As Donald Trump wins the race for US Presidential candidate, here’s a look at some interesting facts about the controversial man:
A successful TV celebrity
During the sitcom Spin City, New York City mayor Randall Winston sought guidance from Donald Trump on writing his memoir. During a 1998 episode, Trump confidently enters the mayor’s office, takes a seat without permission, and boasts that writing his books The Art of the Deal and The Art of the Comeback was easy for him: “First day, nine chapters.”
Before Trump’s appearance on The Apprentice in 2004, he had already portrayed himself as the pinnacle of business success. Before his presidential campaign, Trump understood the impact of television. By frequently appearing on TV as a successful tycoon, he became more relatable to Americans than any news coverage of his successes or failures.
When he declared his candidacy for president in June 2015, Trump outshined his rivals in the Republican nomination race through high levels of media exposure on television. All in all, he had a successful TV career.
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Bankruptcies
Trump’s businesses have sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, allowing them to continue operating while eliminating a significant portion of their debts. The corporate budget and debt repayment plan are usually authorized by the bankruptcy court, resulting in shareholders commonly losing a large portion of their equity.
Trump’s Taj Mahal debuted in Atlantic City in April 1990, however, just half a year later, according to The Washington Post’s Robert O’Harrow, the property “failed to meet its interest obligations to bondholders due to financial troubles.” In July of 1991, Trump’s Taj Mahal declared bankruptcy. He struggled to pay off debts for two other Atlantic City casinos, which both filed for bankruptcy in 1992. The Plaza Hotel in New York filed for bankruptcy in 1992 due to accumulating debt, making it the fourth property to do so.
PolitiFact discovered an additional two bankruptcies that were filed after 1992, bringing the total to six. Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts declared bankruptcy for a second time in 2004, following the accumulation of approximately $1.8 billion in debt. Trump Entertainment Resorts went bankrupt in 2009 as a result of the financial impact of the 2008 recession.
Criminal charges
In US history, the 78-year-old is the initial ex-president to be criminally convicted after being declared guilty of falsifying business records.
A couple of weeks after, the US Supreme Court decided that he had limited protection in one of the most crucial cases he is involved in – his attempt to overturn the 2020 election outcome.
Not long after, the ex-president achieved another legal victory as a Florida judge threw out a case involving his management of classified documents.
