Trumps Got a History of Bad Credit

By Bryan Jenkins

Lights and T.V. are off, but here in the dark, looking at the ceiling, I can’t sleep… reflecting on the ongoing New York Trump Trial and the prospect of him returning to the white house. Ok… let’s just breathe… and take a lesson… from a humble item that every financial lender in the world uses to decide whether you’re trustworthy… your credit report. They’ll all tell you: Your history is the best predicter of how much they should trust you in the future. Donald Trump wants your trust for the future.  

His presidential “credit history”?… lies about covid-19, denying the science, delaying prevention, costing millions of American lives. During racially motivated murder and unrest, Trump calls White supremacists “fine people”… defends what he calls the proud history of Confederate monuments… and in a losing court case, hurls racist insults at the federal judge who happens to be Mexican-American. In further credit entries … Trump trashes patriots who fought and died for this country because, well,  they were from immigrant families… and he greets those coming here seeking freedom by separating them from their children and putting the kids in cages.   

That’s all AFTER his early presidential credit history… laced with scandals and lawsuits over his fake university ripping off students, small businesses stiffed on payments for their work, bankruptcies leaving employees and communities holding the bag. The bigger credit dings? impeachment… twice… for abuse of power and obstruction of congress, AND incitement of insurrection.  

Then, there’s the Mueller report alleging obstruction of justice involving Russian election interference… and the matter of those pardons Trump issued, absolving crooked friends convicted of federal crimes.  

 So, as an American voter – part of the collective “lender”, to play out the analogy – what does that presidential credit history illustrate? Consider, also, future entries could include criminal indictments for election interference, illegal fundraising, violations of the Espionage Act, fraud and tax evasion… and it’s easy to expect Trump’s “application” for the presidency would and should be “denied”.    

In short, Donald Trump’s history suggests, in presidential terms – He’s got bad credit! –  what lenders might call “below 400”. In their world, no lender would approve him. But the fact that so many Americans seem so willing to turn a blind eye to Trump’s presidential credit report and vote “approval”… is why… I can’t sleep. Can you? 

Bryan Jenkins is a 35-year veteran of broadcast journalism… honored for work ‘on the set’ and ‘in the field’, with two Los Angeles Emmy Awards, a Golden Mike Award and The N.A.B.J.’s National Award of Excellence. Bryan is a captivating storyteller and communicator, having worked as Anchor, Reporter, and Producer in major markets across the country, and contributed to successful media campaigns for local politicians and non-profit organizations. He now resides in southern California, sharing his expertise as a writer and media consultant.