Comparing apples and pineapples, I’d say.
Well, in a word, no.
I wasn't comparing Trump to an entertainer. I was equating him to an entertainer.
So just in case there's some confusion between "comparing" with "equating," let's deal with your example of apples versus pineapples:
An apple never equals or "equates to" a pineapple. On that postulate we can agree completely.
But a comparison of apples to pineapples is entirely legit. So let's compare the two:
1. An apple has a smooth skin, whereas by comparison, a pineapple has a rough, prickly exterior.
2. Apples must be grown in temperate zones, whereas by comparison, pineapples must be grown in tropical or semi-tropical zones.
3. Apples are off-white in their interiors, whereas by comparison, pineapples are yellow inside.
4. Apples have low acidic content, whereas by comparison, pineapples have relatively high acid levels.
In summary, there's a big difference between "comparing" and "equating" various objects or concepts. You compare things based on their differences. You equate things based on their similarities.
Finally, to elaborate on my basic point, I'm not of the mind to "compare" Donald Trump to an entertainer. I think that he "equates" to an entertainer, and therefore I think it's instructive to analyze him as such.