Donald Trump Is No Billionaire — He’s Living On Credit, And Financial Disclosure Will Prove It, Says Rick Wilson
Donald Trump’s image has been built, in large part, around his wealth. He has his name on big, expensive buildings and resorts, and owns properties in other countries. Part of his presidential campaign was the idea that he could fund it himself, rather than depending on funding from corporations, lobbyists, and individuals, which would all come with strings attached. However, Rick Wilson, political consultant and part of the Lincoln Project PAC, says that it’s all a facade, and that when Trump is forced to release financial records, the image will come crashing down.
In an op-ed for the Daily Beast, Rick Wilson shared the story of a discussion he’d had with a hedge fund manager while Trump was campaigning for the 2016 presidential election. “Trump’s not a billionaire. I’m a billionaire. Trump is a clown, living on credit,” was the response as Wilson reports it.
In fact, Wilson says, while Trump campaigned on being too wealthy to be “bought,” he would actually “chase a dollar bill on a string through a trailer park,” and has sold out America for his own gain.
Wilson — and other critics of the president — say this is one reason he’s fought all the way to the Supreme Court to prevent his financial records from being disclosed in response to subpoenas. Trump even tweeted rants complaining about the decision — which does not immediately release the documents, but does mean that they can be sought.
The Supreme Court sends case back to Lower Court, arguments to continue. This is all a political prosecution. I won the Mueller Witch Hunt, and others, and now I have to keep fighting in a politically corrupt New York. Not fair to this Presidency or Administration!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
It’s not the first time Trump has been accused of faking wealth. According to Forbes, he made it onto their list of 400 wealthiest people in 1985 by lying, “inventing a fake persona to lie about a transfer of wealth from his father.” The magazine admits they fell for the trick, but five years later, after an independent investigation, found that “decline in Atlantic City gaming revenues, unmasking of misstated asset values, declining real estate values and massive debt may have put The Donald within hailing distance of zero.”
Trump’s taxes aren’t becoming public any time soon, though press secretary Kayleigh McEnany insists the president still plans to release them just as soon as his audit ends. However, if they ever do make it into the public eye, some of his sharpest critics say that his public persona will be taking a hit.