Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States. He is a New Yorker, entrepreneur, and real estate developer. His paternal side is predominantly German, and his maternal side is Scottish. Because he questioned and attacked President Barack Obama regarding his birth origin, it is essential to know his origins. Trump’s family changed their surname from Drumpf to Trump, the anglicized version. Therefore, he is a blend of two European ethnicities.
“The Apprentice”…
I watched a movie, “The Apprentice,” starring Academy Award nominee Sebastian Stan. He delivers an outstanding performance as a young businessman, Donald Trump. The takeaway from the movie illustrates how Trump’s attitude was formed. He worked with attorney Roy Cohn, a deceased lawyer and prosecutor best known for his role as chief counsel for Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare tactics against Communism in the 1950s. Cohn was brilliant and a closeted gay man, a trait that was viewed negatively at the time. He died of AIDS.
Cohn was part of the prosecution team in the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Cohn was briefly engaged to Barbara Walters, the well-known newscaster. He was a prominent figure in town and quite a lawyer for the influential players. He was the go-to guy. Trump needed his help to buy The Commodore Hotel in a central area of New York. The hotel was purchased from Donald Pritzker, the owner of the Hyatt chain. A young, naïve Trump hired Cohn as his lawyer to represent the Trump family. Cohn was a top attorney with political connections. He saved Trump’s father’s business and helped Trump with his first major hotel deal, which included a meeting with Mr. Pritzker. Cohn took a liking to Trump and began inviting him to the proper parties, introducing him to influential people as Trump ascended the social ladder. He even taught Trump how to keep his name in the news by introducing him to media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
Cohn, the Trump Mentor…
Cohn mentored Trump, teaching him how to win. First, he taught him to attack. Second, admit to nothing and deny everything; third, always claim victory—never accept defeat. Cohn told Trump that it’s always about winning and that the truth is a construct. The truth is what you say it is. He used a sports analogy to explain that some players play the game differently. He stated his personal rule was to play the man, not the ball. These clichés embodied Cohn’s rules and strategies.
As we observe Trump in his second term, these traits are evident: attack, attack, attack, and declare victory. Most importantly, truth is defined by perspective. Truth is a construct. Cohn shaped Trump’s psychology and his approach to winning. It may have worked for him in New York, and he could have been successful in the real estate industry. However, Trump in government is an absolute disaster, as he has employed these tactics. The Republican Party is in ruins and is now the MAGA Party, or the party of Trump. He has galvanized the racist elements in America, just as Hitler did in Germany. His remarks regarding the cause of the airplane disaster, claiming that previous administrations had hired DEI staff, were among the most insulting things he has said to date. It made me reflect on the movie. You make meaning a construct, and we interpret the DEI definition as something different than open opportunity. Cohn taught Trump well.
If you want to understand Trump’s behavior, watch “The Apprentice” currently available to rent or buy on streaming services including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and or YouTube TV.
