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Swagman

(1,934 posts)
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 06:34 PM Oct 2016

My experience with Donald Trump

Not actually with the man himself but his Miss Universe organisation.

In 2004 I was hired by Jennifer Hawkins' agent to travel with her & the Trump employees on a 2 week tour of Australia after she won the Miss Universe title. The agent had discovered Hawkins and funded her entry into the quest.

The tour was an amazing publicity success & the Trump employees were astounded at how well it had gone. Privately over drinks at night they would muse on what a shocker he was to work for...slow with paying wages and invoices they had covered and so on.
Bullying and arrogant was the most used description.

A small farewell party was given by the agent who paid people like me promptly within days. About ten days later after contacting Trump to discuss whatever merchandising deals Hawkins would be involved in Trump bluntly told him "you are no longer her agent".

The agent was out of pocket by about $50,000 ( let alone future percentages in whatever deals would be negotiated which were hugely profitable over the years) as Trump had allowed him to pay all the costs saying he could invoice the Trump Miss Universe organisation and be reimbursed.

The agent never got paid and was told by Trump he could sue if he wanted to. Of course lawyer's fees would have been crucifying in a case that may have taken years so he chose not to pursue Trump via a court.

Now we know this is has been a common tactic.

# this was alien to everything I had experienced working for various US media outlets on a freelance basis. Two things I always loved working for US outlets were:
1. the fact checking bureaus where every detail was double checked and..
2. the prompt payment of invoices



28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My experience with Donald Trump (Original Post) Swagman Oct 2016 OP
Sad to say I'm not surprised in the least nt okaawhatever Oct 2016 #1
Make sure you get the money up front from The Donald Angry Dragon Oct 2016 #2
The is a Horrible Human Being and he was probably a Rotten Kid too. Cakes488 Oct 2016 #3
I'd contribute to some sting like Oceans Eleven BSdetect Oct 2016 #4
Wretched nopence2020 Oct 2016 #5
Welcome to DU, nopence2020! calimary Oct 2016 #15
Thank You! nopence2020 Oct 2016 #20
My condolences, nopence2020! calimary Oct 2016 #27
Maybe they should sue treestar Oct 2016 #6
No wonder no US banks will do business with Trump NoGoodNamesLeft Oct 2016 #7
With all the people Don the Con has swindled this way I wonder if collectively Persondem Oct 2016 #9
(shaking head) ABHORRENT ailsagirl Oct 2016 #10
Deplorable alcibiades_mystery Oct 2016 #11
Despicable, loathsome, execrable ailsagirl Oct 2016 #12
This message was self-deleted by its author ailsagirl Oct 2016 #13
I am so sorry to hear this, Swagman ailsagirl Oct 2016 #14
Didn't he recently sue the Pagent for dropping him? nt wiggs Oct 2016 #16
But Hillary deleted emails so she's worse mountain grammy Oct 2016 #17
Are you starting to get the impression... jmowreader Oct 2016 #18
try to imagine Skittles Oct 2016 #22
I'm not running a multinational corporation jmowreader Oct 2016 #24
There's no impression, he is not liquid... he's a billionaire in assets and not liquid cash where uponit7771 Oct 2016 #23
Stealing money from people he perceives is weaker than him, he is anti progress to a T uponit7771 Oct 2016 #19
Trump disgraces America Skittles Oct 2016 #21
How common is it for companies to stiff employees and tell them to sue? SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2016 #25
"this was alien to everything I had experienced working for various US media outlets" Jarqui Oct 2016 #26
Ugh! So effing hate that guy! smirkymonkey Oct 2016 #28

Angry Dragon

(36,693 posts)
2. Make sure you get the money up front from The Donald
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 07:03 PM
Oct 2016

Like the many promises from Donald he will never come through

BSdetect

(8,998 posts)
4. I'd contribute to some sting like Oceans Eleven
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 07:12 PM
Oct 2016

Would love to hear that he a had been conned out of everything.

calimary

(81,298 posts)
15. Welcome to DU, nopence2020!
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 08:18 PM
Oct 2016

Like your screen name! And yeah, I think we need to start thinking and preparing for just such as this in 2020.

