Replies

Trump needs to clear the air regarding all of his shady business practices. We don't want his campaign tied up with investigations and lawsuits.

O'Brien put Trump's wealth somewhere between $150 and $250 million.
Throughout the deposition, Trump sparred with O'Brien's lawyer, Andrew Ceresney, over how the real estate tycoon determined what he was worth.
Trump: My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with the markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feelings, but I try.
Ceresney: Let me just understand that a little. You said your net worth goes up and down based upon your own feelings?
Trump: Yes, even my own feelings, as to where the world is, where the world is going, and that can change rapidly from day to day ...
Ceresney: When you publicly state a net worth number, what do you base that number on? Trump: I would say it's my general attitude at the time that the question may be asked. And as I say, it varies.
But the deposition shows Trump's valuation of his properties can be at odds with others' views.
"Donald owns 40 Wall Street, which he spent about $35 million to buy and refurbish in 1996," lawyer Ceresney read from O'Brien's book. "The building has about $145 million in debt attached to it, and New York City assessors value it at $90 million. Donald values it at $400 million."
Trump reacts to the passage by saying: "Anybody would understand that a city assessment is 15 and 20 percent the value of a building."
When questioned about the return on his investment from several golf courses, Trump said he does his own math.
Ceresney: Have you ever done a projection as to how much you anticipate you will profit on these courses over time in light of the contributions that you're making in cash?
Trump: Yes, I've done mental projections.
Ceresney: Mental projections?
Trump: Yes.
Ceresney: These are projections that you've done in your head?
Trump: Yes.

Maybe astral projections.

Trump reacts to the passage by saying: "Anybody would understand that a city assessment is 15 and 20 percent the value of a building."

This is 100% correct, at least in some jurisdictions. To be more inclusive, assessments of property by governmental bodies can, and usually are, all over the place. There is usually some consistency within a taxing jurisdiction (mostly quite low, or mostly quite high, etc.), though usually not GOOD consistency (which is one reason why so many people who read their latest assessment by the local taxing district go screaming to the assessors office...)

I assume you must have been a renter all your life, if you don't know that.

Further, confidence in the seller's view of his / her property, and confidence by the seller of his / her own salesmanship in this sort of instance, especially when the seller is highly experienced and talented, can very well TRUMP "market value".

Trump has his flaws, but this line of attack is worthless.