My Coffee With a Trump Supporter

By Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog

24 September 16

 

finally found a Trump supporter � this morning when I went to buy coffee. (I noticed a Trump bumper sticker on his car.)

�Hi,� I said. �Noticed your Trump bumper sticker.�

�Yup,� he said, a bit defensively.

�I hope you don�t mind my asking, but I�m curious. Why are you supporting him?�

�I know he�s a little bit much,� said the Trump supporter. �But he�s a successful businessman. And we need a successful businessman as president.�

�How do you know he�s a successful businessman?� I asked.

�Because he�s made a fortune.�

�Has he really?� I asked.

�Of course. Forbes magazine says he�s worth four and a half billion.�

�That doesn�t mean he�s been a success,� I said.

�In my book it does,� said the Trump supporter.

�You know, in 1976, when Trump was just starting his career, he said he was worth about $200 million,� I said. �Most of that was from his father.�

�That just proves my point,� said the Trump supporter. �He turned that $200 million into four and a half billion. Brilliant man.�

�But if he had just put that $200 million into an index fund and reinvested the dividends, he�d be worth twelve billion today,� I said.

The Trump supporter went silent.

"And he got about $850 million in tax subsidies, just in New York alone,� I said.

More silence.

�He�s not a businessman,� I said. �He�s a con man. "Hope you enjoy your coffee.