and 1968. In Ames, he told reporters another medical deferment
he received after graduating was for a bone spur in his foot. When asked which foot, Trump told
reporters to look up the records.” [Politico, 7/18/15]
Trump On Not Being Drafted: “I Was Fortunate, In A Sense, Because I Was Not A
Believer In The Vietnam War. That Was Another War That Was A Disaster For
This Country.” “Trump said he had student deferments during the Vietnam War, as well as a
‘minor medical deferment’ for a bone spur of the foot. ‘I was then entered into the draft because if
I would have gotten a different number, I could have been drafted,’ he said. ‘I was fortunate, in a
sense, because I was not a believer in the Vietnam War. That was another war that was a
disaster for this country. Lives and money and it’s disgraceful what happened with the Vietnam
War. I was not a fan of the Vietnam War. But I was entered into the draft and I got a very, very
high draft number.’” [The Hill, 7/19/15]
• Donald Trump Said He “Always Felt A Little Guilty” For Not Serving In The Vietnam War. “Donald Trump got
personal with New Hampshire voters Tuesday night, telling them of the guilt he sometimes feels for not serving in the
Vietnam War and advising young people to stay away from drugs and alcohol. ‘I always felt a little guilty, frankly, like
other people who didn't serve,’ Trump said. ‘I had friends that served, and they're very proud and some are no longer
with us because of the fact that they served.’” [WMUR, 12/1/15]
Donald Trump Said He Received “Numerous Deferments” During The Vietnam
War Because He Was In College And Also Had A “Foot Thing” That Prevented Him
From Serving. “‘What makes you just love this country in the way that you do?’ the man asked.
Confidential Page 60
The Republican front-runner started to explain: ‘I love the country,’ he said. ‘I have seen what it
can do.’ But Trump quickly acknowledged that he never served in the military. During the
Vietnam War he received ‘numerous deferments’ because he was enrolled in college and had a
disqualifying ‘foot thing.’ Meanwhile, Trump said some of his friends did serve and some died. ‘I
always felt a little guilty,’ Trump said.” [Washington Post, 12/2/15]
2015: TRUMP COULD NOT RECALL THE SPECIFICS OF THE BONE SPUR THAT
PROMPTED HIS MEDICAL DEFERMENT
While Trump Received A Medical Deferment From The Draft Due To A Bone Spur
In His Foot, He Could Not Recall Which Foot Had The Problem. “Asked about his own
military draft status, Mr. Trump, 69, said that he received medical deferments from the Vietnam
War because of a bone spur in his foot. Mr. Trump could not recall which foot was afflicted. Yet
Mr. Trump’s awkward and ill-suited remarks about religion and marriage here may have done
more damage to his candidacy, at least with Christian conservatives.” [New York Times, 7/19/15]
BUSINESS VENTURES
NOTE: The business research is being handled by an outside consultant. The following is only
representative of some of the business-related research that the DNC has come across naturally
in monitoring Trump’s campaign.
EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS
Companies Owned By Trump Sought To Import At Least 1,100 Foreign Workers
On Temporary Visas Since 2000. “A Reuters analysis of U.S. government data reveals that
this is business as usual in the New York property magnate's empire. Trump owns companies
that have sought to import at least 1,100 foreign workers on temporary visas since 2000,
according to U.S. Department of Labor data reviewed by Reuters. Most of the applications were
approved, the data show. Nine companies majority-owned by Trump have sought to bring in
foreign waitresses, cooks, vineyard workers and other laborers on temporary work-visa programs
administered by the Labor Department. The candidate's foreign talent hunt included
applications for an assistant golf-course superintendent, an assistant hotel manager and a
banquet manager. Two of his companies, Trump Model Management and Trump Management
Group LLC, have sought visas for nearly 250 foreign fashion models, the records show. Trump’s
presidential campaign and a lawyer for the businessman declined to comment. The Mar-a-Lago
Club could not be reached for comment.” [Reuters, 7/31/15]
• Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Resort Tried To Bring In 787 Workers Foreign Workers Since 2006. “The Mar-a-Lago, a
luxury resort in Palm Beach, Florida, has sought the most foreign workers of the nine Trump businesses: 787 workers
since 2006, according to the data.” [Reuters, 7/31/15]
Due To Trump’s Casinos’ 2009 Bankruptcy, Unsecured Creditors — Low-Level
Investors, Contractors, Small-Time Vendors — Got Less Than A Penny On The
Dollar For Their Claims. “And it wasn’t just faceless bankers who got burned in the
bankruptcies. In the 2009 case, unsecured creditors — low-level investors, contractors, small-
Confidential Page 61
time vendors — got less than a penny on the dollar for their claims against Trump
Entertainment Resorts (Trump resigned as chairman four days before the bankruptcy filing).”
[Press of Atlantic City, 8/10/15]
Building Contractors Claimed Trump Was “Notorious For Stringing People Out
And Not Paying.” “Contractors, who often bear the brunt of corporate bankruptcy, regarded
Trump ‘as a jerk and a bum,’ said Dave Farragut, president of United States Roofing Corp., a
large roofing firm based in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Trump was a chronic haggler ‘notorious
for stringing people out and not paying,’ according to Farragut, who said he experienced that
firsthand on a $600,000 roofing job at Trump Taj Mahal. ‘It was a joke among all the subs that
you’d tack on an extra 10 percent onto your bids’ to hedge against delayed payments, he said. ‘He
was slow pay, everybody knew.’” [Press of Atlantic City, 8/10/15]
WOMEN WHO HAVE WORKED FOR TRUMP HAVE MIXED VIEWS ON THEIR
EXPERIENCES
Women Who Worked For Donald Trump Said That While He Could Be Boorish,
They Appreciated How Trump Provided Them With Opportunities For Career
Advancement In A Male-Dominated Industry. “In the five months that the billionaire
businessman has spent on the presidential campaign trail, his inflammatory missiles toward
women have prompted charges of sexism, even misogyny. … But many women who have worked
closely with Trump say he was a corporate executive ahead of his time in providing career
advancement for women. While some say he could be boorish, his companies nurtured and
promoted women in an otherwise male-dominated industry. Several women said they
appreciated how Trump granted them entry to a new playing field.” [Washington Post, 11/24/15]
Several Women, Including The Woman Trump Put In Charge Of Constructing
Trump Tower, Who Are Longtime Trump Employees And Supporters Do Not
Support His Presidential Campaign.” “But several women who are longtime Trump
supporters say the provocative outbursts that served Trump well in business and entertainment
don’t belong in politics. ‘I don’t like the fact the worlds are merging,’ said [former ‘Apprentice’
contestant] Ereka Vetrini, a TV host and lifestyle expert. … ‘Fiorina and Kelly?’ she said. ‘I can’t
disregard those comments.’ Nor can [Barbara] Res [who Trump put in charge of the construction
of Trump Tower], who also disagrees with her former boss’s political stance: From his anti-choice
position to his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, ‘his policies, the things he says he believes
in, are very anti-women.’ ‘I’m voting for Hillary,’ Res said.” [Washington Post, 11/24/15]
Two Former Contestants On The Apprentice Claimed Trump Often Made
Inappropriate Remarks About The Women Contestants. “Two contestants recently axed
from ‘The Apprentice’ television show are complaining that host Donald Trump frequently makes
inappropriate remarks about the reality-show’s women contestants — saying his boorish
behavior has no place in a corporate boardroom. Mahsa Saeidi-Azcuy, a former Brooklyn
assistant district attorney who was ‘fired’ from NBC’s business game show last Thursday — after
first being forced out of her day job for not disclosing her stint on the NBC program — charged
that Trump lavishes attention on the women contestants he finds attractive, makes sexist
remarks, and asks the male contestants to rate the women.” [New York Post, 11/2/10]
Confidential Page 62
RENT-CONTROLLED HOUSING
Donald Trump Attempted To Evict Tenants From Rent-Controlled Housing."’Donald
Trump is an extremely charming man. He has the ability to turn on the charm,’ says New York
lawyer Richard S. Fischbein, who fought off Mr. Trump's attempt to evict tenants living in rent-
controlled suites on Central Park South. ‘But if you talk about ultimately liking him, well, I
wouldn't like my children to be spoiled brats, and the only way we could really describe Donald,
he falls into that category. And when he loses, he throws a tantrum. If my son had that kind of
tantrum, I'd whack him on the rear end.’" [Washington Times, 7/24/89]
LICENSING AGREEMENTS
TRUMP: I STAND BEHIND PRODUCTS WITH MY NAME ON THEM
Donald Trump: “I Put My Own Name On My Buildings And On My Products, And I
Stand Behind Them.” “I’ve successfully built one of the most respected brands in the world by
representing it in everything that I do. I realized a long time ago that if I’m not proud of what
I’m selling, then there is no reason for anybody else to feel that pride. I put my own name on my
buildings and on my products, and I stand behind them. People have come to expect top quality
from anything that carries my name.” [Trump, Crippled America, 11/3/15]
CORPORATE BACKLASH: A NUMBER OF SPONSORS OF TRUMP PRODUCTS
DROPPED THEIR AFFILIATION FOLLOWING HIS OFFENSIVE REMARKS
ABOUT MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS
Politico: “Amid Mounting Public Pressure, NBCUniversal Announced Monday That
It Will Cut Business Ties With Donald Trump Due To ‘Recent Derogatory
Statements’ The Republican Presidential Hopeful Made Regarding Mexican
Immigrants.” “Amid mounting public pressure, NBCUniversal announced Monday that it will
cut business ties with Donald Trump due to ‘recent derogatory statements’ the Republican
presidential hopeful made regarding Mexican immigrants. ‘At NBC, respect and dignity for all
people are cornerstones of our values,’ the network's statement reads. ‘Due to the recent
derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its
business relationship with Mr. Trump.’ ‘To that end, the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe
Pageants, which are part of a joint venture between NBC and Trump, will no longer air on NBC,’
the statement continues. ‘In addition, as Mr. Trump has already indicated, he will not be
participating in 'The Apprentice' on NBC.”[Politico, 6/29/15]
A Television Company Controlled By Mexican Billionaire Carlos Slim Canceled A
Project With Donald Trump After His Comments Insulting Mexicans. “A television
company controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has canceled a project with real estate
developer and TV personality Donald Trump after his comments insulting Mexicans, Slim's
spokesman said on Monday. This is the third company to cut ties with Trump, who is seeking the
Republican nomination for the November 2016 presidential election. NBC said earlier on
Monday that it would no longer air the ‘Miss USA’ and ‘Miss Universe’ pageants due to his
Confidential Page 63
comments. Spanish-language broadcaster Univision [UVN.UL] also said on Thursday it would
not air the ‘Miss USA’ pageant.” [Reuters, 6/29/15]
Macy’s: “In Light Of Statements Made By Donald Trump, Which Are Inconsistent
With Macy's Values, We Have Decided To Discontinue Our Business Relationship
With Mr. Trump And Will Phase-Out The Trump Menswear Collection, Which Has
Been Sold At Macy's Since 2004.” “Macy's is pulling Donald Trump-branded merchandise
from its stores following the public outcry over his comments on immigrants. The department
store said in a statement to the news outlet that it was ‘disappointed and distressed’ over the
2016 presidential contender's remarks, describing them as ‘disparaging characterizations.’ ‘In
light of statements made by Donald Trump, which are inconsistent with Macy's values, we have
decided to discontinue our business relationship with Mr. Trump and will phase-out the Trump
menswear collection, which has been sold at Macy's since 2004,’ they said, according to CNN.”
[The Hill, 7/1/15]
Chef Jose Andres Backed Out Of Trump’s Washington DC Hotel Due To His
Immigration Comments. “Jose Andres, the D.C.-based super-chef with a growing national
brand, is backing out of a deal to open the flagship restaurant in Donald Trump’s forthcoming
Washington hotel – the latest on a growing list of high-profile partners to sever ties with the
presidential candidate over his anti-immigrant comments.” [Washington Post, 7/8/15]
The PGA Moved A Grand Slam Event Away From The Trump National Golf Club
In Los Angeles After Trump’s Comments About Immigrants. “The Professional Golf
Association and Donald Trump have reached an agreement to move a Grand Slam event away
from the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles. In separate statements, Trump and the PGA
on Tuesday said the decision was mutual. ‘Due to the controversy surrounding statements made
by Mr. Trump having to do with illegal immigrants pouring into the United States from Mexico
and other parts of the world, Mr. Trump does not want his friends at the PGA of America to
suffer any consequences or backlash with respect to the Grand Slam of Golf,’ a statement from
Trump’s political team said. The PGA is the latest business to part ways with Trump following
the remarks he made last month about undocumented immigrants being criminals and rapists.”
[The Hill, 7/7/15]
Trump’s Deals With Developers In The Philippines, Turkey, Panama, Canada,
India, And Uruguay That Pay Trump Millions In Licensing Fees To Put His Name
On Buildings, Were Unaffected By His Immigration Comments. “Developers in the
Philippines, Turkey, Panama, Canada, India, and Uruguay pay Trump millions in licensing fees
to put his name on buildings he neither built nor owns, with an aim to sell condominiums and
hotel rooms at higher prices. These deals provide nearly risk-less revenue streams for Trump,
which, along with income from properties he owns, helps pay down existing debts and fund new
projects. ‘Mr. Trump is successful and wealthy and one of the great things about the empire he’s
built is that it’s diverse—both geographically and across numerous business lines,’ said Alan
Garten, general counsel for Trump. ‘It can withstand situations like this.’ n the United States,
Trump's presidential campaign has so far prompted a stampede of disassociation: ESPN,
NBCUniversal, NASCAR, Univision Holdings Inc. and Serta Inc. have cut ties with Trump after
he described Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists. A television company controlled by
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, the world’s second richest man, announced Monday it would
cancel a project with Trump. Chef José Andrés said Wednesday that he’d be backing out of a deal
Confidential Page 64
to open the flagship restaurant at an upcoming Trump hotel in Washington. And even the
Federal Aviation Administration got in on the act, announcing Thursday that its renaming three
aerial navigation posts that had Trump-related monickers. That Trump’s remarks aren’t
registering outside of North America doesn’t surprise Nick Andrews, a London-based senior
partner and crisis management expert at public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard Inc.”
