# Was it a mistake for Trump to run? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 29, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250 "2016-09-29T23:00:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/1 "2016-09-29T23:00:11Z")
It appears to me that Trump’s dealings are facing a lot more examination now that he a candidate for president. I’m sure Trump supporters will say that the extra attention is politically motivated and that may very well be, we can even assume that, it doesn’t matter. But here’s the thing, if we assume that Trump has done some shady dealings they will now be far more exposed than they might ever have been. This might tarnish his brand. If he has had illegal dealings, this could be very costly both in terms of fines and tarnishing of the brand. Only Trump knows whether is he guilty of something or not. But let’s say he is and he knows it, was it a mistake then to run? Overall, do you think the Trump brand has been buffed or tarnished from his candidacy? If he loses, do you think it will tarnish him? Based in part on this story: > **[New York attorney general is reportedly widening probe into Trump foundation](https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/29/new-york-attorney-general-is-reportedly-widening-probe-into-trump-foundation.html?_source=Facebook)** > > The New York attorney general's probe of Donald Trump's foundation appears to have expanded, according to a report. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/2 "2016-09-29T23:04:37Z")
Yes – all his existing businesses will suffer. He might start a TV network (essentially Breitbart TV), though, which could make up for those losses. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/3 "2016-09-29T23:09:21Z")
The guy is 70 years old and his whole life has been an insecure, narcisstic attempt to prove to the world that he was great and worthy of attention. Growing his businesses another 5 or 10 percent before he died doesn’t really make a big difference, but going down as one of the most controversial political figures - and possibly President of the United States, does. This is the culimination of everything his mental illnesses (or eccentricities - he’s rich!) has made him seek through his life, so no, it was not a mistake from his perspective. If he had the chance at it, he might do something truly drastic so that his name was the one we were talking about in hundreds of years like we speak of ghenghis khan or napoleon. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/4 "2016-09-29T23:11:51Z")
I think so. I think this has made intelligent people aware of how unhinged Trump is, and I would assume most investors are fairly smart people. Trump may have built a base of support among angry, emotion driven white people but that isn’t going to help his business. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/5 "2016-09-29T23:22:53Z")
\*\*Was it a mistake for Trump to run? \*\* In a word - yes. When all is said and done, Trump is going to find that his “Brand” is irretrievably tarnished - it will no longer stand for flashy expensive (if gaudy) quality. It will stand for low-quality white trash rubbish. He’ll be lucky if Target will sell anything with his name on it. His net worth will diminish markedly - he’s already down 800 million due to NYC property values going down. His eponymously named “Charity” will likely fold after more revelations come to light, and he no longer be able to pay his bills and fines using other people’s (tax deducted) money. Very few will do business with him. Already, major banks have declared him a toxic risk. Now, after he is KNOWN to stiff his workers, contractors, and even a children’s singing group for God’s sake. Who is going to do work for him without a 100% cash deposit up front? He’s pissed off Ford Motors, Apple, Disney, Nascar, and pretty much every Fortune 100 company. On the plus side for Trump: He’ll be popular among the angry, disaffected, racist and underemployed… He’ll be able to go on speaking tours, and sell them overpriced crap. This will only net him a few millions/year though. Not enough. He’ll be popular in Russia. He may actually move there to work with Putin and/or Putin’s cronies. Or maybe a despot from a third world country with billions to spend. I’m serious about this as a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/6 "2016-09-29T23:27:53Z")
We’ll find out in five weeks’ time. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, is going to be severely embarrassed if he gets elected. The thought of seeing her having to crawl and grovel in abject apology to him is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/7 "2016-09-29T23:34:04Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > …and I would assume most investors are fairly smart people. For a very reasonable initial fee, I will license you usage of the word **successful** - you can insert it anywhere you want! Into sentences, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/8 "2016-09-29T23:54:25Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The guy is 70 years old and his whole life has been an insecure, narcisstic attempt to prove to the world that he was great and worthy of attention. Growing his businesses another 5 or 10 percent before he died doesn’t really make a big difference, but going down as one of the most controversial political figures - and possibly President of the United States, does. This is the culimination of everything his mental illnesses (or eccentricities - he’s rich!) has made him seek through his life, so no, it was not a mistake from his perspective. If he had the chance at it, he might do something truly drastic so that his name was the one we were talking about in hundreds of years like we speak of ghenghis khan or napoleon. This was kind of what I was thinking of as well for a counter point. Is it possible that Trump doesn’t care about his business legacy if he can create a personal legacy? And so from that perspective, is it a mistake to run? Well probably not. If he loses, and say his business are significantly damaged, will he regret this choice because he will have lost business legacy? Personally, I don’t think he has enough self-awareness for that. I think he will always just blame it on losers and haters and in his own mind he will always be Donald. Trump. and that’s all that matters. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/9 "2016-09-30T00:07:11Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > On the plus side for Trump: > > He’ll be popular among the angry, disaffected, racist and underemployed… He’ll be able to go on speaking tours, and sell them overpriced crap. This will only net him a few millions/year though. Not enough. Of course not. These are not the people who can afford tickets that run in the thousands of dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/10 "2016-09-30T00:09:51Z")
