Editor, Times-Union:
So you elected a guy in 2016 because you thought he was a successful and savvy businessman and was just what the country needed to — what? Put it back on some imaginary track to prosperity and dignity? Make everyone equal and rich? Did you not know about his lifelong record of business failures, his unscrupulous personal lifestyle, his monumental ego and thirst for power that might not meet the standards for and requirements of a president of the United States? Ah, but he was a TV personality. He appeared to be a business genius …. guiding, hiring, firing apprentices aspiring to be him. How did that work out? If you had pulled the theatrical curtain back long before 2016, you might have discovered:
His “successful” business track record included no fewer than six failures, all ending in corporate bankruptcies. He said, “I have used the laws of this country …. the chapter laws, to do a great job for my company, my employees, myself and my family.” (My, my, my, me, me, me) An analysis of regulatory reviews, court records, and security filings, found otherwise, however. It was reported in 2016 that Trump “put up little of his own money, shifted personal debts … and collected millions of dollars in salary, bonuses, and other payments. The burden of his failures fell on investors and others who had bet on his business acumen.” (New York Times)
“From the 1970s until he was elected in 2016, Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in United States federal and state courts. Between October 2021 and July 2022, The Republican National Committee paid more than two million dollars to attorneys representing Trump in his presidential, personal, and business capacities.” (Wikipedia) I believe the RNC is still paying his bills, and by the way, these are the dollars you probably donated to him — even though he said “I am very rich” and would not need money from anyone.
Other Trump losses and failures included the Trump University fraud fiasco and the Trump Charity lawsuit due to fraudulent misuse of funds for political purposes.
But wait, there’s more. His failures continued with the loss of:
• two popular votes in presidential elections
• two impeachments while in office
• two lawsuits for personal defamation and sexual assault
• one lawsuit (Trump Organization) for insurance and tax fraud
• one indictment and guilty verdict for falsifying New York business records in a hush money case attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election (Who rigged what now?)
• three more possible losses when three more indictments go to trial over an attempt to overthrow an election, illegally keeping top secret records, and attempting to falsify election results
Do you really want to keep supporting and voting for this guy with your hard-earned dollars and your unwavering loyalty? After all of these failures, do you really think he has the morality, the honesty, the integrity or the desire to do the best job for America? For you? Think again.
Jeanne Tuka Schutz
Winona Lake, via email