As a retired Wall St investment banker (who has represented many big RE developers), I have watched each and every deal he has done and for the most part know how he got them done.
I know how he operates and why he contributes to politicians. Developers don't give to politicians because they like them. They give to them to get favors in return. Period.
By donating big bucks to the Democrat House campaign committee DCCC and Democrat Senate Committee DSCC in 2006, DT clearly wanted the Dems to take control of Congress that year. Period. You don’t need to make those types of contributions to develop a skyscraper or a golf course.
DT has had an enormously successful business career. No one can take that away from him. But he has done jack diddly squat for the conservative movement over the years.