[Bloomberg, 7/10/15]
CASINOS
Press Of Atlantic City: Trump’s Atlantic City Record Was “Marked By
Questionable Casino Management And Episodic Corporate Bankruptcy.” “But as
voters examine his Atlantic City tenure to decide whether he has the economic chops to be
president, they’ll find a record marked by questionable casino management and episodic
corporate bankruptcy — the legacy of a fractious know-it-all who brought publicity, tax dollars
and thousands of decent jobs to South Jersey, but whose manic and myopic dealmaking
ultimately yielded a moribund casino empire, mined into exhaustion and left to wither.” [Press of
Atlantic City, 8/10/15]
Trump’s Casinos Went Into Bankruptcy So Regularly That Fitch Ratings Called
Them “Serial Filers.” “Trump, the man, never did go bankrupt. But the Trump casinos did,
cyclically, and with disturbing regularity. ‘Serial filers,’ Fitch Ratings called them.” [Press of
Atlantic City, 8/10/15]
• All Of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City Casinos Had Filed For Bankruptcy Before, In 1992, When They Were More
Than $1 Billion In Debt. “This will be the second time the Trump casinos have filed for bankruptcy. In 1992, the
three casinos he then owned, the Taj Mahal, Castle, and Plaza, all in Atlantic City, ended up in Chapter 11, burdened
by more than $1 billion in debt.At the time, Trump himself was at brink of bankruptcy, but later regained control of the
casinos and wrote a book about his experience in 1997 called ‘Trump: The Art of the Comeback.’” [Wolf Blitzer
Reports, CNN, 8/10/04]
Press Of Atlantic City: Trump’s Bankruptcies “Were Less Displays Of Cool
Resourcefulness Than Frantic Episodes Of Trump Scrambling To Bail On Bank
Debt And Keep His Perennially Overleveraged Casinos From Going Belly Up.” “But
the bankruptcies — starting with Trump Taj Mahal, which bankrupted about a year after Trump
opened it using $675 million in patently unsustainable junk bonds — were less displays of cool
resourcefulness than frantic episodes of Trump scrambling to bail on bank debt and keep his
perennially overleveraged casinos from going belly up. ‘The project was dangerous in the
beginning,’ said Bryant Simon, a historian and Temple University professor who authored
‘Boardwalk of Dreams: Atlantic City and the Fate of Urban America.’ ‘A lot of people got stuck
holding the bag, and he didn’t. So people resented him for that and felt serious financial pain.’”
[Press of Atlantic City, 8/10/15]
Due To Trump’s Casinos’ 2009 Bankruptcy, Unsecured Creditors — Low-Level
Investors, Contractors, Small-Time Vendors — Got Less Than A Penny On The
Dollar For Their Claims. “And it wasn’t just faceless bankers who got burned in the
bankruptcies. In the 2009 case, unsecured creditors — low-level investors, contractors, small-
time vendors — got less than a penny on the dollar for their claims against Trump
Confidential Page 65
Entertainment Resorts (Trump resigned as chairman four days before the bankruptcy filing).”
[Press of Atlantic City, 8/10/15]
TRUMP DIDN’T BELIEVE HIS CASINO BUSINESSWOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON HIS 2000 CANDIDACY
Trump Did Not Think That Being In The Casino Business Would Be A Liability To
His 2000 Presidential Run. KING: “Do you think being in gaming could hurt you?” TRUMP:
“No, I own casinos. I'm the largest, by far the largest person in Atlantic City, which is actually
doing more business now than the entire Las Vegas strip, which surprises people when they here
it. We are actually doing more business. And I have a big percentage of that market.”…KING:
“But do you think the term ‘gaming,’ which is gambling, will hurt you?” TRUMP: “No, I don't
think so at all. And certainly, my business, again, in New York I'm very large, to put it mildly,
and in Atlantic City I'm very large. And I'd obviously have to do something with a trust where I
put my businesses into a trust at least during this term.”[Larry King Live, CNN, 10/7/99]
GOLF COURSES
2009: TRUMP PAID $13 MILLION FOR A LOWES ISLAND GOLF COURSE,
CHOPPED DOWN 400 TREES AND INSTALLED A HISTORICALLY-
INACCURATE PLAQUE COMMEMORATING A NONEXISTENT CIVIL WAR
BATTLE
In 2009, Donald Trump Bought A Golf Club On Lowes Island In Virginia Where He Chopped Down Over 400 Trees
And Renamed The Club After Himself. “When Donald J. Trump bought a fixer-upper golf club on Lowes Island here for
$13 million in 2009, he poured millions more into reconfiguring its two courses. He angered conservationists by chopping
down more than 400 trees to open up views of the Potomac River. And he shocked no one by renaming the club after
himself.” [New York Times, 11/24/15]
Donald Trump Installed A Plaque On His Golf Course Denoting The Purported Location Of The “River Of Blood”
Where“Many Great American Soldiers, Both Of The North And South, Died” During The Civil War, But Civil War
Historians Said Trump’s Description Of The Location’s Historical Significance Was Wrong. “Between the 14th hole
and the 15th tee of one of the club’s two courses, Mr. Trump installed a flagpole on a stone pedestal overlooking the
Potomac, to which he affixed a plaque purportedly designating ‘The River of Blood.’‘Many great American soldiers, both of
the North and South, died at this spot,’ the inscription reads. ‘The casualties were so great that the water would turn red
and thus became known as ‘The River of Blood.’’ … ‘No. Uh-uh. No way. Nothing like that ever happened there,’ said
Richard Gillespie, the executive director of the Mosby Heritage Area Association, a historical preservation and education
group devoted to an 1,800-square-mile section of the Northern Virginia Piedmont, including the Lowes Island site. ‘The
only thing that was remotely close to that,’ Mr. Gillespie said, was 11 miles up the river at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff in 1861,
a rout of Union forces in which several hundred were killed. ‘The River of Blood?’ he added. ‘Nope, not there.’ Mr.
Gillespie’s contradiction of the plaque’s account was seconded by Alana Blumenthal, the curator of the Loudoun Museum
in nearby Leesburg. (A third local expert, who said he had written to Mr. Trump’s company about the inscription’s
falsehoods and offered to provide historically valid replacement text, insisted on anonymity because he did not want to
cross the Trump Organization by disclosing a private exchange.)” [New York Times, 11/24/15]
• Donald Trump Disputed Historians’ Contentions That A Plaque He Placed On His Golf Course Contained
Factually Inaccurate Claims About Civil War Events At That Location — “How Would They Know That? …
Were They There?” “In a phone interview, Mr. Trump called himself as‘a big history fan’ but deflected, played down
and then simply disputed the local historians’ assertions of historical fact. ‘That was a prime site for river crossings,’
Mr. Trump said. ‘So, if people are crossing the river, and you happen to be in a civil war, I would say that people were
shot — a lot of them.’… ‘How would they know that?’ Mr. Trump asked when told that local historians had called his
plaque a fiction. ‘Were they there?’ Mr. Trump repeatedly said that ‘numerous historians’ had told him that the golf
Confidential Page 66
club site was known as the River of Blood. But he said he did not remember their names. … ‘Write your story the way
you want to write it,’ Mr. Trump said finally, when pressed unsuccessfully for anything that could corroborate his claim.
‘You don’t have to talk to anybody. It doesn’t make any difference. But many people were shot. It makes sense.’”[New
York Times, 11/24/15]
IN A CASE OF NIMBY-ISM, TRUMP STAUNCHLY OPPOSED A PROPOSED
OFFSHORE WIND FARM IN SCOTLAND NEAR A SITE HE WANTED TO BUILD
A GOLF COURSE
Trump Opposed The Offshore Wind Farms Off The Coast Of Scotland. “Donald
Trump swept defiantly into Scotland today vowing to continue his fight against an offshore
windfarm development in Aberdeenshire and accusing Alex Salmond of ‘destroying’ the country.
The billionaire, who widely expected to announce his intention to run for US president later this
month, said the former first minister had done a ‘tremendous disservice’ to the nation’s
landscape by approving windfarms, and reiterated his warning that he could pull out of his
resort near Balmedie if the latest contentious scheme goes ahead. In a characteristic show of
swagger, the businessman could not resist taking aim at his old sparring partner as he officially
opened the revamped clubhouse of his newest golfing resort, Trump Turnberry. He told The
Scotsman that he had done Scotland a ‘big, fat favour’ through his investments and contrasted
the approach of authorities in Aberdeenshire to those in South Ayrshire, who he hailed as
‘fantastic.’” [The Scotsman, 6/8/15]
The Fix’s Philip Bump: Donald Trump Abandoned His Previous Opposition To
Wind Energy Subsidies Because He Was In A Room With An Iowa Voter Worried
About The Loss Of Those Subsidies Harming Her Husband’s Job — “Donald
Trump, Straight Shooter.” “A few years ago, Donald Trump wanted to build a golf course in
Scotland. There was just one problem: The Scottish government had licensed an off-shore wind
farm near the course, which Trump worried would ruin the views. … [Trump tweeted,] ‘Ugly
industrial wind turbines are ruining the beauty of parts of the country--and have inefficient
unreliable energy to boot.’ [and] ‘By continuing to give massive subsidies to Scotland’s ugly wind
turbines, @David_Cameron is playing right into @AlexSalmond’s hands.’ … What changed?
Donald Trump wasn't in the room with an Iowa voter who was apparently worried about the loss
of subsidies harming her husband's job. Donald Trump, straight shooter.” [Philip Bump, The Fix,
Washington Post, 11/19/15]
• The Fix’s Philip Bump: Donald Trump’s Support Of The Wind Industry Was “A
Stunning Bit Of Pandering,” Given How Trump “Went To War” Against Wind
Farms In Scotland When He Wanted To Build A Golf Course Near A Proposed
Offshore Wind Farm Location. “Fine. Trump supports subsidies for the wind industry.
For anyone familiar with Trump's history, though, even that is a stunning bit of pandering.
Trump, in fact, does know a lot about wind. A few years ago, Donald Trump wanted to build a
golf course in Scotland. There was just one problem: The Scottish government had licensed an
off-shore wind farm near the course, which Trump worried would ruin the views. He went to
war, using all of the tools at his disposal: money, lawyers, and Twitter. He sued to block the
wind farm, pushing legal challenges all the way to the Scottish Supreme Court. He attacked
then-Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, saying that Salmond was ‘a man whose obsession
with obsolete wind technology will destroy the magnificence and beauty of Scotland.’” [Philip
Bump, The Fix, Washington Post, 11/19/15]
Confidential Page 67
HOTELS
Trump’s Line Of Luxury Hotels May Have Been The Victim Of A Credit Card Data
Breach. “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s line of luxury hotels may be the
latest victim of a credit card data breach, security news journalist Brian Krebs reported on
Wednesday. Banks have spotted a trend of fraudulent charges tied to credit and debit cards that
have all been used at Trump hotels, according to Krebs. Trump Hotel Collection has not yet
confirmed the breach, but financial industry sources told Krebs ‘they have little doubt’ a breach
has occurred. There is speculation that the compromise spans back to at least February of this
year. ‘Like virtually every other company these days, we have been alerted to potential
suspicious credit card activity and are in the midst of a thorough investigation to determine
whether it involves any of our properties,’ Eric Trump, executive vice president of development
and acquisitions at the Trump Organization, said in a statement. ‘We are committed to
safeguarding all guests’ personal information.’ The hack could put tens of thousands of people’s
payment card data at risk. Trump has hotel properties in a number of U.S. cities, including
Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Washington, D.C.” [The Hill,
7/1/15]
TRUMP UNIVERSITY
Trump University Charged $35,000 For Seminars And Was Sued By Some Of Its
Students. ISIKOFF: “Then there's Trump University--no actual campus or degrees--but
students, some of whom are now suing, plunked down up to $35,000 for seminars.” TRUMP:
“Ninety-seven percent approval rating from the people that went there.” ISIKOFF: “But last year
New York state regulators demanded Trump stop calling it a university, and he did. And the
Texas attorney general's office opened an investigation into possible deceptive trade practices,
which was dropped after the school stopped doing business in the state. Why did you call it a
university?” TRUMP: “Because we didn't know there was any rules or regulations about using
the name university.”[Nightly News, NBC, 4/19/11]
DEVELOPMENT AND LAND DEALS
TRUMP BRAGGED HE HAD DEALT WITH QADDAFI AND “SCREWED” HIM IN A
LAND DEAL
Trump Bragged That He “Screwed” Qaddafi On A Land Lease In New Jersey.
TRUMP: “I've been interacting with leaders of countries and leaders of business all over the
world, all of my life. And I think you guys know that probably better than anybody. I think I
probably have more experience than anybody, whether I sell them real estate for tremendous
amounts of money -- I mean, I've dealt with everybody…. I dealt with Qaddafi.” DOOCY: “You
buried the lead. What did you do?” TRUMP: “Excuse me. I rented him a piece of land. He paid
me more for one night than the land was worth but the whole year, for two years, and then I
didn't let him use the land. That's what we should be doing.” DOOCY: “Was that over in New
Jersey?” TRUMP: “I don't want to use the word screw but I screwed him. That's what we should
be doing. I rented him a piece of land in Bedford, New York. I rented him a piece of land…. He
paid me a fortune and then I didn't let him use the land.”[Fox & Friends, Fox News, 3/21/11]
Confidential Page 68
BEAUTY PAGEANTS
Trump Said He Got Into The Pageant Business Because He “Really Had Nothing
Else To Do.” McEWEN: “Why did you get into the pageant business? How did you get into the
pageant business?” TRUMP: “Well, I really had nothing else to do. I mean, you know, it's one of
those things. We--we just had this opportunity. ITT was selling the pageant. I guess I was
somebody that was interested in it. I watched Marla perform so nicely at the Miss Universe
Pageant and I said, 'This is a great event.' And this could really be a great event, so I bought it
and then I made a deal with CBS. And they are terrific people. Peter Lund and--and Les
Moonves who's--who's incredible and doing an incredible job. And so we made the deal, and I
have a fantastic partner and we're really happy about it.” [This Morning, CBS, 1/28/97]
Trump On Miss Universe Pageant Winner: “She Weighed 118 Pounds, Or 117
Pounds, And She Went Up To 160 Or 170. So This Is Somebody That Likes To
Eat.” COOPER: “Enter the man Alisa calls her new boss. You got it, The Donald. Trumpand his
wife, Marla, purchased the Miss Universe pageant earlier this month. And Trump decided this
investment needed a little extra attention.” TRUMP: “She weighed 118 pounds, or 117 pounds,
and she went up to 160 or 170. So this is somebody that likes to eat.” COOPER: “Now instead of
steaks and French fries, it's medicine balls and jump ropes for Alisa; that is, when there's room
enough to exercise.” [This Morning, CBS, 1/29/97]
Trump: “I Happen To Have Very Good Taste When It Comes To Beauty, And I Do
Pick People.” ANDERSON: “In her book, Donald, she says, and I quote, ‘It became clear that
the point of the whole exercise was for him to divide the room between the girls he personally
found attractive and those he did not.’ Is that true?” TRUMP: “It’s all very simple. First of all, it
is not factual, but it’s all very simple. I happen to have very good taste when it comes to beauty,
and I do pick people. However, with all of that being said, I shake hands with the girls. I’m nice
to them. I’m nice to everybody.” [Showbiz Tonight, CNN, 11/12/09]
BUSINESS ASSOCIATES
Donald Trump Stated, Under Oath, That He Did Not Know Felix Sater, A Twice-
Convicted Felon With Ties To The Mafia, But Trump Named Sater A Senior
Business Adviser In 2010 And Appeared In Numerous Photos With Him. “A newly-
revealed video deposition shows real-estate mogul Donald Trump confused when asked under
oath about his relationship to a twice-convicted felon with ties to the Mafia. Trump has long
faced allegations of connections to the mob, but his relationship with Felix Sater — who pleaded
guilty in 1998 to racketeering in a fraud scheme involving the Genovese and Bonanno crime
families — represents a more direct link between the presidential candidate and organized
crime. ‘If he were sitting in the room right now, I really wouldn't know what he looked like,’
Trump testified in the video deposition, which was obtained by ABC News. But Trump
reportedly named Sater as a senior business adviser in 2010. The Russian émigré carried a
Trump Organization business card with the title ‘Senior Advisor to Donald Trump’ and appeared
in numerous photos with Trump.” [New York Daily News, 12/10/15]
Confidential Page 69
BANKRUPTCIES AND DEBTS
BANKRUPTCY: “A GREAT DEAL” AND A “BUSINESS TOOL”
Trump Called Bankruptcy A “Great Deal.” TRUMP: “I'm going to be selling a piece of my
stake for a tremendous infusion of cash that comes into the company. You know, it's been a
great company to me over the years, but it's a very small portion of my net worth, less than 2
percent.” MASON: “And you don't mind having the word 'bankruptcy' attached to your name?”
