Tag: Trump cheapness

Trump’s Philanthropy: Big Tax Write-Offs and Claims That Don’t Always Add Up

New York Times logo

Hidden financial records cast doubt on a number of his charitable commitments and show that most of his giving came from land deals that offset his income.

In President Trump’s telling, he is a committed philanthropist with strong ties to many charities. “If you don’t give back, you’re never ever going to be fulfilled in life,” he wrote in “Trump 101: The Way to Success,” published at the height of his “Apprentice” fame.

And according to his tax records, he has given back at least $130 million since 2005, his second year as a reality TV star.

But the long-hidden tax records, obtained by The New York Times, show that Mr. Trump did not have to reach into his wallet for most of that giving. The vast bulk of his charitable tax deductions, $119.3 million worth, came from simply agreeing not to develop land — in several cases, after he had shelved development plans. Continue reading.

The White House praised hotels for housing doctors. Cities say Trump’s hotels aren’t participating.

Washington Post logoThousands of U.S. hotels have volunteered to help local authorities house doctors, nurses and other medical personnel at reduced rates — or even free — during the covid-19 pandemic.

President Trump’s White House has praised these efforts. But so far, none of Trump’s own hotels are known to be participating.

In five U.S. cities where President Trump’s company operates large hotels — New York, Chicago, Miami, Washington and Honolulu — local authorities said the Trump hotel was not involved in their efforts to provide low-cost or no-cost rooms to those fighting the novel coronavirus. Continue reading.