Trump boasts about his philanthropy. But his giving falls short of his words.

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post

By David A. Fahrenthold October 29 at 3:00 PM

-snip-

For as long as he has been rich and famous, Donald Trump has also wanted people to believe he is generous. He spent years constructing an image as a philanthropist by appearing at charity events and by making very public — even nationally televised — promises to give his own money away. It was, in large part, a facade. A months-long investigation by The Washington Post has not been able to verify many of Trump’s boasts about his philanthropy.

Instead, throughout his life in the spotlight, whether as a businessman, television star or presidential candidate, The Post found that Trump had sought credit for charity he had not given — or claimed other people’s giving as his own.

It is impossible to know for certain what Trump has given to charity, because he has declined to release his tax returns. In all, The Post was able to identify $7.8 million in charitable giving from Trump’s own pocket since the early 1980s. In public appearances, Trump often made it appear that he gave far more.

Trump promised to give away the proceeds of “Trump University.” He promised to donate the salary he earned from “The Apprentice.” He promised to give personal donations to the charities chosen by contestants on “Celebrity Apprentice.” He promised to donate $250,000 to a charity helping Israeli soldiers and veterans.

-snip-



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-boasts-of-his-philanthropy-but-his-giving-falls-short-of-his-words/2016/10/29/b3c03106-9ac7-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html?wpisrc=al_alert-COMBO-politics%252Bnation

[mucifer]

1. great article. But, you forgot to add the link. One horrible thing he did:

He went to a pediatric AIDS benefit uninvited. He just showed up got on the stage sat next to rudi giuliani. He got tons of attention and publicity. He left the event without donating a PENNY.

Sociopath.

[DonViejo]

9. Thanks! Link has been added.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. I've been reading it...he has chutzpah, for sure.

A lot of his behavior is galling, and he is shameless. My neck has a kink now from shaking my head so often while I read.

Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon who recently bought the Post, might take a 2nd look at the guy he is vilifying in this story, tho...just saying.

[smirkymonkey]

17. He has my vote

for the most contemptible human being on the planet. God he makes me absolutely sick.

[forest444]

2. Au contraire. He LOVES giving to his favorite charity:

Himself.

[SamKnause]

3. A con man with zero morals who craves the spotlight.

[uppityperson]

7. Here's the link, I think

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-boasts-of-his-philanthropy-but-his-giving-falls-short-of-his-words/2016/10/29/b3c03106-9ac7-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html

[wolfie001]

8. Sociopath!

Here's the definition from 'Wiki How To Do Anything':

A sociopath can be defined as a person who has Antisocial Personality Disorder. This disorder is characterized by a disregard for the feelings of others, a lack of remorse or shame, manipulative behavior, unchecked egocentricity, and the ability to lie in order to achieve one's goals. Sociopaths can be dangerous at worst or simply very difficult to deal with, and it's important to know if you've found yourself with a sociopath, whether it's someone you're dating or an impossible coworker *(or a Presidential candidate). If you want to know how to spot a sociopath, then you have to pay careful attention to what the person says or does.

*I added that bit.

[moonscape]

10. Best quote:

“If your worldview is only you — if all you’re seeing is a mirror — then there’s nobody to give money to,” Schwartz said. “Except yourself.”

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Trump just lies & his lies weren't crushed from day 1 (lazy media) so he got away with it and that

That means that the mountain of his lies is so huge that there is no hope to debunk even a few of them.

But it is still worth keeping the heat on him and his surrogates. Wake up, media!

[BumRushDaShow]

13. An earlier article noted this problem

And it was well-known among the NYC elite, which was the thrust of the below article commenting on Trump's major faux pas and his apparent bitterness regarding the shunning of him over the decades by the very people who he wanted to hob nob with and be a part of. I.e., he was always a cheapskate when it came to the philanthropy expected of that tier of society and thus he came across as nothing more than a buffoon who specialized in conspicuous consumption -

Trump also made a clear reference to Bloomberg at a rally in Iowa on Thursday: "I was going to hit one guy, in particular a very little guy. I was going to hit this guy so hard his head would spin. He wouldn't know what the hell happened."

Bloomberg is not a Democrat. Nor is he running for office. But he gets the threat of physical violence and a fun nickname because someone like Bloomberg offending Trump is especially offensive to Trump. Any New Yorker can tell you why. It's because Trump has spent decades ignoring one of the cardinal rules of being publicly rich in this town: If you must flaunt your money, then you must also give it away in large sums. If you don't, then you'll spend your life feeling like an outsider, building resentment against those who should be your set. And that's exactly what Trump has done.

While America has spent decades seeing Trump as a billionaire entrepreneur with a lux lifestyle, New York's elite have spent the same amount of time seeing him very differently — as a tacky sideshow with no regard for social norms. No, this isn't Edith Wharton's New York City, but there are still rules. For one, if you want to attend everyone's fancy charity parties, then you've got to make a donation. If you don't make the donation, then prepare for everyone to stare daggers at you, to worry about your financial situation, to judge you.

If you don't give, then eventually people will invite you to fewer events. They'll consider you especially rude for going to the ones that you have been invited to out of politeness. That is when you are truly rejected by people who, ideally, since you're a "billionaire, too," should be your peers. And that's when the gauche things you do as a rich person are suddenly inexcusable. People may see you at parties, but they do not really see you. They see a clown, a joke, a fraud.

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-trump-is-mad-at-bloomberg-2016-7

[smirkymonkey]

18. He has always been looked down upon by the NYC monied elite and this is only

one of the reasons. He is just a trashy, tacky wannabe and he has never fooled anybody into thinking that he is anything more than that. Except his deplorable supporters, I suppose.

[niyad]

14. k and r

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. His philanthropy just like everything else about Trump

is phony.

[Skittles]

16. he is a fraud, in every way

fuck the stupid people who cannot see through this con man