TRUMP: “Well, I don't love it, but I feel that this is a great deal.” [CBS Evening News, CBS,
8/10/04]
Trump On His Four Bankruptcies: “Every Once In A While—Again, You Take
Advantage Of The System. ROBERTS: “Some of them have gone bankrupt. Four of them.”
TRUMP: “Well, I have 70 some-odd companies. Every once in a while--again, you take
advantage of the system. It's called the system. And in order to take advantage of the system
that we're in, sometimes, on occasion--seldom, in my case--but you take a company, and you do--
in my case, I did a couple of (unintelligible). It worked out great for me, because that's what I'm
supposed to do, I'm supposed to make money. But I could be making money for the American
people as opposed to letting us get ripped off like we have by other nations. And they're ripping
us. And they're ripping us big league, Cokie, and you know it.”[This Week, ABC, 12/5/99]
Trump Bragged About Taking Personal Advantage Of The Bankruptcy Laws.
Washington Post on the first 2015 GOP debate: “That appeared to be the case on Thursday.
Trump committed no major mistakes. If he was overbearing at times, well, that has been part of
his appeal. If he was impolitic at other times — bragging about buying access to politicians or
taking personal advantage of the bankruptcy laws — he has done that before” [Washington Post,
8/6/15]
When Asked About His Bankruptcies, Trump Claimed He Has “Taken Advantage
Of The Laws Of This Country.” “Trump on his business bankruptcies ‘Out of hundreds of
deals that I’ve done, on four occasions I’ve taken advantage of the laws of this country…Virtually
every person that you read about on the front page of the business section [takes advantage of
them]. The difference is that when other people use the laws you don’t read about it.’” [Politico,
8/6/15; Republican Primary Debate, Cleveland OH, 8/6/15]
Trump On Bankruptcy Laws: “I Used It Four Or Five Times Over The Years To
Make Great Deals. Because I Took Advantage Of What’s There. And That’s A
Great Thing.” [Donald Trump speech at New England College, 4/27/15]
Trump: “Stop Saying I Went Bankrupt. I Never Went Bankrupt But Like Many
Great Business People Have Used The Laws To Corporate Advantage—Smart!”
[@realDOnaldTrump, twitter, 6/19/15]
Trump: “People Buy Deals & Immediately Put Them Into Bankruptcy In Order To
Make Better Deals. It’s A Very Effective & Commonly Used Business Tool.”
[@realDOnaldTrump, twitter, 6/19/15]
Confidential Page 70
Trump: “Almost Every Major Dealmaker Has Used The Bankruptcy Laws As A
Business Tool. Icahn, Black, Zell—But Nobody Says They Went Bankrupt!”
[@realDOnaldTrump, twitter, 6/19/15]
Trump: “Out Of Hundreds Of Deals & Transactions, I Have Used The Bankruptcy
Laws A Few Times To Make Deals Better. Nothing Personal, Just Business.”
[@realDOnaldTrump, twitter, 6/19/15]
Donald Trump Bragged About Taking Companies With Bad Companies,
Chaptering Them, And Ending Up With “A Nice Little Asset.” “I’ve inherited a lot of
bad contracts over the years, you know, where I buy a company cheap. Because the poor guy
didn’t know what he was doing and he made a bad deal. So you buy it cheap, you throw it into a
chapter, you beat up everybody, and you have a nice little asset. Right. You know. You do it. I do
it professionally. There’s always a clause.” [Donald Trump Rally, Sparks, NV, 10/29/15]
Donald Trump Bragged About An Instance In Which He Bought A Company And
“Immediately Threw It Into A Chapter And Beat The Hell Out Of The Banks” —
“That’s Called Good Business.” TRUMP: “I've used the laws of the country to make good
deals for myself and also, I've had hundreds and hundreds of companies. Three or four
sometimes I've restructured so people could keep their jobs among other things. ... I did one deal
where I bought the accompany, it was a terrible accompany, the guy made a terrible deal, … and
I bought it, immediately threw it into a chapter and beat the hell out of the banks, the poor
banks and made a good deal out of it. That's called good business, now I’m a different world, but
that’s called good business. And you do those things. You use the laws of the country, the laws of
the land and I did. So have ,and I could go one, two, three, name the top ten business people you
know, I can tell you most of them have done the same thing.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 11/11/15]
BANKRUPTCY FILINGS
All Of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City Casinos Had Filed For Bankruptcy Before, In
1992, When They Were More Than $1 Billion In Debt. “This will be the second time the
Trump casinos have filed for bankruptcy. In 1992, the three casinos he then owned, the Taj
Mahal, Castle, and Plaza, all in Atlantic City, ended up in Chapter 11, burdened by more than
$1 billion in debt.At the time, Trump himself was at brink of bankruptcy, but later regained
control of the casinos and wrote a book about his experience in 1997 called ‘Trump: The Art of
the Comeback.’” [Wolf Blitzer Reports, CNN, 8/10/04]
DEBTS
Trump On His Debt: “I Wish It Were Only $900 Million. I Actually Had Many
Billions Of Dollars Of Debt, And Actually $975 Million Was Personally
Guaranteed.”QUESTION: “Donald Trump, most Americans are having trouble getting rid of
couple thousand dollars of credit card debt, you got rid of $900 million of debt. How in the world
did you do that?” TRUMP: “Well I wish it were only $900 million. I actually had many billions of
dollars of debt, and actually $975 million was personally guaranteed. So it was more
catastrophic than even your beautiful introduction, which I appreciate very much.I really went
Confidential Page 71
back to work and focused. I have great assets. And as you know the banking industry was a
disaster, the credit crunch wasunbelievable. The beginning of the '90s were absolutely total
disaster in every way. And I guess I had a choice. I could take a nice and easy way out, which I
sort of did toward the end of the 80s. I though everything came -- everything really came sort of
easy for me. Everything just seemed to be a homerun or a grand slam homerun.What happened,
I went back to work, I focused. Probably never worked as hard as I did. And now the company is
doing better than it ever did before by far. Nothing -- I mean, it's not even a comparison with
how well I did in the '80's.” [Evans & Novak, CNN, 12/27/97]
LAWSUITS
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
1983: A NYC UNION SUED TRUMP FOR CHEATING THEM BY HIRING
UNDOCUMENTED POLISH IMMIGRANTS
Trump Was Sued By Local 95 Of The House Wreckers Union Because They
Claimed Trump Conspired To Cheat The House Wreckers Out Of Pension And
Welfare Contributions By Hiring Non-Union Laborers. “The lawsuit involving literal
demolition—Case 83CIV6346 in Manhattan Federal Court—was brought by Harry Diduck, a
now deceased dissident member of Local 95 of the House Wreckers Union. His lawyer, Wendy
Sloan, says he was one of a group of like-minded workers who simply wanted “a real union.”
They had stood to gain nothing at all for themselves as they sought to prove that Trump and his
partner, along with the general contractor, conspired to cheat the House Wreckers out of pension
and welfare contributions by hiring these non-union laborers. Judge Stewart initially tossed out
the complaint against Trump and his partner on the grounds that the contractor was the
responsible party regarding the workers. The plaintiffs appealed, and the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Second Circuit reinstated the complaint, returning the case to Judge Stewart.” [Daily
Beast, 7/8/15]
A Federal Judge Found That 200 Workers Who Cleared The Land For Trump
Tower “Were Undocumented And Worked Off The Books” And That “No Records
Were Kept, No Social Security Or Other Taxes Were Withheld.” “The 200 demolition
workers—nicknamed the Polish Brigade because of their home country—worked 12-hour shifts,
seven days a week with no overtime to knock down the old Bonwit Teller building and make
room for Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. According to testimony in a protracted
civil suit in federal court, the laborers were paid $5 an hour or less when they were paid at all.
Some went unpaid after the contractor had financial troubles. A few never received even the
paltry sum that was owed them for their dirty and hazardous efforts preceding the construction
of Trump’s monument to his own wealth. ‘They were undocumented and worked ‘off the books,’’
Manhattan federal Judge Charles Stewart said of the workers after they became the subject of a
1983 lawsuit. ‘No records were kept, no Social Security or other taxes were withheld.’… The
lawsuit involving literal demolition—Case 83CIV6346 in Manhattan Federal Court—was
brought by Harry Diduck, a now deceased dissident member of Local 95 of the House Wreckers
Union.” [Daily Beast, 7/8/15]
Confidential Page 72
• Polish Workers Testified Against Trump Claiming They Approached Him About The Issues And Were
Threatened With Deportation By His Underlings. “During the 16-day non-jury trial, a number of the Polish workers
testified that Trump underlings had threatened them with deportation if they caused trouble. They walked in to the job
from Brooklyn when a transit strike hit the city. Some of them slept at the site. Two workers further testified that they
had approached Trump in person to demand overdue wages.” [Daily Beast, 7/8/15]
• The Lawyer Representing The Undocumented Immigrants Was Threatened By Somebody Claiming To Be
Named John Baron, A Pseudonym Trump Admitted To Using. “The lawyer representing the Polish Brigade had
reported receiving a call from someone who identified himself as ‘John Baron’ and said Trump was ready to hit the
lawyer with a $100 million lawsuit if he kept causing trouble. Trump now acknowledged on the stand that he had used
the pseudonym ‘John Baron,’ as had one of his assistants. But Trump insisted that his use of it was only long after the
completion of the Fifth Avenue tower, which became the first of many properties on which he so rapturously bestowed
his real surname.” [Daily Beast, 7/8/15]
TRUMP AS PLAINTIFF
2005: TRUMP SOUGHT $5 BILLION IN DAMAGES FROM AUTHOR TIMOTHY
O’BRIEN, CLAIMING HE UNDERESTIMATED HIS NET WORTH
A New Jersey Judge Dismissed Donald Trump’s $5 Billion Libel Lawsuit Against
Author Timothy O’Brien For His Estimation That Trump’s Net Worth Was Only
Between $150 Million And $250 Million. “A New Jersey judge said Donald Trump failed
to convince her an author's estimate of his net worth at under $250 million was done out of
malice. Author Timothy O'Brien's book, ‘Trump Nation: The Art of Being Donald,’ estimated
Trump was worth between $150 million and $250 million, The New York Times reported
Thursday. Trump sued, asking for $5 billion in damages. Publicly, Trump has claimed his is
worth a far greater than a quarter of a billion dollars. Superior Court Judge Michele Fox in
Camden, N.J., dismissed the case, saying Trump did not present ‘clear and convincing evidence
to establish malice.’ Trump complained that ‘the libel laws in this country have never been fair.
We proved our case 100 percent.’ He said he would appeal.” [UPI, 7/16/09]
• New York Times’ Timothy O’Brien In 2005: Three People With Direct Knowledge Of Trump’s Finances
Estimate His Net Worth At Somewhere Between $150 Million And $250 Million. “Three people with direct
knowledge of Donald's finances, people who had worked closely with him for years, told me that they thought his net
worth was somewhere between $150 million and $250 million. (Donald's casino holdings have recently rebounded in
value, perhaps adding as much as $135 million to these estimates.) By anyone's standards, this still qualified Donald
as comfortably wealthy, but none of these people thought that he was remotely close to being a billionaire.” [Timothy
O’Brien, Business Day, New York Times, 10/23/05]
• New York Times’ Timothy O’Brien: Donald Trump “Hyper-Inflated” The Values Of His Golf Course Deals.
“Donald's recent golf course ventures have produced some sterling new properties, but the values he assigns those
deals appear to be hyper-inflated. Donald's Palm Beach course, for example, has about 285 members who paid
$250,000 for memberships, for a total of $71.25 million. Donald borrowed about $47 million to build the course and a
new clubhouse. So he banked about $24 million on the deal, before other costs. He leases the land beneath the
course from Palm Beach County; he doesn't own it. But Donald carries the course on his books as an asset worth
$200 million.” [Timothy O’Brien, Business Day, New York Times, 10/23/05]
• New York Times’ Timothy O’Brien: Donald Trump Dismissed Claims He Was Worth Less Than $250 Million As
Naysaying By “Guys Who Have 400-Pound Wives At Home Who Are Jealous Of Me.” “Three people with direct
knowledge of Donald's finances, people who had worked closely with him for years, told me that they thought his net
worth was somewhere between $150 million and $250 million. … Donald dismissed this as naysaying. ‘You can go
ahead and speak to guys who have 400-pound wives at home who are jealous of me, but the guys who really know
me know I'm a great builder,’ he told me.” [Timothy O’Brien, Business Day, New York Times, 10/23/05]
Confidential Page 73
2005: TRUMP THREATENED TO SUE ABC IF A BIOPIC ON HIS LIFE
CONTAINED INACCURACIES
Trump Threatened To Sue ABC If Its Biopicture Of Him Contained Inaccuracies.
KING: “ABC has a Trump biopicture coming, called ‘Trump Unauthorized,’ scheduled May 24th.
You said you'll sue if there are inaccuracies.” TRUMP: “Correct, yeah, I'll sue. I mean, if it's
inaccurate... I'm not worried. Hey, look, it's going to go on, it's going to go off, nobody is going to
remember it. Who cares. But I'm going to -- you know, I let them know, I'm very honored that
they're doing it. It's a great honor. You know, they're doing a two-hour movie on me on national
network television. And so I'm honored in one way. In another way, I want it to be accurate. So if
it's not accurate, I will sue.”[Larry King Live, CNN, 5/17/05]
2007: TRUMP SAID HE FILED A $25 MILLION SUIT AGAINST PALM BEACH
AFTER THE TOWN FINED HIM FOR RAISING AN AMERICAN FLAG WITHOUT
THE PROPER PERMIT
Trump Filed A $25 Million Suit Against Palm Beach For Fining Him For Putting
Up A Large American Flag Without A Permit. TRUMP: “Well, to me, that's a very
interesting one because the town of Palm Beach, which is the richest town in the United States,
they want me to rip down the American flag. They want me to take it down. They want me to
disrespect the country and the flag by taking it down. I put the flag. They say I put it up without
permits. They want me to put up a little tiny flag that wouldn't look -- this is a huge property,
the largest estate in Palm Beach by far. It's bigger than the White House, as an example, and we
have a flag that's perfectly proportioned for the size of the estate, done by total professionals at
flag-making and flagpoles. And they want me to rip down the American flag, and I say I'm not
going to do it. They fined me $1,200 a day, $1,250 a day, to be exact. And what I did, Greta, is I
filed a $25 million suit against the town of Palm Beach with all -- any and all winnings from the
suit to go to the returning Iraqi American soldiers that are injured. And I hope there's going to
be a lot of money that they can divvy up. I get nothing. But any money that is gotten by me goes
to the returning injured soldiers.”[On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, Fox News, 2/5/07]
CITING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AS AN “ACT OF GOD,” TRUMP FILED A
LAWSUIT AGAINST DEUTSCHE BANK TO AVOID PAYMENT ON A $40
MILLION CONSTRUCTION LOAN
After Economic Downturn, Trump Filed A Lawsuit To Avoid Paying On A $40
Million Construction Loan, But Said The Same Principle Did Not Apply To His
Condo Buyers. CHETRY: “Let me ask about some headlines of your own that you made. A
lawsuit you filed to avoid paying on a $40 million construction loan to Deutsche Bank, claiming
that the severe downturn in the economy is akin to an act of God… And he asked you if
remorseful condominium buyers in a similar position could sort of walk away and you said no.
