Trump 101
The Way to Success
by Donald J. Trump and Meredith McIver


(Click for Amazon book review)

OnTheIssues.org BOOK REVIEW:

Trump University might become the biggest scandal on the Republican side in the 2016 general election, so OnTheIssues looked at the facts beyond the media hype. This book is Donald Trump’s introduction to Trump University: about the school, its methodology, and his involvement. We’ll review the content and context of this book; we’ll also review the 2016 issues and controversy regarding Trump University.

This book isn’t quite a Trump University textbook – more like an introduction to prospective students or incoming students. Even though Trump University closed in 2010, the actual textbooks – not written by Trump – are still readily available on Amazon; a selection:

Alas, Trump University also had some dissatisfied students, as does every institution. And those dissatisfied students filed a lawsuit, claiming that Trump University’s high-pressure sales tactics made them more a multi-level marketing tool than an institution of higher learning. That lawsuit was filed in 2010 and is still pending in 2016 – with Donald Trump trading barbs with Judge Gonzalo Curiel about the judge’s bias (Trump claims that, because of Judge Curiel’s Mexican heritage, he should recuse himself, since Trump’s campaign stances against Mexico mean that anyone of Mexican descent would be biased).

There is a third lawsuit, too, filed in 2013, also still pending and also overseen by Judge Curiel: a class-action lawsuit which forced the release of Trump University documents. The two ongoing lawsuits, especially the release of otherwise private documents, should provide fodder for the feeding frenzy of the mainstream media for the entire duration of the general election campaign. But politically, the whole scandal is equivalent to the Hillary Clinton email scandal: yes, there is potential for indictment and a trial, but politics overwhelms any legal issues. The mainstream media feeding frenzy IS the story, for both Trump University and for Hillary’s emails.

The core of the political issue about Trump University is whether Donald Trump was personally involved, and how deeply. Donald says in this book, “I’m deeply and actively involved in Trump University” (p. xix), and claimed at the time that he participated daily (compared to just being a figurehead, which would mean the lawsuits do not apply to Trump, personally). Trump writes this book as a university-oriented book, portraying himself as a “coach” who sets the tone for the institution. Each chapter has the following sections, by and about Trump:

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, June 2016

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Budget & Economy     Known for "You're Fired!" but it's unpleasant & disruptive.     Money is part of your reward for succeeding.     In early 1990s, I was $9B in debt; but I never went bankrupt.

Corporations     First real estate deal: 1,200-unit residential foreclosure.     Do your research, but then trust your instincts.     Learning to be spontaneous takes preparation & practice.     Move quickly from seeing problems to seeing solutions.     12-hour working days are my norm, not an exception.

Education     I'm deeply and actively involved in Trump University.     FactCheck: More than figurehead at Trump U.

Foreign Policy     Persuasion, not power, is diplomacy at its best.     Countries and corporations must both evolve, or fade away.

Government Reform     Speak simply & clearly, even when addressing Congress.

Principles & Values     Passion overcomes many difficult impossibilities.     Think on "Trump scale" and make a BIG statement.     Many people are afraid to fail, so they don't try.     Beauty and elegance are my signature and my brand.     Change isn't an admission that you were wrong.     Look at people non-judgmentally, without right or wrong.     Give others a fair chance, but eliminate scoundrels.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Donald Trump