That is a CRITICAL year! Every ten-year mark is the year when the census is taken, across the country. And congressional districts are adjusted according to the changing population. The CONS have shrewdly managed to have governors and state legislatures in position on the all-important "zero years" where THEY are in control when that congressional district reapportionment happens. That enables THEM to redraw the districts so they all look like octopus cartoons, so they can stack the deck and guarantee election victories for THEIR congressional candidates. That's how they managed to take over Congress.

So, seems to me, we HAVE TO be ready for 2020. AND for all governors' races in two years. Yes, during the dreaded midterm elections when Dems are less motivated to turn out to vote - which I'll never understand. THAT negligence and lack of commitment by voters on our side has to change, too. In 2010, that's how the teabaggers got in - and they're now threatening to overrun the GOP. Actually, they may already have overrun the GOP. Seriously - just look at who the nominee is!

nopence2020

(27 posts)
20. Thank You!
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 09:07 PM
Oct 2016

Agree 100% Being from Indiana, I have to say this man has been an absolute disaster. The thought of him being anywhere near the White House horrifies me. Eternal vigilance!

calimary

(81,298 posts)
27. My condolences, nopence2020!
Tue Oct 18, 2016, 08:18 PM
Oct 2016

He scares the livin' daylights outta me. HE would usher in the closest we'd ever come, as a nation, to Christian Sharia Law. He hates gays, thinks your religion should trump (so to speak) everyone else's rights (ESPECIALLY gays), and thinks women mainly belong in either the kitchen or the delivery room. And he doesn't believe in climate change. We all followed the disaster he created for your poor state when he signed that anti-gay bill into law, that he did behind closed doors so he could have his picture taken with a whole backdrop of clergymembers, priests, ministers, friars, and nuns. He cost your state MILLIONS of dollars and a bottomless pit of bad publicity. OY! Makes me wonder who the hell voted for him there?

But I suppose he fills the bill for Donald Trump as a ticket mate, 'eh? After all, Mike Pence is just about the WHITEST white guy I think I've EVER seen!

And you're so right - "Eternal vigilance!" We can't avoid that. It has to be our sacred quest and our sole reason for being, politically speaking. When you're facing the Dark Side, you're left with no other choice. As Mad-Eye Moody warned Harry Potter: "CONSTANT Vigilance!!!!!"

treestar

(82,383 posts)
6. Maybe they should sue
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 07:17 PM
Oct 2016

It's not like a judge would put up with anything his lawyers would do. The problem too might be is a judgment collectible, that is, the Con would have bankrupted whatever corporation or LLC it was by the time you could get the judgment.

After this publicity, no one is going to do business with Don the Con ever again. Even getting the $$ up front, he could still do something sleazy to make it take too much time, like not cooperating or suing himself for stupid things.

Persondem

(1,936 posts)
9. With all the people Don the Con has swindled this way I wonder if collectively
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 08:00 PM
Oct 2016

his victims could form a class action suit?

Response to Swagman (Original post)

jmowreader

(50,559 posts)
18. Are you starting to get the impression...
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 09:01 PM
Oct 2016

...Donald Trump doesn't actually have any money? There's got to be a reason beyond that he's a disgusting, dishonorable pig for screwing anyone who ever does business with him out of the cash they've earned.

jmowreader

(50,559 posts)
24. I'm not running a multinational corporation
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 09:19 PM
Oct 2016

One would at least hope a person so engaged would give at least a small fuck about his credit rating, seeing as how hotels, casinos etc., pay their invoices at the end of the month so their credit ratings are very important to them. This asshole probably has to pay the Sysco guy before he'll unload.

uponit7771

(90,346 posts)
23. There's no impression, he is not liquid... he's a billionaire in assets and not liquid cash where
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 09:17 PM
Oct 2016

... Cuban, Soro's etc are billionaires in safe accessible (money markets, long bonds) cash and 50,000 usd is TRULY pocket change they don't even think about looking at... like most middle class families spending 200 on tires for the car.

SleeplessinSoCal

(9,123 posts)
25. How common is it for companies to stiff employees and tell them to sue?
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 09:19 PM
Oct 2016

After watching David O'Russell's "Joy", it appears hardball business tactics are common. And that there are vultures ready to steal everything they can steal.

Jarqui

(10,126 posts)
26. "this was alien to everything I had experienced working for various US media outlets"
Mon Oct 17, 2016, 09:24 PM
Oct 2016

and yet he wonders aloud why the media has "rigged" his election ...

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