Why didn't it apply to them?” TRUMP: “First of all it's a great building and we're closing units
literally as we speak. We're closing units by the dozens and it's doing very nicely. It's a great,
great building. The condo market is not very good and certainly the condo market in Chicago
isn't. But it will change. But the difference is that they don't have a clause and the other
difference is that most of them want to close. I mean they are not even approaching us about it.
We're closing tens of millions dollars worth of units every month.”[American Morning, CNN,
12/18/08]
Confidential Page 74
PHILOSOPHY ON LEADERSHIP, BUSINESS AND
MANAGEMENT
LOVING BAD MARKETS AND “AMAZING” HOUSING MARKET
COLLAPSES
Trump: “I Always Made A Lot Of Money In Bad Markets. I Love Bad Markets.”
TRUMP: “The real estate markets in 1990 crashed. I had billions and billions of dollars in debt.
I had many friends that went bankrupt.” BLITZER: “You were going down?” TRUMP: “Well, I
was, but I worked hard. And my company today is a much bigger, stronger company than it ever
was in the 1980s or 1990s even. But I was in trouble if I didn't get really back on the stick and
start working. The real estate markets crashed. Now, I don't want to blame the real estate
markets, because I always made a lot of money in bad markets. I love bad markets. You can do
very well in a bad market.”[Wolf Blitzer Reports, CNN, 3/19/04]
Trump On The Recession: “This Is A Time For Smart People. This Is A Time For
Entrepreneurial People. And This Is A Time For People Like Me.” TRUMP: “They're
great times, as an entrepreneur. I don't think I've ever seen better times as an entrepreneur. But
the world is a mess and the country is a mess… Well, I don't think I've ever seen a time where
there's been this kind of play, where you have assets that you can buy for dollars. I've never seen
a time like it, Larry.” KING: “So you -- this is the time for smart people to make money, is what
you're saying?” TRUMP: “Well, this is a time for smart people. This is a time for entrepreneurial
people. And this is a time for people like me.” [Larry King Live, CNN, 4/15/09]
Trump On Housing Market Collapse: “It’s An Amazing Situation.” KING: “Real estate
market, what's going on?” TRUMP: “It's an amazing situation. There are tremendous
opportunities. You know what's interesting, I was begging people not to buy real estate two years
ago. And everybody was interested in buying. And now they are less interested, and this is the
time they should be going out -- not buying, negotiating to buy. This is the time.” [Larry King
Live, CNN, 10/15/07]
USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN
Trump Wanted The Government To Bulldoze A Woman’s Ugly House So The
Property Could Be Developed. JOHN STOSSEL: “Trump now says he wants Coking's house
demolished because it's ugly.” TRUMP: “Everybody coming into Atlantic City sees that property,
and it's not fair to Atlantic City and the people. They're staring at this terrible house instead of
staring at beautiful fountains and beautiful other things that would be good.” GLENN ZEITZ,
VERA COKING'S ATTORNEY: “You're looking at somebody who is supposedly the epitome of
the free enterprise system. And the free enterprise system was based on the premise that you
don't go out and sick the government on somebody's property.”[20/20, ABC News, 6/1/98]
Daily Beast: Donald Trump Tried To Force An Elderly Atlantic City Widow Out Of Her Home So He Could Build A
Parking Lot For Limousines. “Around the same time [early 1990s], Trump attempted to force elderly widow Vera Coking
Confidential Page 75
out of her Atlantic City rooming house to make way for a Trump Plaza Hotel parking lot and limo waiting area. She refused
to sell, even when the magnate offered her $1 million, and Trump spent several years working with local government to
pry away the property. In 1998, he lost when a court threw out the case. Sixteen years later, the hotel permanently closed
its doors.” [The Daily Beast, 10/8/15]
The Daily Beast: Donald Trump Sought Help From The State Of Connecticut To
Condemn Five Private Bridgeport Businesses So That He Could Build An
Amusement Park. “In the early ’90s, Trump sought the help of the state of Connecticut to
condemn five private Bridgeport-area businesses so that he could build a $350 million complex
that included an amusement park (with the ‘world’s biggest roller coaster,’ of course), a shipping
terminal, a seaport village, and an office complex. ‘It’s going to be a great thing,’ Trump promised
during a press event that, according to The Hartford Courant, included repeated references to
the ‘world class’ nature of the proposal. It eventually fell through.” [The Daily Beast, 10/8/15]
Club For Growth: Trump’s Support Of Eminent Domain Is Proof That Trump Is
Not A Conservative. “‘At least there’s a crucial issue that Trump hasn’t flip-flopped on,’ said
Doug Sachtleben, spokesman for the Club for Growth, the conservative group Trump has been
warring with for months. ‘Trump hasn’t wavered in his support of the terrible Kelo decision, and
he still applauds the idea of developers getting rich while private property owners are forced out
of their homes and businesses. It’s just continued proof that Trump is not a conservative.’” [The
Atlantic, 10/7/15]
NEGOTIATIONS
Trump: “I Don't Bill Myself As A Top Negotiator.” TRUMP: “Well, first of all, I don't bill
myself as a top negotiator. You're calling me, I don't call you, you know what I mean? I don't
know if I'm a good negotiator or not, but I never billed myself as a great negotiator. I don't like to
talk that way.” [Newsroom, CNN, 8/1/11]
RELIANCE ON CHINESE GOODS
TRUMP SOLD GOODS THAT WERE NOT MADE IN AMERICA
HEADLINE: “Donald Trump Sells Chinese Goods Despite Accusing China of
Stealing US Jobs.” [ABC News, 6/17/15]
• ABC News: “In His Campaign Kickoff On Tuesday, Donald Trump Blasted Cheap Chinese Goods — But He
Has No Problem Putting His Name On Them And Selling Them.” “In his campaign kickoff on Tuesday, Donald
Trump blasted cheap Chinese goods — but he has no problem putting his name on them and selling them. The day
after his tirade, the Trump Store inside the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York boasted an array of imported
goods, including teddy bears and T-shirts from China alongside products from Haiti, Nicaragua and Lesotho. Trump
mentioned China two-dozen times in the opener to his 2016 presidential bid, accusing that country and Mexico of
putting Americans out of work. ‘They can’t get jobs, because there are no jobs, because China has our jobs and
Mexico has our jobs,’ Trump said.” [ABC News, 6/17/15]
TRUMP SAID HE PROCURED HIS BUILDING MATERIALS FROM CHINA
Confidential Page 76
Trump Said That He Buys Chinese Products Because They Are Cheaper.KING: “Do
you know your wife sells a jewelry line on QVC?” TRUMP: “That's true. And you know what else
-- can I give you--” KING: “Do you know every piece of jewelry -- every piece of jewelry is made in
China?” TRUMP: “Can I tell you what else? I build my buildings, unfortunately, because
companies can't compete because they manipulate their currency. So China makes jewelry and
they make curtain walls and they make lots of other things and it shouldn't be that way, John.
We should be making it.”KING: “People will ask, is this guy a hypocrite? He's out there beating
up on the Chinese and his wife is making money selling products made in China.” TRUMP:
“Because of the fact that China manipulates their currency. And they really manipulate it big
league. And our people aren't smart enough to know what's going on. When I order curtain walls
for a big beautiful building, when I order other things, you know what happened with the
sheetrock, because the good news is we make better products than they make in China. But
when I order -- can I talk? When I order various elements for building a big building, many of
them come from China. Many other industries, the same thing. These -- it comes from China.
You know why? Because they manipulate the hell out of their currency.” [John King USA, CNN,
4/27/11]
• Trump Said He Often Can’t Buy American Products Because No One Makes Them In The U.S. TRUMP: “When I
order curtain walls, when I order other things -- I order thousands of television sets for a building, thousands. I said,
‘Let's buy it from the United States. I want America. I want United States.’ There's no place that makes them. We don't
have television companies in this country. I mean, of any consequence. So, I end up getting LGs made in South
Korea, thousands of them. Now, why -- excuse me, why aren't we -- why aren't we making them in this country?
Why?” [John King USA, CNN, 4/27/11]
TRUMP ON THE ISSUES
AGRICULTURE
TRUMP SUPPORTED ETHANOL SUBSIDIES AND THE RENEWABLE FUEL
STANDARD
Donald Trump Affirmed His Support For The Renewable Fuel Standard After
Touring The POET Biorefining Plant In Gowrie, Iowa Which Produced Ethanol.
“Before attending the rally in Fort Dodge, Trump stopped at the POET Biorefining plant in
Gowrie to tour the plant and discuss the renewable fuel standard with plant leadership and the
co-chairs of America’s Renewable Energy. Iowa is the nation’s leading ethanol producer, and the
Gowrie plant is designed to produce 69 million gallons of ethanol annually, according to its
website. That meeting was closed to the public, but afterward, Trump took two questions from a
group of about 35 people who had been invited to a closed event. There, Trump affirmed his
support of the renewable fuel standard. ‘I just want to tell you, you have my support,’ he said.
‘I’m with you.’” [Des Moines Register, 12/13/15]
Donald Trump Said Ted Cruz’s Opposition To Ethanol Subsidies Was “Anti-Iowa”
Sand Said, “I Understand It, Oil Pays Him A Lot Of Money. He's Got To Be For
Oil, Right?" “[Donald Trump] spent more time on Friday poking Cruz for opposing ethanol
subsidies, which are widely popular there. Independent groups there are beginning to spend
money against Cruz for his position, which Trump told a questioner was ‘anti-Iowa.’ Cruz says
Confidential Page 77
the subsidies are an example of government interference in the free market. ‘With the ethanol,
really, he's got to come a long way, 'cause right now he's for the oil,’ Trump said at the beginning
of his remarks, unprompted. But then he gave him an out: ‘But I understand it, oil pays him a lot
of money. He's got to be for oil, right?’ ‘But I'm with you,’ he added. ‘I'm self-funding. I have no oil
company. I have no special interest.’” [CNN, 12/11/15; Donald Trump Campaign Rally, Des
Moines, Iowa, 12/11/15]
CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND ETHICS
Trump: “Nobody Knows More About Campaign Finance That I Do, Because I'm The
Biggest Contributor.” KING: “How about campaign-finance reform?” TRUMP: “I think
nobody knows more about campaign finance that I do, because I'm the biggest contributor.”
KING: “OK, but what about reform? Does it need reform? You're the Reform Party?” TRUMP:
“Well, it's a very complex -- you know what? It's a very complex thing. As an example, I'm
allowed to give $1,000 to every senator, right?” [Larry King Live, CNN, 10/7/99]
Trump Opposed Campaign Contribution Limits But Supported Disclosure
Requirements. TRUMP: “Well, it's a very complex -- you know what? It's a very complex
thing. As an example, I'm allowed to give $1,000 to every senator, right?... Do you know how
little that is, and this was 20 years ago, $1000. Now, I love it, because, you know, I'm capped out
at a $1,000 per senator and they all love me for it. You know, I give them $1,000, it's great.”
KING: “But you can reform where you have soft money, hard money, PAC money.” TRUMP:
“Well, no, you have other ways. But the one thing I feel strongly about -- you know, I have heard
Bradley and others talking about the government should pay for the elections, and I totally
disagree. If you like a candidate, you should be able to contribute to that candidate. Now, they
should let it be known that you're contributing, but you should be able to contribute and help
that candidate. Otherwise, you're taking away the whole American system.” [Larry King Live,
CNN, 10/7/99]
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
BODY CAMERAS
TRUMP SAID THAT POLICE BODY CAMERAS “CAN SOLVE A LOT OF
PROBLEMS” AND DESERVE FEDERAL FUNDING
Donald Trump Said Police Body Cameras “Can Solve A Lot Of Problems,” And
That The Federal Government Should Help Cities That Want Police Body Cameras
But Lack Funding. “In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, the Republican presidential
frontrunner [Donald Trump] said ‘there could be’ federal funding directed to those local law
enforcement agencies that wanted to buy the cameras and could not afford the technology
without financial aid. ‘Some of these departments have plenty of money, and some of them don’t.
And if they like the idea of the cameras, they need federal funding,’ Trump told the Guardian on
Monday. ‘It can solve a lot of problems for police. It can also solve a lot of problems – period.’
However, Trump did not support making the officer-worn video cameras mandatory across the
Confidential Page 78
country, as the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton has done, noting ‘different police
departments feel different ways.’” [The Guardian, 10/13/15]
DEATH PENALTY
1989: Donald Trump Took Out Full Page Ads In Four New York Newspapers
Titled: ''Bring Back The Death Penalty. Bring Back Our Police!'' “The full-page
advertisements placed in four New York newspapers today by Donald J. Trump calling for
reinstatement of the death penalty grew out of the real-estate developer's ‘deep-seated feeling
that what's happening in society today has to be stopped,’ Mr. Trump said in a telephone
interview Saturday. The $85,000 worth of ads, in The New York Times, The Daily News, The
New York Post and New York Newsday, refer to the attack by a gang of youths on a woman
jogger and others in Central Park on April 19. The 600-word appeal, signed Donald J. Trump, is
titled ‘Bring Back the Death Penalty. Bring Back Our Police!’ The advertisement appears today
on page A13 of The Times…. ‘I want to hate these muggers and murderers,’ Mr. Trump wrote.
‘They should be forced to suffer and, when they kill, they should be executed for their crimes.’”
