"It is certainly plausible that if Trump simply sold off his company in toto, he'd be in debt"

[CreekDog]

Maybe the Answer Is That He Can't Divest

Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo

...

According to his spokesman, Trump sold all of his stock back in June, a portfolio which his disclosures suggest was worth as much as $38 million. Trump told Matt Lauer that he sold the stock because he was confident he'd win and "would have a tremendous ... conflict of interest owning all of these different companies" while serving as President.

...

But consider this. During the primaries Donald Trump loaned his campaign roughly $50 million. Over the course of the spring, as it became increasingly likely he'd be the nominee, that loan became increasingly conspicuous. Donors were wary of donating big money because they didn't want him to use it to pay himself back for that loan. Many suggested that he might not actually be able to part with that money. It became a big issue and Trump refused to forgive the loans.

It was only in June that Trump finally gave in and forgave the loan; this was confirmed in the June FEC disclosure that came out in late July. Who knows why Trump sold off all his stock holdings?

...

Perhaps Trump simply doesn't feel like he can trust anyone else to keep the whole shambling enterprise afloat. More plausibly, and consistent with Trump's history over the last couple decades, Trump's business is dependent on an ever expanding number of deals not just to grow but to stay afloat at all. It is certainly plausible that if Trump simply sold off his company in toto, he'd be in debt. Maybe there wouldn't be anything left to put in a blind trust.

This is all necessarily speculative because Trump has kept the details of his business empire hidden from the public. But behavior, circumstantial evidence and lots of evidence of tight reliance on cash flow to service debts of various sorts suggest that Trump may not be able to divest or separate himself from his business. Why doesn't he? Why does he court all this controversy? Because he can't.

If all this is true, the peril of Trump's foreign deals is larger than we may realize. It's not just a matter of hitting the billionaire big time. It could be a matter of staying afloat at all.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/maybe-the-answer-is-that-he-can-t-divest

[Kathy M]

1. trump needs to release tax returns ! List all foreign business ties and

list list which hotels he owns a partial in and the ones he is just leasing name being the face or salesman for investor / banks

[bettyellen]

5. Send an email to help that happen! Ask them to Audit Trump as suggested by Warren...

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


Are the emails where they are compiling requests!

[Kathy M]

7. Thanks ! Done

[bettyellen]

11. Thank you!

[Merlot]

2. This is what I've thought - there is nothing to sell

trumps run for president was a last ditch effort to save his empire. He's built a pyramid scheme with all his marketing ventures and ows so much to foreign investors (because NY banks won't loan to him). At the very least he thought being president would shield him from some of the lawsuits and he'd be in a better position when the foreign investors came calling for their money.

And why does everyone think that because his names on a building he owns it? It's a marketing scheme he devised after his casino went broke.

He's an entertainer and wants the attention & approval. Why would he willingly give up his lifestyle to become president? He enjoyed the competition and the rallies - which is why he's still doing rallies - it's all he knows how to do. Well, that and the rallies are step in the strategy of facicsm, but that's another issue (remember mein kampf on the nightstand?).

[Kathy M]

6. I have had a gut feeling his campaign was not his choice .... The strategy is

his choice though .........

"trumps run for president was a last ditch effort to save his empire. He's built a pyramid scheme with all his marketing ventures and ows so much to foreign investors (because NY banks won't loan to him). At the very least he thought being president would shield him from some of the lawsuits and he'd be in a better position when the foreign investors came calling for their money. "

and for certain favors or decisions the money he owes could be forgiven ..........

[renate]

3. wouldn't this be an out for him and the GOP?

The oversight committee (or possibly the GOP electors) could insist on his completely divesting himself of his companies because of the mammoth conflicts of interest. Trump would of course say no. A little back and forth and eventually Trump could just say Fine, I quit (which I believe he would prefer to do anyway)--face saved, Pence is next in line, there are no riots in the streets.

It's not the outcome I would like--the winner of the popular vote would still not be president and the idea of President Pence fills me with dread--but it would keep the government from being an arm of Trump, Inc.

[geek tragedy]

4. I think his businesses are illiquid but not sure if he is broke

That is to say, there are very few if any buyers for his non-publicly traded companies, and unwinding them could be virtually impossible.

[CreekDog]

8. he could have a separate entity run them for him

without selling them.

[Kathy M]

10. Wonder if that is Romney has been in the picture ....... just a guess

[Kathy M]

9. Yes agree .....

he still needs to list them out .... rather under normal circumstances they would ..... then again under normal circumstances that person would not run for President ..........