Any damage to his brand has probably been offset by the immense publicity his brand has gained; sometimes any attention, even bad attention, is good for business. And I concur with **SenorBeef** ; at age 70, Trump is at the point where business matters less than establishing personal legacy. By being the nominee of a major political party and running for President, he’s already bolstered his legacy far beyond anything before. The guy is going down in history. He is going down as a villain, but his name and brand has gained 100x more visibility this year than ever before. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/11 "2016-09-30T00:11:13Z")
Trump has single-handedly set back the GOP 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/12 "2016-09-30T00:13:17Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Trump has single-handedly set back the GOP 40 years. The GOP in 1976 was probably in better shape than the GOP of 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/13 "2016-09-30T00:14:09Z")
I suspect that a lot of that dirt was going to come out into the light soon anyway. If he was going to do anything to raise awareness of him and cash in his chips, now was probably his last chance, before his brand tanked _without_ the side benefits of running for office. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/14 "2016-09-30T00:32:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The GOP in 1976 was probably in better shape than the GOP of 2016. Not for the America of 2016. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/15 "2016-09-30T00:33:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I suspect that a lot of that dirt was going to come out into the light soon anyway. If he was going to do anything to raise awareness of him and cash in his chips, now was probably his last chance, before his brand tanked _without_ the side benefits of running for office. Hey you’re a physicist type can you create some technojargon quantum reality thing-a-ma-jig so we can see an alternate reality and see if that is so. Because that’s what started me wondering about this in the first place from reading that news story. Would there be this attention on Trump’s dealings if he had not run? And you might very well be right, maybe so. But I don’t know, I think running for political office gets a great big ol’ spotlight on you and suddenly everybody wants to take a peak. For example, nobody wanted to see Trump’s tax records before he ran. Nobody really cared but now they do. And that’s not even taking into consideration the potential for partisan motivated prying eyes. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/16 "2016-09-30T00:34:45Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The guy is 70 years old and his whole life has been an insecure, narcisstic attempt to prove to the world that he was great and worthy of attention. Growing his businesses another 5 or 10 percent before he died doesn’t really make a big difference, but going down as one of the most controversial political figures - and possibly President of the United States, does. This is the culimination of everything his mental illnesses (or eccentricities - he’s rich!) has made him seek through his life, so no, it was not a mistake from his perspective. If he had the chance at it, he might do something truly drastic so that his name was the one we were talking about in hundreds of years like we speak of ghenghis khan or napoleon. He’s going to go down as a joke and the worst presidential candidate ever. It’s extremely hard for normal people to lose a presidential race, for a narcissist it would have to be much much worse to get rejected at the highest level. All the constant assurances about how he’s still going to be doing great if he loses should tell you exactly how he feels. He never expected to get this far and he won’t be able to handle losing. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/17 "2016-09-30T01:05:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I suspect that a lot of that dirt was going to come out into the light soon anyway. If he was going to do anything to raise awareness of him and **cash in his chips** , now was probably his last chance, before his brand tanked _without_ the side benefits of running for office. [my emphasis] Unfortunately, he doesn’t have his dad to give him millions in casino chips to cash in any more. [N.j. Agency Says Trump Loan Illegal](http://articles.philly.com/1991-04-09/news/25780577_1_casino-control-act-donald-trump-casino-owners) > [@](#): > > ATLANTIC CITY — One of Donald Trump’s casinos has admitted that it broke the law and violated terms of its license when the developer’s father lent it $3.5 million by purchasing gaming chips when he had no plans to gamble, the state Division of Gaming Enforcement said yesterday.[Posted: April 09, 1991] ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/18 "2016-09-30T01:11:05Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > He’s going to go down as a joke and the worst presidential candidate ever. It’s extremely hard for normal people to lose a presidential race, for a narcissist it would have to be much much worse to get rejected at the highest level. All the constant assurances about how he’s still going to be doing great if he loses should tell you exactly how he feels. He never expected to get this far and he won’t be able to handle losing. Also, for a childish sexist to lose to a girl! _GASP_ ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/19 "2016-09-30T03:03:08Z")
I remember a few months back an evengelical conservative who did say that when Trump was going to become the Republican nominee he thought that that was going to be a big mistake; because trump did not have just a few skeletons in his closet, _ **but werehouses full of them** _. He was right, and even more of those werehouses are popping up. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-foundation-lacks-the-certification-required-for-charities-that-solicit-money/2016/09/29/7dac6a68-8658-11e6-ac72-a29979381495\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-foundation-lacks-the-certification-required-for-charities-that-solicit-money/2016/09/29/7dac6a68-8658-11e6-ac72-a29979381495_story.html) > [@](#): > > **Trump Foundation lacks the certification required for charities that solicit money** > > Donald Trump’s charitable foundation — which has been sustained for years by donors outside the Trump family — has never obtained the certification that New York requires before charities can solicit money from the public, according to the state attorney general’s office. > > Under the laws in New York, where the Donald J. Trump Foundation is based, any charity that solicits more than $25,000 a year from the public must obtain a special kind of registration beforehand. Charities as large as Trump’s must also submit to a rigorous annual audit that asks — among other things — whether the charity spent any money for the personal benefit of its officers. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250/20 "2016-09-30T03:07:39Z")
The organizations could be RICO’d for all this shit. Doesn’t have to be mob: just ask Michael Milken and Drexel Burnham Lambert [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-trump-to-run/767250.md?page=2)