[New York Times, 5/1/89]
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
April 1990: Donald Trump Said “You Have To Legalize Drugs To Win” The War On
Drugs. “Trump – who says he doesn't drink or smoke tobacco, let alone experiment with drugs –
has taken a variety of stances on drug control. In April 1990, Trump said at a luncheon in
Florida that the United States should legalize drugs and use the money collected to educate the
public on the dangers of drug use. ‘We're losing badly the war on drugs,’ Trump said at the time,
according to an article in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. ‘You have to legalize drugs to win that
war. You have to take the profit away from these drug czars.’” [Washington Post, 10/29/15]
10/29/15: Donald Trump Said States Should Be Allowed To Legalize Marijuana If
They Choose To Do So, But Said That Colorado’s Experience Has Not Been
“Exactly Trouble-Free. So I Really Think That We Should Study Colorado, See
What's Happening." “Donald Trump softened his tone on marijuana legalization on Thursday,
saying at a political rally that states should be allowed to legalize marijuana if they chose to do
so. Trump reaffirmed that he supports making medical marijuana available to patients who are
very sick. ‘In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state-by-
state,’ Trump said while taking a handful of questions during a political rally at a casino outside
Reno on Thursday afternoon…. ‘And of course you have Colorado,’ Trump said. ‘And I love
Colorado and the people are great, but there's a question as to how it's all working out there, you
know? That's not going exactly trouble-free. So I really think that we should study Colorado, see
what's happening.’” [Washington Post, 10/29/15]
• June 2015: At CPAC, Donald Trump Said Colorado’s Legalization Of Marijuana
Was “Bad, And I Feel Strongly About It.” “More recently, Trump has supported
allowing medical marijuana but firmly opposed legalization. During the CPAC conference in
June, Trump was asked about Colorado's legalization and responded: ‘I say it's bad. Medical
marijuana is another thing, but I think it's bad, and I feel strongly about it.’ Sean Hannity,
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who was moderating the forum, then asked Trump if legalization is a states' rights issue or
not. ‘If they vote for it, they vote for it,’ Trump said. ‘But, you know, they have got a lot of
problems going on right now in Colorado. Some big problems.’” [Washington Post, 10/29/15]
CRIMES COMMITTED BY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
Trump Claimed That A “Killer” Was “Protected” Since He Was An Undocumented
Immigrant And “If He Were A Citizen, They’d Put Him In Jail For Life.” TRUMP: “I
respect the people in the Republican Party, but this is a very important issue and it can’t be
toned down. It’s an issue that wants to be silenced. Remember I told you the story about the guy
they were going after, that killer, and when they heard he was he was an illegal immigrant it
was like he was protected? If he were a citizen, they’d put him in jail for life.” [Washington Post,
7/12/15]
• Trump On The Immigrant Who Killed The Woman In San Francisco: “Look At That Guy, Look At What He Did,
Killing That Beautiful Girl. [Expletive] Animal.” “When a picture of the Mexican laborer accused of killing a San
Francisco woman is put on screen, Trump said: ‘Look at that guy, look at what he did, killing that beautiful girl.
[Expletive] animal.’ He returned several minutes later to continue the interview.]” [Washington Post, 7/12/15]
DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY
“ADVISERS”
Col. Jack Jacobs, Who Trump Claimed Was A “Go-To” Advisers Had Never
Actually Discussed National Security Policy With Trump. “The retired Army colonel
who Donald Trump listed as one of his ‘go-to’ advisers has never actually discussed national
security policy with him, according to a report in Mother Jones on Wednesday. Over the
weekend, the billionaire and GOP presidential candidate told NBC News that Col. Jack Jacobs, a
military analyst who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Vietnam war,
was one of the two men he listed as someone he ‘talk[s] to for military advice right now.’ ‘Col.
Jack Jacobs is a good guy,’ he said on ‘Meet the Press.’ ‘And I see him on occasion.’
Trump also mentioned that he turned to former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton for
advice, as well as ‘the shows.’” [The Hill, 8/19/15]
Trump Said He Learned Military Strategy By Watching Current And Retired
Generals Talk On TV. “Getting military strategy by watching current and retired generals
talk on TV isn't just OK with Trump -- he says it's better than any team he could assemble to
personally advise him. The mogul made the comment on NBC's ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday --
earning derision from one of those frequent TV pundits, retired Gen. Michael Hayden. But
Trump defended his comments in an interview Wednesday with CNN's Chris Cuomo, saying it
allows him to get a lot of advice quickly. ‘I watch your show. And I watch other shows. And you
have the best generals, the best everything ... frankly probably better than I could get,’ Trump
said. ‘What do I know? I'm a man that made a great fortune. I'm gonna make our country rich
and I'm gonna make our country great.’ Trump said he watches shows as well as reading The
New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other newspapers and magazines, which allows
him to ‘get a lot of information in a very short time.’” [CNN, 8/19/15]
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Trump Would Tap American Businessmen Carl Icahn And Henry Kravis As Top
International Negotiators. “Trump says his administration would tap American
businessmen Carl Icahn and Henry Kravis as top international negotiators -- pledging they could
do a better job than the diplomats currently in office. He also predicted he would be ‘the greatest
jobs president that God ever created,’ and get tough on countries like China, Mexico and Japan.”
[CNN, 8/19/15]
HAWKISH TENDENCIES
Trump: “I'm The Worst Hawk In The World.” TRUMP: “Now, I'm the worst hawk in the
world, OK? I am a total hawk… And yet, we shouldn't have gone into Iraq. And the minute we
leave, you know, they say we're out. We have 50,000, 60,000 soldiers there right now. We're out?
I don't think 60,000 soldiers -- the other thing is, if you look at what countries like China are
doing to this country, they are eating our lunch. We're building China. We are really building
China because everything we make is made in China or other countries.” [The Situation Room,
CNN, 9/22/10]
Donald Trump Criticized President Obama For Tipping Off “The Enemy” Before
Attacking, Instead “You Shoot First, You Talk About It Later. “Trump got his biggest
cheers -- and the crowd began chanting ‘Trump! Trump! Trump!’ -- when he said of ISIS: ‘I'm
going to bomb the s--- out of them.’ At another point during his hour-long stemwinder, Trump
pointed his fingers like a gun and began mock shooting. ‘You know the movies. Shoot first, talk
later. Right? Right? Right? You shoot first, you talk about it later.’ Trump said Obama does too
much talking and continually tips off ‘the enemy’ before he shoots. The Tennessee crowd went
wild.” [The Hill, 11/16/15; Donald Trump Campaign Rally, Knoxville, Tennessee, 11/16/15]
• Donald Trump: “If We Are Going To Continue To Be Stupid And Go Into Syria (Watch Russia), As They Say In
The Movies, SHOOT FIRST AND TALK LATER!” [@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 8/29/15]
DEFENSE SPENDING
2011: Trump Said He Wanted To Increase Defense Spending. TRUMP: “I've never
been a fan because, look, I am the most militant person there is. I'm a big war guy in terms of I
want total defense. I want perhaps an increase in defense spending, OK? But you don't attack
the wrong country. Iraq did not knock down the World Trade Center. As it turned out he did
attack the wrong country and frankly they used to kill terrorists in Iraq. You could not be a
terrorist and last a day in Iraq. Now it's the Harvard -- it's the breeding ground for terrorists. I
mean everybody that wants to be a terrorist they go to Iraq, they go to Afghanistan, they go to
the places where we are.”[Piers Morgan Tonight, Fox News, 2/9/11]
FOREIGN AID
Trump Said He Would Cut Off Aid To Egypt And Pakistan. CAVUTO: “But would you
stop all aid to the region? We have given hundreds of billions over these many decades dating
back to Mubarak… Would you stop that as president?” TRUMP: “I would certainly stop a lot of
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it and I would certainly stop it if they are not our friends. I mean, look at Pakistan. We give
them $150 billion. We give them so much money, nobody even has any idea what is happening
to it, and they don't give us Osama bin Laden? And he is, according to all sources, in Pakistan,
and you don't think the leaders of that country know where he is? Of course they do.”[Your
World With Neil Cavuto, Fox News, 3/7/11]
MILITARY
DONALD TRUMP ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT: “WHAT DID THESE
GENIUSES EXPECT WHEN THEY PUT MEN & WOMEN TOGETHER?”
Trump: “26,000 Unreported Sexual [Assaults] In The Military—Only 238
Convictions. What Did These Geniuses Expect When They Put Men & Women
Together?” “Two years ago, Trump weighed in on the alarming rate of sexual assault and rape
in the military—and in doing so, pinned the blame on the presence of women. ‘26,000 unreported
sexual [assaults] in the military—only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when
they put men & women together?’ he tweeted in 2013. ‘The Generals and top military brass
never wanted a mixer but were forced to do it by very dumb politicians who wanted to be
politically [correct]!’ he continued.” [Daily Beast, 7/27/15]
• Donald Trump: “26,000 Unreported Sexual Assults In The Military-Only 238 Convictions. What Did These
Geniuses Expect When They Put Men & Women Together?” [@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 5/7/13]
Trump: “The Generals And Top Military Brass Never Wanted A Mixer But Were
Forced To Do It By Very Dumb Politicians Who Wanted To Be Politically
[Correct]!” “Two years ago, Trump weighed in on the alarming rate of sexual assault and rape
in the military—and in doing so, pinned the blame on the presence of women. ‘26,000 unreported
sexual [assaults] in the military—only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when
they put men & women together?’ he tweeted in 2013. ‘The Generals and top military brass
never wanted a mixer but were forced to do it by very dumb politicians who wanted to be
politically [correct]!’ he continued.” [Daily Beast, 7/27/15]
• Donald Trump: "The Generals And Top Military Brass Never Wanted A Mixer But Were Forced To Do It By
Very Dumb Politicians Who Wanted To Be Politically C!” [@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 5/7/13]
TRUMP BELIEVED SGT. BERGDAHL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTED FOR
GOING AWOL IN AFGHANISTAN
Donald Trump: Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl “Should Have Been Executed.” “Republican
presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Thursday that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl should
have been executed for leaving his post in Afghanistan. ‘We're tired of Sgt. Bergdahl, who's a
traitor, a no-good traitor, who should have been executed,’ Trump said to cheers at a rowdy rally
inside a packed Las Vegas theater at the casino-hotel Treasure Island. ‘Thirty years ago,’ Trump
added, ‘he would have been shot.’” [ABC News, 10/9/15]
TRUMP CONFUSED THE F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER AND THE B-3 LONG
RANGE STRIKE BOMBER
Confidential Page 82
11/5/15: Donald Trump, Who Claims To Be The “The Best In Terms Of The Military,” Confused The F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter With The B-3 Long Range Strike Bomber. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who
claims to be the ‘the best in terms of the military,’ confused the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program with the B-3 Long
Range Strike Bomber program. Radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Trump if America needs a strategic bomber or ‘should
we just stick with submarines and missiles?’ Trump then criticized the beleaguered F-35 program. [Daily Caller,
11/5/15]
• 11/5/15: Donald Trump Continued To Confuse The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter With The B-3 Long Range Strike
Bomber, Even After Hugh Hewitt Attempted To Correct Him. “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump,
who claims to be the ‘the best in terms of the military,’ confused the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program with the B-3
Long Range Strike Bomber program. Radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Trump if America needs a strategic bomber or
‘should we just stick with submarines and missiles?’ Trump then criticized the beleaguered F-35 program. Hewitt
asked, ‘Last week the Pentagon announced, they gave the B-3, the strategic bomber contract to Northrop Grumman.
… Do we need a strategic bomber, Donald Trump, or should we just stick with submarines and missiles?’ … [Trump
responded,] ‘When you talked about the bomber, here’s what I don’t like. I have been reading, and I read one article
in particular, where the pilots, and these are great test pilots and pilots generally. But pilots in testing it, said our old
planes are better,’ explained Trump. ‘They perform better, they handle better. Every aspect, they were saying, they’re
better. So I’m saying wait a minute, if they’re better, why are we ordering these unbelievably expensive planes? So I
would have some real problems because of cost, and I know I could get the cost down. But what bothers me
tremendously is the fact that I heard test pilots saying that the old planes maneuver better, work better, and they like
them better. That bothers me,’ insisted Trump. Hewitt responded, ‘A lot of people like the F-18 Super Hornet more
than the F-35. But this B-3, the strategic bomber, I think we have to have a bomber.’ … Trump responded, ‘We do,
and it’s got to be reasonable. … But you check this out. The pilots that were testing it did not like it as much as the old
equipment. That’s not good. And I think you would agree with that, Hugh.’” [Daily Caller, 11/5/15]
• 10/22/15: Donald Trump Said He Heard From A Test Pilot That The F-35 “Doesn’t Perform As Well As Our
Existing Equipment.” TRUMP: “Well, I do want briefings, but I do hear that it’s not very good. I’m hearing that our
existing planes are better [than the F-35]. And one of the pilots came out of the plane, one of the test pilots, and said
this isn’t as good as what we already have. And to spend billions and billions of dollars on something that maybe isn’t
as good, but, and I don’t know if you’ve heard that…. Yeah, well, I mean, big problems. They’re saying it doesn’t
perform as well as our existing equipment, which is much less expensive. So when I hear that, immediately I say we
have to do something, because you know, they’re spending billions. This is a plane. There’s never been anything like
it in terms of cost. And how about, you know, we’re retooling with planes that aren’t as good as the ones we have, and
the test pilots are amazing people. They know better than anybody, okay, and I think you would accept that.” [Hugh
Hewitt Radio Show, 10/22/15]
NUCLEAR TRIAD
12/16/15: Donald Trump Appeared No Not Understand The Concept Of America’s
Nuclear Weapons ‘Triad’ But Said, “For Me, Nuclear – The Power, The
Devastation Is Very Important To Me.” “When Donald Trump could not answer Hugh
Hewitt’s question on the nuclear triad during the fifth GOP debate Tuesday night, Sen. Marco
Rubio (R., Fla.) was kind enough to take the time to explain what the nuclear triad was to him
and any other Americans who may not have known. Trump was asked to offer his opinion on
which leg of the nuclear triad, decried by many as outdated, he believed was most crucial to
update. The Republican frontrunner did not appear to understand the topic. In his original
answer, Trump said it was important to have a strong leader with sound judgment during
perilous times. He then trailed off to talking about opposing the Iraq War and how important
limiting nuclear proliferation is. The response did not touch on Hewitt’s question, so he asked
again. ‘I think for me nuclear – the power, the devastation is very important to me,’ Trump said
in his second attempt.” [Free Beacon, 12/15/15]
Trump Did Not Answer What His Priority Was Among The Nuclear Triad. HEWITT:
“Dr. Carson just referenced the single most important job of the president, the command, the
Confidential Page 83
control and the care of our nuclear forces. And he mentioned the triad. The B-52s are older than I
am. The missiles are old. The submarines are aging out. It’s an executive order. It’s a
commander-in-chief decision. What’s your priority among our nuclear triad?” TRUMP: “Well,
first of all, I think we need somebody absolutely that we can trust, who is totally responsible;
who really knows what he or she is doing. That is so powerful and so important. And one of the
things that I’m frankly most proud of is that in 2003, 2004, I was totally against going into Iraq
because you’re going to destabilize the Middle East. I called it. I called it very strongly. And it
was very important.” [Republican Presidential Debate, Las Vegas NV, 12/15/15]
AFGHANISTAN
2011: Trump Said Withdrawing From Afghanistan Was Not A Problem Because
The Taliban Was All In Pakistan. O'REILLY: “Afghanistan. Do you pull out of Afghanistan
and let the Taliban take over?” TRUMP: “I don't know that Afghanistan is much -- as much of a
problem as Pakistan. Because everyone is telling me they're all in Pakistan. They're not in
Afghanistan.”O'REILLY: “But they're going to come back.” TRUMP: “Well, they may. I mean,
they may. That's Pakistan. If Usama bin Laden is in Pakistan, why are we paying them
hundreds of billions of dollars a year?” [The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 4/1/11]
2011: Trump Called Karzai A Crook. DOOCY: “Do you think Karzai -- is Karzai a crook?”
