How Will Donald Trump Finance His Campaign?

Will The Donald put Trump Tower up for sale?

I recently read–and responded to–a blog posting that questioned how Donald Trump would finance his campaign. (That blog, by Carole
Ellis in Real Estate Investing Today, is here.) That blog asked whether “a HUGE real estate sell-off could be coming in New York City? Let’s just say the money’s gotta come from somewhere, and the GOP isn’t coughing up yet…” Alternatively, might he borrow against some of his assets? The problem, Ellis suggests, is that Trump has made a big deal about not accepting outside contributions, about not “being bought.” Can he reverse that stand now?

I think he can. I know he can. Here’s my response:

I’d be willing to bet that Trump WILL take outside funds. He’s certainly, ummm, “adjusted” his positions on other issues even within this campaign on everything from abortion and the minimum wage to banning Muslims from entering the United States. And none of that seems to have hurt his popularity at all.

Admittedly, one of his core appeals (others include: “He’s not a typical politician” and “He tells it straight.”) is that he isn’t “bought” by anyone. True . . . but look at Bernie Sanders and his successful fundraising at an average of $27 per contribution. It appears that in this election cycle, it’s possible to raise huge amounts of money in small chunks from actual supporters. No one would accuse Sanders of being “bought” because he accepts campaign contributions. Trump might well do something similar and he’d get away with it.

Besides, Trump established early in the campaign that he’s the one who buys off politicians with campaign contributions. That early branding should inoculate him from possible charges that he’s being bought with contributions.

I’m confident he wouldn’t sell any of his properties. They’re too much part of his image and his ego. He’s emotionally attached to them. (Imagine a Trump golf course or building being sold to, gulp, Chinese investors.) Nope, that won’t happen. And while I don’t consider him to be the great businessman he’s cracked up to be, I doubt he’d over-leverage any of his prize jewel properties, either. Maybe he learned something–not financially but brand-wise–from his Atlantic City experiences.

No. He’ll figure out a way to take money from outsiders and make it appear to be a virtue, not a vice.