Reason #31: Par for the course
Why do we need to defeat Donald Trump and ensure that a Democrat occupies the White House?
We have earlier discussed Donald Trump’s avidity for golf and his notoriety as a golf cheat. Today’s post will consider his track record as golf course owner.
Let’s start with the bottom line. Donald Trump’s tax returns 2010-2018 show that he claimed to have lost more than $315 million! That implies that his golf courses in toto are a massively failing business, losing $35 million annually.
Investopedia reports that Trump “income” reports are not really income i.e. revenue minus costs etc. and thus are exaggerated. They also note that, in general, Trump businesses were remarkably unsuccessful, losing $175 million between 2000-2018.
https://www.investopedia.com/updates/donald-trump-companies/
Unfortunately, there is no certainty in any of these numbers. Trump has routinely reported outlandish business loses as a way to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. Again, the sad reality that when one is a proven serial liar, he can never be taken at his word.
Revenue at Trump golf courses and resorts also fell enormously during the COVID pandemic, but there again, his mismanagement of public health rebounded against his business interests.
Because Trump refused to divest himself from the courses as president, he has been sued three times for violation of the Emoluments clauses of the U.S. constitution. More about this at a later date, but the concern is that American CEOs and lobbyists and foreign government agents might curry favor and influence peddle by paying exorbitant fees to play at Trump courses and stay at his resort hotels to the detriment of our nation.
Trump tried to host the International G-7 meeting at Doral, which would have provided substantial revenue for the hemorrhaging resort. This self-dealing proposal was heavily criticized and eventually dropped.
As described yesterday, Trump badly wants to be a “player” in professional sports. He was initially successful, with both the PGA and LPGA selecting Trump courses to host prestigious tournaments. How did the Donald deal with this success? As could be anticipated, he served as his own worst enemy. He just couldn’t keep his big mouth shut. First, an insulting rant against Mexican immigrants to the United States and the Mexican government resulted in his losing a tournament at his Los Angeles course.
If that were not bad enough, the PGA also decided to abandon their 54-year relationship with Trump’s famous Doral club in favor of a course in Mexico City.
But Trump doesn’t hate Mexicans so much that he won’t use and abuse them. The Washington Post reported that he employed undocumented Mexican workers at his golf courses and in typical fashion exploited them and stiffed them.
PGA and LPGA terminated any association with Trump courses, following his outrageous behavior in inciting the invasion of the U.S. capitol, to try to stop the peaceful transition of presidential power on January 6, 2024.
There is no way to estimate the lost revenue based upon half of our population’s intense dislike for Trump, but the loss has to be considerable.
If you still really want to play 18 at Mar a Lago, a membership is only $600,000.
Why would anyone want to vote for a man who persistently ruins his own businesses with harsh intemperate behavior?
Have a heart; use your mind, search your conscience, and vote for Democratic candidates – across the ballot – on November. 5th.
Please share this message with your friends and please, add your thoughts, to expand upon what are only brief sketches here.
Fred Grannis
August 19, 2024