TRUMP: “Well, he's a crook and he's mocking us. He's laughing at us and he's -- and the
diplomat that just left was saying how horrible and how embarrassing it is. The horrible things
he says and how our soldiers react to his statements that we're an occupier.”[Fox & Friends, Fox
News, 6/13/11]
TRUMP SUGGESTED THAT GOING INTO AFGHANISTAN WAS A MISTAKE,
THEN WALKED BACK HIS COMMENTS
10/6/15: Donald Trump Believed Entering Afghanistan Was A Mistake And
Worried About U.S. Forces Getting Stuck There. “Trump told CNN's "New Day" on
October 6 that he believed entering Afghanistan was a mistake and worried about U.S. forces
getting stuck there. ‘At some point, are they going to be there for the next 200 years? At some
point what's going on? It's going to be a long time,’ Trump said, when asked about Afghanistan.
‘We made a terrible mistake getting involved there in the first place. We had real brilliant
thinkers that didn't know what the hell they were doing. And it's a mess. It's a mess. And at this
point, you probably have to (stay) because that thing will collapse about two seconds after they
leave. Just as I said that Iraq was going to collapse after we leave.’" [CNN, 10/20/15]
Headline: “Donald Trump Backtracks On Afghanistan War: Not A Mistake.” [CNN,
10/20/15]
• 10/20/15: Donald Trump: “I've Never Said We Made A Mistake Going Into Afghanistan." “Donald Trump said
Tuesday the U.S. was right to invade Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- a reversal of his position
earlier this month when he called the war a ‘mistake.’ ‘We made a mistake going into Iraq. I've never said we made a
mistake going into Afghanistan,’ Trump told CNN's Alisyn Camerota on ‘New Day,’ when pressed about his comments
earlier this month. Trump told CNN's ‘New Day’ on October 6 that he believed entering Afghanistan was a mistake
and worried about U.S. forces getting stuck there.” [CNN, 10/20/15]
Confidential Page 84
• 10/20/15: Donald Trump Said It Was Important To Keep Troops In Afghanistan. “But when pressed on that
answer Tuesday, Trump denied that he had characterized U.S. entry into Afghanistan as a mistake and said he had
only talked about Iraq. ‘I never said that. OK, wouldn't matter, I never said it. Afghanistan is a different kettle.
Afghanistan is next to Pakistan, it's an entry in. You have to be careful with the nuclear weapons. It's all about the
nuclear weapons. By the way, without the nukes, it's a whole different ballgame,’ Trump said. Trump has long bashed
the Iraq War, saying again Tuesday that the decision to go there destabilized the Middle East and created an opening
for Iran. But he said Tuesday that the Afghanistan War was necessary and said he supported keeping a limited
number of troops there. ‘Do I love anything about it? No. I think it's important, number one, that we keep a presence
there and ideally a presence of pretty much what they're talking about -- 5,000 soldiers,’ Trump said Tuesday.” [CNN,
10/20/15]
CHINA
TRUMP ON CHINA IN 2011” “I THINK THEY’RE ENEMIES”
Trump Said That The Chinese Were Enemies. MORGAN: “There are towns in China that
sell 95 percent of the world's duvets. You know, they manufacture 85 percent of the world's
buttons. Now I don't think that's the enemy. I think it's a potential business friend. Isn't it? Can't
we work with them?” TRUMP: “I don't think they're friends. I think they're enemies. I deal with
Chinese. I just sold an apartment to a Chinese person for $33 million a short while ago -- a
couple of months ago. I mean I'm supposed to like the Chinese but I understand the Chinese and
I deal with them all the time. Now this is before they thought I might run for president. They
consider our leaders extremely stupid people. They cannot believe what they get away with.
Whether it's the Olympics where they put people under age and they say, no, no, no, and then we
find out it was true and they say, oh, we just didn't know. Or whether they have the beautiful
girl singing the national anthem, their national anthem, but it wasn't her singing. So many
different things. I mean the Chinese are looking to put us under and believe me they are not our
friends. I'm surprised at you because you're not somebody that's easily misled or misguided…
They are not our friend.” [Piers Morgan Tonight, Fox News, 2/9/11]
TRUMP VOWED NOT TO THROW CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING A STATE
DINNER, AND WOULD INSTEAD HAVING A WORKING DINNER OVER “A
DOUBLE SIZE BIG MAC”
Trump Said He Would Give The Chinese President A “A Double Size Big Mac”
Instead Of A State Dinner. “Trump vowed Monday not to throw Chinese President Xi
Jinping a lavish state dinner as the Chinese leader will enjoy in September when he visits the
U.S. for meetings with President Barack Obama, a little over a year after Jinping hosted Obama
in China. ‘I'd get him a McDonald's hamburger and I'd say we gotta get down to work, because
you can't continue to devalue (the Chinese currency),’ Trump said Monday night on Fox News. ‘I
would give him a very, yeah, but I would give him a double, probably a double size Big Mac.’”
[CNN, 8/25/15; The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 8/24/15]
TRUMP: THERE’S NO CHOICE BUT TO START A TRADE WAR WITH CHINA
In Response To China Devaluing Their Currency, Trump Said He Would Put A
Tariff On Chinese Products And Claimed We “Have To” Have A Trade War With
China. “Challenged by host Bill O'Reilly, the celebrity real estate tycoon doubled down on what
has become a main issue in his campaign, criticizing the U.S. government for allowing China to
Confidential Page 85
devalue its currency. Trump said he would put a tariff on Chinese products, saying ‘you have to’
have a trade war. ‘Their leaders are intelligent, ours aren't,’ Trump said Monday.” [The Hill,
8/25/15; The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 8/24/15]
Trump Said He Would Start A Trade War With China, Stating “You Have To Do
That ... You Have No Choice.” “Trump, who has made a similar call with Mexico, said
Monday that he would initiate a trade war with China, saying ‘you have to do that ... you have no
choice.’: [CNN, 8/25/15; The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 8/24/15]
Trump Said He Would Impose Import Tariffs Of Up To 12 Percent On China. “As for
China, Trump said he would play hardball with Beijing on trade. He accused China of devaluing
its currency and said he would hit the Chinese with import tariffs of up to 12 percent.” [Public
Radio International, 9/7/15]
• The Economist’s David Rennie: “If [Donald Trump] Did One-Tenth Of What He’s Planning, He Would Trigger A
Global Trade War, Which Would Cause A Kind Of Global Recession And Cost Lots Of Jobs.” “The editors at
The Economist looked at the overall implications of Trump’s policy ideas and were less than impressed. ‘Americans
are waking up to the possibility that a man whose hobby is naming things after himself might — conceivably — be the
nominee of the party of Lincoln and Reagan. It is worth spelling out why that would be a terrible thing,’ they write in
the latest issue of the magazine. ‘From an economics point-of-view, we think that if he did one-tenth of what he’s
planning, he would trigger a global trade war, which would cause a kind of global recession and cost lots of jobs,’
[David] Rennie [Washington bureau chief for The Economist] says.” [Public Radio International, 9/7/15]
2011: TRUMP SAID HE WOULD IMPOSE A 25% TAX ON CHINESE PRODUCTS
Trump Said He Would Immediately Announce A 25% Tax On Chinese Products.
TRUMP: “And if you read the real economists and real people that know what's going on it's an
unfair playing field. So here's what happens. You said what would I do? I would immediately
announce a tax of 25 percent. The first thing that's going to happen is the Chinese are going to
call.”[Piers Morgan Tonight, Fox News, 2/9/11]
TRUMP’S SOLUTION FOR REDUCING THE DEBT: BILL CHINA FOR STEALING
TRADE SECRETS
Trump On The Reducing The Debt: Send China A Bill For Stolen Trade Secrets.
VAN SUSTEREN: But if we -- if we -- but if we do just say, OK, we're taking off our debt the cost
of what you just took from us in Pakistan, I mean, since the debt isn't -- I mean, since we're not
paying them off soon, I mean, do they -- do they even really care if we do that because there's so
much money.” TRUMP: “Well, I wouldn't start that way. I'd just send them a bill for the value of
the secrets that they've stolen. Now, of course, they're stealing them from Boeing and from
General Electric and from everybody else also. If you look at what they forced General Electric to
do or if you look at what they're trying to do with Boeing, it's very, very sad that the companies
are succumbing to it.” [On The Record, Fox News, 8/17/11]
CUBA
TRUMP IN 1999: CASTRO “IS A MURDERER, HE’S A KILLER” AND THE
EMBARGO “MUST STAND”
Confidential Page 86
Trump On Cuba Embargo: Fidel Castro “Is A Murderer, He's A Killer, He's A Bad
Guy In Every Respect, And, Frankly, The Embargo Against Cuba Must Stand.”
TRUMP: “It goes into the pockets of Fidel Castro. He's a murderer, he's a killer, he's a bad guy in
every respect, and, frankly, the embargo against Cuba must stand if for no other reason than, if
it does stand, he will come down. He will tumble down, and it will finally happen. What a waste
of energy and time and effort if this government opens up Cuba before Castro is gone. It's going
to line his pockets, the country will become wealthy again, and it will have the same regime it's
had for so many years, and that's a regime headed by Fidel Castro. And it's inconceivable to me
when I see the weak stance taken by our current administration, inconceivable that this can
happen, especially with the spirit in this room because the spirit of the Cuban people is beyond
any spirit that I've seen by any people, and I've been watching it for a long time. Things can
change.”[Donald Trump Speech, Cuban-American National Foundation, Miami FL, 11/22/99]
• Trump Said That He Had Rejected Business Deals In Cuba Because The Money Would Flow To Fidel Castro.
TRUMP: “I've had a lot of offers -- and sadly it's all been very recently -- to go into Cuba on deals, business deals, real
estate and other deals, and I've rejected them on the basis that I will go when Cuba is free. As you know -- and the
people in this room know better than anyone -- putting money and investing money in Cuba right now doesn't go to
the people of Cuba. It goes into the pockets of Fidel Castro.” [Donald Trump Speech, Cuban-American National
Foundation, Miami FL, 11/22/99]
EGYPT
Trump Praised Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak And Criticized The U.S. For
Allowing Him To Be Deposed. TRUMP: “I mean, if you look at what happened in Egypt --
look what we did to our wonderful leader of Egypt, who really was at least outwardly -- and you
know, whether he loved Israel or not behind the scenes -- let's assume he didn't. But at least he
was somewhat of an ally to Israel. He helped Israel. Look what's going to happen with respect to
Egypt and Israel. You can already see it, the level of hatred, the level of animosity that Egypt
now has for Israel. Unbelievable. So instead of helping them to keep their power, we make it
possible for him to be overthrown. And now he's sitting in a cage in a courthouse. He'll probably
be sentenced to death. And our other allies watch that and they say, What kind of an ally is the
United States? Why should we go with the United States, when they look at what happened in
Egypt?”[On The Record, Fox News, 8/31/11]
FRANCE
Donald Trump Said France Was "The Worst Partner That This Country Has Ever
Had" And Would “Sell A Nuclear Weapon To Anybody Giving Them 10 Cents More
Than The Next Guy.” “Mr. Trump used his appearance on Fox to criticize a number of U.S.
allies and trading partners. … He denounced France as ‘the worst partner that this country has
ever had.’ ‘They'll sell a nuclear weapon to anybody giving them 10 cents more than the next
guy,’ he said. ‘They are a very disloyal group in terms of their government, and I think they have
to be taught respect,’ Mr. Trump said.” [Washington Times, 11/1/99]
• 10/31/99: Donald Trump: “France Has To Be The Worst Partner That This
Country Has Ever Had.” They Have “Been A Very Disloyal Partner To The
United States And Virtually Anybody Else They Deal With.” “If you look
throughout the world, France has to be the worst partner that this country has ever had.
Confidential Page 87
They'll sell a nuclear weapon to anybody giving them 10 cents more to the next guy. It's
terrible. … I think France just doesn't respect this country. France is a terrible partner.
They've been a terrible partner over the years. They are a very disloyal group in terms of
their government, and I think they have to be taught respect. I'm not saying what I'm doing
to them, I just think France and I think one thing I'm doing I'm exposing them, because I've
never heard this before. But anybody that knows anything about government, knows that
France has been a very disloyal partner to the United States and virtually anybody else they
deal with.” [Fox News Sunday, Fox News, 10/31/99]
GERMANY
Donald Trump Accused Germany Of Wanting To “Take Over The World
Economically.” “Mr. Trump used his appearance on Fox to criticize a number of U.S. allies and
trading partners. …He accused Germany of wanting ‘to take over the world economically,’ even
though ‘they failed militarily.’” [Washington Times, 11/1/99]
IRAN
TRUMP OPPOSED THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, SAYING IT WAS BAD FOR
ISRAEL
Trump On The Iran Deal: “I Think The Deal Is Absolutely Horrible For Us, But
It's Really, Really Bad For Israel.” “GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump on
Tuesday blasted the White House for failing to include American prisoners in its deal on Iran’s
nuclear program. ‘We have four people over there, prisoners that they're keeping — hostages,
whatever you want to call them — that's not part of the deal. Why isn't that part of the deal?’
Trump asked during an interview on Fox Business Network, questioning the terms of the
agreement lifting sanctions on Tehran. Families of a Washington Post journalist, a former
Marine, a pastor and a former FBI agent have voiced a desire for U.S. negotiators to continue
pushing for their release. ‘I think the deal is absolutely horrible for us, but it's really, really bad
for Israel,’ Trump said.” [The Hill, 7/14/15; Fox Business, 7/14/15, VIDEO]
TRUMP DECLARED HE WOULDN’T ADDRESS AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI BY HIS
TITLE, BUT WOULD INSTEAD SAY “HEY BABY, HOW YA DOING?”
Donald Trump Said He Would Never Address Ayatollah Khamenei Of Iran As
“Supreme Leader,” And Would Instead Greet Him By Saying “Hey Baby, How Ya
Doing?” “Donald Trump held forth on his approach to foreign policy on Monday morning in New
Hampshire, starting with what he'd call the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It wouldn't be, he told a
boisterous audience of about 1,200, the customary ‘Supreme Leader.’ ‘I'll say, 'Hey baby, how ya
doing?' I will never call him the Supreme Leader,’ Trump said. ‘And I'll get along with him
probably. And maybe not. And if he doesn't get along with me, they got problems. We don't.’”
[CBS News, 10/26/15]
TRUMP CALLED FOR ENACTING “HARSH MEASURES” TO PROTECT ANTI-
AHMADINEJAD PROTESTORS IN IRAN
Confidential Page 88
In 2011, Trump Supported Protecting Anti-Ahmadinejad Protesters In Iran. VAN
SUSTEREN: “What about Iran? Protesters in opposition to Ahmadinejad want to protest, and
the U.S. is watching what is going on there.” TRUMP: “They handle it tougher. People go in the
streets and they start shooting right away. I think with Iran we have a major problem. I think
maybe this is a great time. If they protest, we should maybe and try and protect the protesters.
