In Trumplandia, everything is a sham, a scam, or a shameless self-promotion. It’s no surprise that Donald Trump‘s foray into the realm of education, the comically named Trump University, turned out to be just another sleight of hand in his never-ending shell game of deceit.
The Orange Menace is a proud businessman. Yet, his companies have filed for bankruptcy six times, leaving a trail of financial carnage in his wake. His casinos, hotels, and other businesses have crumbled under the weight of his mismanagement and ego. Even his latest venture, Truth Social, is struggling to stay afloat. Trump is practically begging investors to buy into his failing social media platform, which has been plagued by technical issues and low user engagement.
The very idea of Donald Trump, a man who cheated on his college exams and has a tenuous grasp on basic facts, starting an educational institution is laughable. What could a charlatan like Trump possibly teach anyone about business or success? The answer, as it turns out, is nothing of value.
Trump University was launched in 2005 as a way for Trump to capitalize on his alleged real estate expertise. The “university” promised to teach students the secrets of success in the real estate industry, using Trump’s own strategies and techniques. However, the reality was far from the glossy brochures. The courses offered by Trump University were nothing more than overpriced seminars, often taught by unqualified instructors with no real estate experience. Students were lured in with promises of getting rich quick, only to find themselves saddled with debt and no tangible skills to show for it. There were also claims that some instructors were not adequately qualified to teach their courses, and some were allegedly hired primarily for their sales abilities rather than their knowledge or investment success.
As you would expect, Trump University faced multiple lawsuits alleging fraud, including class action lawsuits in California, and a lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General. In November 2016, after Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, a $25 million settlement was reached in the class action suits. The settlement was a tacit admission of guilt, even though Trump refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing. A classic Trump move – deny, deflect, and then quietly pay off the people he wronged to make the problem go away.
In 2010, facing mounting criticism and legal scrutiny, the organization attempted to rebrand itself as the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative. Despite the rebranding, the company essentially ceased operations around this time. The only question is, how many more people will be left holding the bag when his house of cards finally collapses?