,
5 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
I've long had a sneaking suspicion that Trump is deep down pretty opposed to Middle Eastern wars -- not out of principle, but because of a superstitious feeling that it's bad for his businesses:
Trump Taj Mahal went bankrupt about six months after the first Gulf War ended in 1991.
The Plaza Hotel and Trump Casinos both filed for Chapter 11 the year after the Iraq War ended, in 2004.
The Plaza Hotel and Trump Casinos both filed for Chapter 11 the year after the Iraq War ended, in 2004.
There was a kerfuffle during the 2016 election campaign with Trump saying he'd always publicly opposed the Iraq War, which didn't quite match his public statements.
But he was certainly distinctly downbeat about it, at a time the whole nation was cheerleading for war.
But he was certainly distinctly downbeat about it, at a time the whole nation was cheerleading for war.
Read Factcheck's rundown of his public statements. They read to me like the views of someone who thinks war is bad for his business, but likes to act tough so doesn't want to be too far out of step with belligerent public opinion: factcheck.org/2016/02/donald…
Of course wars didn't really cause Trump's businesses to go bankrupt. That happened because he ran them badly and took on too much debt.
But it's striking how consistently, in office, he's tacked away from conflict at the last moment. I don't think it's a coincidence.
But it's striking how consistently, in office, he's tacked away from conflict at the last moment. I don't think it's a coincidence.