And by doing that, that means harsh measures. We let him know, you are going to hurt those
protesters, we are going to come after you. That way maybe they can actually protest.” [On The
Record With Greta Van Susteren, Fox News, 2/14/11]
TRUMP WASN’T AWARE OF THE NAME OF THE LEADER OF IRAN’S QUDS
FORCE AND CONFUSED THE QUDS AND THE KURDS
Donald Trump Appeared To The Quds Force, An Iranian Military Group, For The
Kurds, A Middle Eastern People In An Interview With Hugh Hewitt. “Donald J.
Trump revealed gaps in his mastery of international affairs during a radio interview on
Thursday, appearing to mistake the Quds Force, an Iranian military group, for the Kurds, a
Middle Eastern people, and growing testy over questions about foreign leaders. … At one point,
according to the interview’s transcript, Mr. [Hugh] Hewitt asked Mr. Trump if he was familiar
with Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the shadowy commander of Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force. ‘Yes,
but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me,’ Mr. Trump replied. ‘He runs the Quds Forces,’
Mr. Hewitt said. ‘Yes, O.K., right,’ Mr. Trump said. But Mr. Trump seemed to think Mr. Hewitt
was referring to the Kurds, a group with its own language and culture. Mr. Trump asserted that
‘the Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated.’ Mr. Hewitt interrupted. ‘No, not the
Kurds, the Quds Forces, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Forces.’ Mr. Trump tried to
recover from the live, on-air tutorial. ‘Yes, yes,’ he said. He added, ‘Oh, I thought you said Kurds,
Kurds.’” [New York Times, 9/3/15]
Donald Trump Appeared To Not Know The Difference Between The Iranian Quds
Forces And The Kurds. HUGH HEWITT: “Are you familiar with General Soleimani?”
DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me.” HUGH HEWITT: “He
runs the Quds Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, okay, right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect
his behavior…” DONALD TRUMP: “The Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated by …”
HUGH HEWITT: “No, not the Kurds, the Quds Forces, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds
Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, yes.” HUGH HEWITT: “…is the bad guys.” DONALD TRUMP:
“Right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect his behavior to change as a result…” DONALD
TRUMP: “Oh, I thought you said Kurds, Kurds.” HUGH HEWITT: “No, Quds.” DONALD
TRUMP: “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you said Kurds, because I think the Kurds have been poorly
treated by us, Hugh. Go ahead.” HUGH HEWITT: “Agreed. So Soleimani runs the Quds Forces.
Do you expect his behavior is going to change as a result of this deal with Iran?” DONALD
TRUMP: “I think that Iran right now is in the driver’s seat to do whatever they want to do. I
think what’s happening with Iran is, I think it’s one of the, and I covered it very well. I assume
you saw the news conference. I think Iran is, it’s one of the great deals ever made for them. I
think it’s one of the most incompetent contracts I’ve even seen. I’m not just talking about
defense. I’m not talking about a contract with another country. I’ve never seen more of a one-
sided deal, I think, in my life, absolutely.” HUGH HEWITT: “Well, Soleimani is to terrorism sort
of what Trump is to real estate.” DONALD TRUMP: “Okay.” HUGH HEWITT: “Many people
would say he’s the most dangerous man in the world, and he runs the Quds Forces, which is
Confidential Page 89
their Navy SEALs.” DONALD TRUMP: “Is he the gentleman that was going back and forth with
Russia and meeting with Putin? I read something, and that seems to be also where he’s at.”
HUGH HEWITT: “That’s the guy.” DONALD TRUMP: “He’s going back and forth meeting with
other countries, etc., etc.” HUGH HEWITT: “That’s the guy.” DONALD TRUMP: “Not good.”
HUGH HEWITT: “And so do you think…” DONALD TRUMP: “Not good for us. And what it
shows is a total lack of respect, I mean, that the other countries would even be entertaining him,
and they’re entertaining him big league, big league.” [Hugh Hewitt Radio Show, 9/3/15]
IRAQ
TRUMP SAID HE OPPOSED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO
INVADE IRAQ
2004: Trump Stated That He Wanted To Fire The Bush Administration For Its
Decision To Invade Iraq And That “All Of The Reasons For The War Were
Blatantly Wrong.” “Billionaire Donald Trump, America's toughest employer, would like to fire
the Bush Administration for its decision to invade Iraq, according to an interview in the August
edition ‘Esquire,’ due to be released on Friday. ‘Look at the war in Iraq and the mess that we're
in. I would never have handled it that way. Does anybody really believe that Iraq is going to be a
wonderful democracy where people are going to run down to the voting box and gently put in
their ballot and the winner is happily going to step up to lead the country?,’ said the host of
NBC's ‘The Apprentice,’ whose hallmark line is ‘You're fired.’ ‘C'mon. Two minutes after we
leave, there's going to be a revolution, and the meanest, toughest, smartest, most vicious guy will
take over. And he'll have weapons of mass destruction, which Saddam didn't have,’ Trump said
in excerpts of the interview released in advance to Reuters. ‘The Apprentice’ was one of NBC's
biggest hits last season, making the real estate mogul a well-known entity to TV viewing
audiences. ‘What was the purpose of the whole thing? Hundreds and hundreds of young people
killed. And what about the people coming back with no arms and no legs? Not to mention the
other side. All those Iraqi kids who've been blown to pieces. And it turns out that all of the
reasons for the war were blatantly wrong. All this for nothing!,’ Trump said.” [Reuters, 7/14/04]
Trump’s Plan For Ending The Iraq War: “Declare Victory And Leave.” BLITZER:
“How does the United States get out of this situation? Is there a way?” TRUMP: You know how
they get out? They get out. That's how they get out. Declare victory and leave, because I'll tell
you, this country is just going to get further bogged down. They're in a civil war over there, Wolf.
There's nothing that we're going to be able to do with a civil war. They are in a major civil war.”
[The Situation Room, CNN, 3/16/07]
Donald Trump Said George W. Bush Was A “Disaster” And That The Invasion Of
Iraq Was “One Of The Worst Decisions Ever Made.” “BAIER: ‘Two, you stand by the
statement back in '08 and '07 that you would impeach George W. Bush for getting into the Iraq
war?’ TRUMP: ‘I think he was a disaster. And I think it was one of the worst decisions ever
made. He has totally destabilized the Middle East. Had Saddam Hussein still been in charge,
you wouldn't have the problems that you have right now. I mean if you had Gadhafi, if you had
Saddam Hussein -- look at the migration.’” [Special Report with Bret Baier, 10/6/15]
TRUMP BELIEVES WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF HUSSEIN WAS STILL IN POWER
Confidential Page 90
Donald Trump: World Would Be '100%' Better With Saddam Hussein, Moammar
Gadhafi Still In Power. “Donald Trump believes the world would be much better off if
ruthless dictators like Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi were still in power. ‘100%,’
Trump replied when asked that question in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper that aired
Sunday on ‘State of the Union.’ … ‘I mean, look at Libya. Look at Iraq. Iraq used to be no
terrorists. He (Hussein) would kill the terrorists immediately, which is like now it's the Harvard
of terrorism,’ Trump said. ‘If you look at Iraq from years ago, I'm not saying he was a nice guy,
he was a horrible guy, but it was a lot better than it is right now. Right now, Iraq is a training
ground for terrorists. Right now Libya, nobody even knows Libya, frankly there is no Iraq and
there is no Libya. It's all broken up. They have no control. Nobody knows what's going on.’”
[CNN, 10/25/15]
Donald Trump Said Human Rights Abuses In Iraq And Libya Are Worse Today
Than Under Saddam Hussein And Moammar Gadhafi. “Both Gadhafi and Hussein
committed atrocities against their own people and were among the world's worst human rights
abusers. NATO decided to intervene in Libya as Gadhafi appeared poised to commit a genocidal-
like massacre. But Trump said human rights abuses continue to plague Libya and Iraq and
claimed, ‘They're worse than they ever were.’ ‘People are getting their heads chopped off, they're
being drowned. Right now, they are far worse than they were, ever, under Saddam Hussein or
Gadhafi,’ he said.” [CNN, 10/25/15]
TRUMP ADVOCATED CONFISCATING IRAQI OIL TO PAY FOR THE WAR
Trump Said The United States Should “Take” $1.5 Trillion Worth Of Oil From
Iraq To Pay For The Cost Of The War. “Mr. Trump also said that the United States should
‘take’ $1.5 trillion worth of oil from Iraq to pay for the cost of the war and give $1 million to each
of the families that lost someone in the effort — sparking applause from the thousands gathered
Friday for the American Conservative Union’s 40th annual Conservative Political Action
Conference (CPAC).” [Washington Times, 3/15/13]
Trump Wanted To Keep American Troops In Iraq To Take Their Oil And Prevent
Iran From Taking Over. TRUMP: “And no, I very simply said that Iran is going to take over
Iraq and if that's going to happen, we should just stay there and take the oil.” KILMEADE:
“Stay.” TRUMP: “They want the oil and why should we? We denuded Iraq, Iran is going to walk
in, take it over, take over the second largest oil fields in the world. That's going to happen. That
would mean that all of those soldiers that have died and been wounded and everything else
would have died in vain and I don't want that to happen. I want them to be -- I want their
parents and their families to be proud. The last thing I want to see happen is for Iran to go in
and take over Iraq and the oil fields of Iraq because we weakened that country to a point where
they can just walk in. So I say, we take the oil. You know in the old days, when you won a war,
to the victor belongs the spoils. You kept it.” [Fox & Friends, Fox News, 4/4/11]
ISIS
TRUMP INITIALLY REFUSED TO COMMIT TO SENDING GROUND FORCES TO
SYRIA, BUT LATER SUPPORTED 10,000 GROUND TROOPS
Confidential Page 91
Donald Trump Refused To Commit To Sending Ground Forces To Syria And Called
The Middle East “One Big, Fat Quagmire.” “[Donald Trump] said the Russian plane crash
that ISIS has claimed responsibility for poses a new threat to American interests. … Trump
would not commit to sending group forces into Syria, calling the Middle East ‘one big, fat
quagmire’ for which the U.S. should not be exclusively responsible. He said the lessons of history,
such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, caution against becoming entangled in the
Middle East.” [The Hill, 11/8/15]
Trump Supported Putting 10,000 Ground Troops In Syria To Defeat ISIS. SCARBOROUGH: “Right. But you need
ground troops to do that?” TRUMP: “Yes, you'll need some ground troops. Yeah. You'll need ground troops.”
SCARBOROUGH: “What do you think? 10,000, 20,000? Do you have a number?... So -- I want to get specific with you
like I will with Ted Cruz and everybody else because I think people need to start giving us specifics on how we get there.”
TRUMP: “Well, I've been specific.” SCARBOROUGH: ”So 10,000 troops?... I'm talking specifically about ground troops…
So would you support taking it, say, ten thousand ground troops as part of an international force?... Would you support
10,000 ground troops?” TRUMP: “I would. Yes, I would.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 12/8/15]
TRUMP ADVOCATED TARGETING THE FAMILIES OF TERRORISTS TO
DEFEAT ISIS
Donald Trump Said He Would Kill Terrorists’ Families As Part Of The Fight
Against ISIS. “Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would kill the families of terrorists in
order to win the fight against ISIS. … "The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out
their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. They care about
their lives, don't kid yourself. When they say they don't care about their lives, you have to take
out their families," Trump said. Trump said he would "knock the hell out of" ISIS, and criticized
the U.S. for "fighting a very politically correct war." [CNN, 12/2/15]
Donald Trump Said The U.S. Was “Fighting A Very Politically Correct War,” And
Called For Taking Out ISIS Families. TRUMP: “I would knock the hell out of ISIS, I
would hit them so hard like they’ve never been before. KILMEADE: “What about civilian
causalities? What about the fact that we’re targeting them and people are concerned about
collateral damage?” TRUMP: “I would do my best, absolute best. I mean one of the problems that
we have and one of the reasons that we’re so ineffective, is they’re trying to, they’re using them
as human shields. A horrible thing. They’re using them as shields. But we’re fighting a very
politically correct war. And the other thing is with the terrorists, you have to take out their
families. When you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. They care about their
[families’] lives, don’t kid yourself. But they say they don’t care about their lives. You have to
take out their families.” [Fox & Friends, Fox News, 12/2/15]
TRUMP CALLED FOR CUTTING OFF ISIS’S REVENUES FROM OIL
Donald Trump Said The U.S. Needed To, “Take Away The Energy, The Fuel, The
Money From ISIS” — “I Want To Take The Oil.” “Donald Trump says any plan to defeat
the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS) will hinge on cutting off the revenue stream that the terrorist
group takes in from oil. ‘I’m looking to take the oil. I want to take the oil. I want the oil,’ Trump
said on ABC’s ‘This Week’ on Sunday. ‘We have to stop the source of money, and the source of
money is oil,’ the businessman added. …‘You know, if you stop transportation, I mean, you’re
talking about the blood – the blood of the world and we’re going to have to be very, very strong,’
Confidential Page 92
Trump said. ‘We’re going to have to take away the energy, the fuel, the money from ISIS.’” [The
Hill, 11/8/15]
TRUMP SAID HE WOULD CONSIDER CLOSING MOSQUES TO FIGHT ISIS
Headline: “Donald Trump Says He Would Be Open To Closing U.S. Mosques To
Fight ISIS.” [New York Times, 10/22/15]
Donald Trump Would “Absolutely” Close Certain Mosques In Order To Fight ISIS,
But Was Unsure If Doing So Would Be Legal. “This week, he [Donald Trump] has put
American Muslims on edge by suggesting that he would be open to shutting down mosques as
president. Asked on Fox Business Network if the United States should take action to close
certain mosques as part of the fight against the Islamic State, as has happened in Britain, Mr.
Trump said, ‘I would do that, absolutely.’ Mr. Trump then said that he was not sure about the
legality of closing mosques, but that it was certainly something that should be looked at. ‘It
depends if the mosque is, you know, loaded for bear,’ he said.” [New York Times, 10/22/15]
TRUMP: ISIS HAS DESIGNS ON THE VATICAN
Trump: “You Know That ISIS Wants To Go In And Take Over The Vatican? You
Have Heard That. You Know, That’s A Dream Of Theirs, To Go Into Italy.” “The
comment came when CNN’s Chris Cuomo presented Trump with a hypothetical situation during
an interview Wednesday. What if, Cuomo said, Trump met the pope, and — through a translator
— the pope expressed a belief that capitalism can be ‘a real avenue to greed, it can be really toxic
and corrupt.’ How would Trump respond, Cuomo asked. ‘I’d say ISIS wants to get you,’ Trump
said. ‘You know that ISIS wants to go in and take over the Vatican? You have heard that. You
know, that’s a dream of theirs, to go into Italy.’ ‘He talks to you about capitalism, you scare the
pope?’ Cuomo asked. ‘I’m gonna have to scare the Pope because it’s the only thing,’ Trump said.
