# Doesn't Trump know he's too thin skinned for politics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 24, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292 "2011-12-24T17:09:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/41 "2011-12-28T02:44:49Z")
Note that the title of the linked cite is “How Much Is Donald Trump _Really_ Worth?” [Italics mine] In his book, Trump states that his holdings were analyzed by an independent brand valuation company named Predictive. Predictive’s client list, according to Trump, includes VISA, Southwest Airlines, Pfizer, General Motors and UPS, so assuming Trump isn’t lying about Predictive’s client list, which would be easy to prove if so and therefore unlikely, Predictive has a proven track record in evaluating the worth of a brand. And Predictive lists Trump’s worth as I described, with Trump having around four billion in tangible wealth and an additional three billion in brand valuation, for a total of around seven billion dollars. But even if you don’t want to accept Predictive’s evaluation, you are still left with that of Forbes, which estimated Trump’s net worth last September - excluding brand valuation - at $2.9 billion, which is only a billion or so less than Predictive’s estimate, minus brand value. So like it or not, it looks like Trump’s tangible wealth is pretty solidly in the three-to-four billion dollar range. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/42 "2011-12-28T04:20:45Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > In his book, Trump states that his holdings were analyzed by an independent brand valuation company named Predictive. The article doesn’t say that. It says his $3B “brand valuation” was calculated/validated by Predictive. As far as I can tell, no one other than Trump has validated the other numbers and Forbes has pretty much admitted that they are basing their estimates on Trump’s own statements. I’ll say it again, _no one knows_. Trump could be lying his ass off and there’s really no way to tell. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/43 "2011-12-28T05:38:33Z")
Has Donald Trump ever publicly discussed the content of his politics in any depth? Serious question, I never watched his shows and I’ve never heard a political comment attributed to him. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/44 "2011-12-28T06:08:16Z")
Meh, a billion here, a billion there, pretty soon your talking about real money. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/45 "2011-12-28T06:30:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Has Donald Trump ever publicly discussed the content of his politics in any depth? Serious question, I never watched his shows and I’ve never heard a political comment attributed to him. Here are some positions he’s taken on issues throughout the years: [http://www.issues2000.org/Donald\_Trump.htm](http://www.issues2000.org/Donald_Trump.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/46 "2011-12-28T19:57:13Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Trump has released his financials. [Cite](http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/11/21/how-much-is-donald-trump-really-worth/) > > To wit: > > Estimated net worth: $7.004 billion… That’s still Trump telling us what Trump is worth, hardly convincing. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > …The thing is, Trump is a genius… The guy is definitely bright but not in the “he operates on an entirely different playing field” bright. He is essentially a guy who was born rich and who worked hard and took a lot of risks to become much richer. > [@](#): > > If there’s been one constant that I’ve observed in Trump over the years, it’s that the things he does almost always pay off for him the way he wants in the end. People call him a buffoon and they make fun of his hair and they ridicule the things he says, but all the while he’s kicking butt and making things happen the way he wants. And it’s his ability to make things happen the way he wants despite outward appearances that belies his genius, and that ability is what speaks most highly to his potential effectiveness as president. You sure about that because he has more than a few failed projects under his belt. His most im portant talent is in taking risks, while very good for a businessman, not quite as good for a person who has a nuclear arsenal at his disposal. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Well, you’re entitled to your opinion. I basically just wanted to put to rest the allegations that Trump was lying about his wealth. … I don’t think you have done that. He has a history of lying about his wealth. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Note that the title of the linked cite is “How Much Is Donald Trump _Really_ Worth?” > [Italics mine] > > In his book, Trump states that his holdings were analyzed by an independent brand valuation company named Predictive. I think Predictive only values intangibles not real assets and frankly he paid them to tell him that. Its one thing when you hire these guys to tell you how much of a premium you should pay to buy a company that has some brand value its entirely different if you hire them so that you can tell people how much your brand is worth, you see the difference don’t you, but in the end, people pay him lots of money to put his name on their buildings so tehre is at least some value to the Trump name. We have only Trump’s word to rely on in how much his hard assets are worth. > [@](#): > > But even if you don’t want to accept Predictive’s evaluation, you are still left with that of Forbes, which estimated Trump’s net worth last September - excluding brand valuation - at $2.9 billion, which is only a billion or so less than Predictive’s estimate, minus brand value. We had that before the discussion started and we discounted it largely because Forbes bases its estimate on things that trumps has told them. > [@](#): > > So like it or not, it looks like Trump’s tangible wealth is pretty solidly in the three-to-four billion dollar range. I don’t doubt Trump is a wealthy man but there was at least a few points in time when he was claiming to be worth more than a billion dollars when he was not (at least not in hard assets) so people are understandably skeptical of any claims he makes especially when the large part of his total worth depends on his “brand” value. As your cite should show, Trump believes that a significant amount of his value derives from his “brand” and his brand is based on the fact that he has been able to put a name brand on real estate in a way that no other developer has and has been able to command a real estate premium for that brand. People will pay more for a condo in trump Towers than for an identical condo in an equally desirable location so a lot of his wealth and prospects for future wealth are reputation sensitive. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/47 "2011-12-28T20:02:04Z")
Can we at least agree that no matter the exact value of his holdings, Trump’s kind of a jerk? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/48 "2011-12-28T21:27:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Can we at least agree that no matter the exact value of his holdings, Trump’s kind of a jerk? I’m Typo Knig, and I endorse this message. Referring back to the OP, IMNAAHO Trump is far too thin-skinned for elective office. He also is not ready for a major national campaign, even if it wasn’t too late for a POTUS run this time. Looking at the issue web site posted upthread, he’ll have a hard time keeping traction with the Republican base since he’s changed his position on abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/49 "2011-12-29T00:32:02Z")
He’d probably have a harder time keeping traction with the Republican base if he hadn’t changed his position on abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/50 "2011-12-29T01:45:59Z")
Trump has a position on abortion? I was under the impression all his positions were on Trump himself and what a great/rich/presidential guy he was. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/51 "2011-12-29T02:03:19Z")
Perhaps he’s in favor of it if he owns the abortion clinic? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/52 "2011-12-29T02:34:59Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Perhaps he’s in favor of it if he owns the abortion clinic? You mean the Trump Pump and Dump? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/53 "2011-12-29T02:54:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Can we at least agree that no matter the exact value of his holdings, Trump’s kind of a jerk? Aye. And the kind who sneers all the way to the bank. He **makes money for** being a jerk! :mad: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/54 "2011-12-29T02:56:17Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Here are some positions he’s taken on issues throughout the years: > > [http://www.issues2000.org/Donald\_Trump.htm](http://www.issues2000.org/Donald_Trump.htm) Wow. Trump once proposed a “One-time 14.25% tax on wealth, to erase national debt. (Nov 1999).” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/55 "2011-12-29T02:58:02Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Trump has a position on abortion? I was under the impression all his positions were on Trump himself and what a great/rich/presidential guy he was. I do find myself wondering how he would redecorate the WH . . . ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/56 "2011-12-29T03:00:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I do find myself wondering how he would redecorate the WH . . . I think fetus chandeliers would be tasteful. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292/57 "2011-12-29T16:26:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I do find myself wondering how he would redecorate the WH . . . That would be the TRUMP House! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-trump-know-hes-too-thin-skinned-for-politics/607292.md?page=2)