‘The Pope, I hope, can only be scared by God. But the truth is — you know, if you look at what’s
going on — they better hope that capitalism works, because it’s the only thing we have right
now. And it’s a great thing when it works properly.’” [Washington Post, 8/20/15]
ISRAEL
Trump Said He Thinks President Obama Hates Israel And Vowed To Keep Israel
Safe. “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Thursday he thinks President
Obama hates Israel. ‘I heard the beautiful name of Israel — Israel is safe with this one,’ Mr.
Trump told supporters in Nevada. ‘Safe. Safe. So many friends in Israel. They don’t know what
happened.’ ‘They have a president who — they actually think Obama hates Israel,’ he said. ‘I
think he does.’ Mr. Trump slammed the recently brokered Iran nuclear deal as ‘so bad’ for Israel
and ‘so dangerous.’ ‘Honestly, I think Israel’s in such a massive amount of trouble because of the
agreement,’ he said. ‘We will save Israel. Nothing — nothing bad is [going to] happen to Israel.’”
[Washington Times, 10/30/15]
KUWAIT
Confidential Page 93
Trump Said That The U.S. Should Have Made Kuwait Reimburse The U.S. For
Liberating It In 1991. BLITZER: “On Kuwait, so what you're saying is after the U.S.
liberated Kuwait back in 1991, we should have done what?” TRUMP: “We should have told them
that we want them to at least reimburse us for the cost of this liberation. What did we do? We
liberated it for some a few very wealthy people. And those wealthy people aren't investing in the
United States right now. You know, they don't even like the United States. We handed them, if
you go to the Kuwaiti fund, they're not investing big money in the United States.” [The Situation
Room, CNN, 9/22/10]
LIBYA
TRUMP: NO INTEREST IN LIBYA UNLESS IT GIVES US OIL
Trump: “Unless We Take The Oil From Libya, I Have No Interest In Libya.”
TRUMP: “I want to rebuild the United States. And in rebuilding the United States, you know,
Libya is -- whether it's Gadhafi, or the rebels -- they make the rebels sound like they're from
‘Gone With the Wind,’ very glamorous. I hear they're controlled by Iran. I hear they're controlled
by al Qaeda. And I would say this -- unless we take the oil from Libya, I have no interest in
Libya… And Libya is only good as far I'm concerned for one thing -- this country takes the oil. If
we're not taking the oil, no interest.”[Newsroom, CNN, 4/7/11]
2011: TRUMP SAID THE ARAB LEAGUE SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE
INTERVENTION IN LIBYA
Trump Argued That The Arab League Should Pay For The Intervention In Libya.
TRUMP: “Well, I think he's been very late. I mean I thought of it as really a humanitarian thing,
let's save some of these people, and you know two, three weeks later, thousands and thousands of
people have been killed and if he would have done this two weeks ago, 2 1/2 weeks ago, you
might have stopped the whole thing and frankly, I also think they've been pretty dissipated. I
don't think they have the power to take over anymore. So something bad is going to happen. So if
you're going to do it, you really should have done it earlier. Now the other thing -- I can't say kick
out of, but I just -- I'm amazed, the Arab League wants us to do it. Why aren't they paying for it?
This is Saudi Arabia, this is -- Why aren't they paying for it? You know they say go in and do it,
go in and do it, we don't like that guy very much. You know he's not nice to us. Go in and do it.
Why aren't they paying us?” [Fox & Friends, Fox News, 3/21/11]
TRUMP BRAGGED HE HAD DEALT WITH QADDAFI AND “SCREWED” HIM IN A
LAND DEAL…
Trump Bragged That He “Screwed” Qaddafi On A Land Lease In New Jersey.
TRUMP: “I've been interacting with leaders of countries and leaders of business all over the
world, all of my life. And I think you guys know that probably better than anybody. I think I
probably have more experience than anybody, whether I sell them real estate for tremendous
amounts of money -- I mean, I've dealt with everybody…. I dealt with Qaddafi.” DOOCY: “You
buried the lead. What did you do?” TRUMP: “Excuse me. I rented him a piece of land. He paid
me more for one night than the land was worth but the whole year, for two years, and then I
didn't let him use the land. That's what we should be doing.” DOOCY: “Was that over in New
Confidential Page 94
Jersey?” TRUMP: “I don't want to use the word screw but I screwed him. That's what we should
be doing. I rented him a piece of land in Bedford, New York. I rented him a piece of land…. He
paid me a fortune and then I didn't let him use the land.”[Fox & Friends, Fox News, 3/21/11]
BUT NOW SAYS WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF HE WAS STILL IN POWER
Donald Trump: World Would Be '100%' Better With Saddam Hussein, Moammar
Gadhafi Still In Power. “Donald Trump believes the world would be much better off if
ruthless dictators like Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi were still in power. ‘100%,’
Trump replied when asked that question in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper that aired
Sunday on ‘State of the Union.’ … ‘I mean, look at Libya. Look at Iraq. Iraq used to be no
terrorists. He (Hussein) would kill the terrorists immediately, which is like now it's the Harvard
of terrorism,’ Trump said. ‘If you look at Iraq from years ago, I'm not saying he was a nice guy,
he was a horrible guy, but it was a lot better than it is right now. Right now, Iraq is a training
ground for terrorists. Right now Libya, nobody even knows Libya, frankly there is no Iraq and
there is no Libya. It's all broken up. They have no control. Nobody knows what's going on.’”
[CNN, 10/25/15]
Donald Trump Said Human Rights Abuses In Iraq And Libya Are Worse Today
Than Under Saddam Hussein And Moammar Gadhafi. “Both Gadhafi and Hussein
committed atrocities against their own people and were among the world's worst human rights
abusers. NATO decided to intervene in Libya as Gadhafi appeared poised to commit a genocidal-
like massacre. But Trump said human rights abuses continue to plague Libya and Iraq and
claimed, ‘They're worse than they ever were.’ ‘People are getting their heads chopped off, they're
being drowned. Right now, they are far worse than they were, ever, under Saddam Hussein or
Gadhafi,’ he said.” [CNN, 10/25/15]
TRUMP RELEASED A VIDEO SUGGESTING HILLARY CLINTON LAUGHED AT
THE BENGHAZI ATTACKS…
Donald Trump Released A Video That Portrayed Hillary Clinton Laughing Over
Flaming Images Of The Benghazi Attack. “GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's
latest video, posted online Monday, portrays Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary
Clinton laughing over flaming images of the Benghazi attack. ‘Hillary has been having a laugh
at our expense for years,’ reads text at the beginning of the video, followed immediately with a
series of video clips of the former secretary of State chuckling. Clinton's laughter can be heard
while several news clips fly across the screen highlighting several controversies, from
Whitewater to the recent federal investigation into her private email arrangement while at
State.” [The Hill, 11/23/15]
Donald Trump: “Hillary, There Is Nothing To Laugh About” [realDonaldTrump,
Instagram, 11/23/15]
BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THE PARTISAN NATURE OF THE HOUSE BENGHAZI
COMMITTEE
Donald Trump Said Benghazi Committee’s Hearing Featuring Hillary Clinton
“Was Very Partisan, And It Looked Quite Partisan.” “Donald Trump said in an
Confidential Page 95
interview broadcast Sunday that the Benghazi committee's hearing featuring former Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton was ‘very partisan,’ adding that the ‘hatred’ displayed was ‘unbelievable. ‘It
was very partisan, and it looked quite partisan,’ Trump said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ ‘The
level of hatred between Republicans and Democrats was unbelievable.’ ‘You’ve never seen
anything like this.’ Trump said the partisanship ‘hurts both parties’ and ‘hurts the country’
because it prevents the government from accomplishing anything.” [The Hill, 10/25/15]
MEXICO
COMPARING IT TO CASTRO’S CUBA, TRUMP SAID MEXICO MADE A
CONCERTED EFFORT TO SEND ITS CRIMINALS TO THE U.S.
Trump Claimed Mexico Was Sending Criminals Over The Border In A More
“Sophisticated” Version Of When Castro “Opened Up His Prisons And Sent His
Prisoners To The United States.” “Trump also tried to make a historical comparison,
noting, ‘[Former Cuban leader Fidel] Castro, many years ago, opened up his prisons and sent his
prisoners to the United States,’ which the candidate called a disaster for the America, before
adding, ‘In a much more sophisticated manner, Mexico is [now] doing the same thing.’ According
to Trump, Mexico calls the shots at Univision as well, which explains why the network canceled
their business arrangements with him.” [New York Magazine, 6/12/15]
Trump On Those Protesting Him Over His Immigration Comments: “They Were So
Sophisticated. I Guarantee You That The Country Of Mexico Had Those People
[Sent There].” “Trump proposed that protesters and critics were being sent by the government
of Mexico to oppose him. ‘They were so sophisticated. I guarantee you that the country of Mexico
had those people [sent there],’ Trump said.” [Business Insider, 7/11/15]
MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: TRUMP’S PROPOSALS “WOULD BE
DETRIMENTAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF BOTH SOCIETIES”
Mexico On Trump’s Immigration Plan: “Anyone Who Understands The Depth Of
The U.S.-Mexico Relationship Realizes That Those Proposals Are Not Only
Prejudiced And Absurd, But Would Be Detrimental To The Well-Being Of Both
Societies.” “The Mexican Foreign ministry on Wednesday slammed Donald Trump for his plan
to deport the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. ‘Anyone who
understands the depth of the U.S.-Mexico relationship realizes that those proposals are not only
prejudiced and absurd, but would be detrimental to the well-being of both societies,’ the Mexican
Foreign Ministry said Wednesday in a statement to Reuters. The foreign ministry also slammed
the Republican presidential front-runner for his comments about undocumented immigrants who
come into the U.S. from Mexico, whom Trump called ‘rapists’ and ‘killers’ when he launched his
presidential bid in June. The Mexican foreign minister had previously called out Trump for those
remarks. ‘We continue to stand by our position that these comments reflect prejudice, racism or
plain ignorance,’ Mexico's foreign ministry said in the statement Wednesday.” [CNN, 8/20/15]
RUSSIA
Confidential Page 96
TRUMP CLAIMED HE WOULD GET ALONG “VERY WELL” WITH PUTIN AND
SAID HE WAS A GOOD LEADER
Donald Trump Said Russian President Vladimir Putin Is Getting An “A” For His
Leadership. “During their interview Tuesday night, O’Reilly pressed Trump on his recently
released tax plan and about Russian President Vladimir Putin supporting Syrian President
Bashar al Assad. ‘I think in terms of leadership, he’s getting an A and our president is not doing
so well—they did not look good together,’ Trump said before adding that there’s ‘very little
downside’ to Putin fighting ISIS in Syria.” [Politico, 9/29/15; The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News,
9/19/15]
Trump Said He And Putin Would Get Along “Very Well.” “‘Putin – who I would get
along with very well… he can’t stand Obama,’ Trump said, commenting on his ability to get
along very well with people.” [Breitbart, 8/11/15; Genesee and Saginaw Republican Party's
Lincoln Day dinner, 8/11/15]
Trump: Putin “Is Doing A Great Job.” TRUMP: “If you look at what's happened with this
country in terms of the prestige and all of the other great things that we -- we're losing it rapidly.
Now, they're talking about China. They're talking about Russia. They're talking about India.
Look at Putin -- what he's doing with Russia -- I mean, you know, what's going on over there. I
mean this guy has done -- whether you like him or don't like him -- he's doing a great job.”[Larry
King Live, CNN, 10/15/07]
TRUMP ON PUTIN’S MILITARY DECISIONS: “HE DOES WHAT HE HAS TO DO”
Donald Trump: When Vladimir Putin Rolls In Soldiers To Cause Destruction And Shoots Down Airplanes, “Well,
He Does What He Has To Do.” TRUMP: “[Putin] is not representing us. He is representing Russia. So, I mean, you
know, if he can make a deal because we have stupid leadership, I would say it's the right thing to do for Russia.” BILL
O’REILLY: “But he doesn’t make deals he just rolls soldiers in to cause destruction and shoots down airplanes. What did
you think when Rubio said —“ TRUMP: “Well, he does what he has to do.” [The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 11/11/15]
SAUDI ARABIA
Trump Wanted Saudi Arabia To Pay The U.S. For Their Support. “Trump, who has
repeatedly portrayed Mexico, Japan, and China as ‘ripping us off,’ shifted his focus to Saudi
Arabia in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. ‘They should pay us,’ Trump
said of the oil rich nation. ‘Like it or don’t like it, people have backed Saudi Arabia. What I really
mind, though, is we back it at tremendous expense. We get nothing for it.’ Trump portrayed the
U.S. financial relationship with Saudi Arabia as outdated. ‘The primary reason we're with Saudi
Arabia is because we need the oil,’ Trump said. ‘Now we don't need the oil so much, and if we let
our people really go, we wouldn't need the oil at all and we could let everybody else fight it out.’
The U.S. currently imports more than one million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil each day,
according to the U.S. State Department's website….’Saudi Arabia, if it weren’t for us, they
wouldn’t be here,’ Trump said. ‘They wouldn’t exist.’” [Bloomberg, 8/16/15]
SOUTH KOREA
Confidential Page 97
Trump Complained That South Korea Should Be Paying The U.S. For Security.
TRUMP: “First of all, South Korea isn't even signing a trade pact with us. They make hundreds
of billions of dollars of let's call it profit on the United States. The president goes over there
recently and they embarrass him by saying we want more. You wouldn't believe me. This deal
that we're making is so bad and they won't even sign it. Then they get bombed and we send over
-- I say two things. Why aren't they paying us? They make a fortune. Why aren't they paying us
for security? Why are we doing this for nothing? We are the dumbest people.” [Fox & Friends,
Fox News, 12/2/10]
SYRIA
In March 2011, Trump Questioned Getting Involved In Syria Saying “It’s A
Slippery Slope.” CARLSON: “So what do you think about -- Donald, what do you think about
people are saying, well, now the same situation is happening in Syria, so maybe the United
States should get involved there. Do you think it's a slippery slope and what would you do?”
TRUMP: “Well, it is a slippery slope and more and more, you realize that we're over there
fighting wars to open up these governments and they would have opened up themselves because
it's a mess. It's a total mess. You know it's that whole part of the world. You just wonder --
should we be there at all because it is a total mess.” [Fox & Friends, Fox News, 3/28/11]
Donald Trump Said The “Fools” Advocating More Direct Military Action In Syria
“Basically Want To Start World War 3.” “The strife in Syria has become a staple of
Trump’s stump speech and it is an area where he has begun to differentiate himself from others
in his party with a stance that sounds decidedly more cautious. In the interview, he questioned
those who are advocating more direct military intervention by the United States. ‘They basically
want to start World War 3 over Syria,’ he said. ‘If we’re going to have World War 3, it’s not going
to be over Syria. . . . I won’t even call them hawks. I call them the fools.’” [Washington Post,
10/7/15]
Trump: “We Have To Do One Thing At A Time. We Can’t Be Fighting ISIS And
Fighting Assad