[Hostage]

> “which is built not far from — and thus adding value to — his properties, generating great PR for himself and getting in-kind NYC contracts with tax breaks and expedited construction permits, again using veterans for his own financial benefit...”

You are FOS. Trump built the Vietnam Veteran’s War Memorial BEFORE he built anything else nearby.

Trump’s love for America’s vet is genuine and comes from his father who was a great supporter of vets.

[CutePuppy]

Trump's love for America's vet is genuine and comes from his father who was a great supporter of vets.

And he proves it occasionally, whenever he needs to use them to boost his ego and/or financial, political and PR interests... especially when it can be done with OPM (Other People's Money) and billed as 'charity' so he can take the credit and bask in all the glory... (know any other people like that?)

There are a lot of celebrities who help veterans and other charities with donations or fundraisers, without being ostentatious about it or taking credit, and especially not using them to draw attention to themselves instead of relevant debates, by creating a fake feud with a TV network / TV personality during an event he should have been part of... That is the real issue, and anybody who criticizes Trump for using vets this way should not be calleed a "hater" or "denier" or other names. He could show his love for veterans by doing this fundraiser another time, not setting it up as an "alternative" to debates — many would have happily joined him, and it wouldn't be divisive, internecine, underhanded, egotistical, and event would raise a lot more money and Trump would be much better liked and respected. But being who he is, it's really all about him...

You are FOS. Trump built the Vietnam Veteran's War Memorial BEFORE he built anything else nearby.

You are likely thinking linearly... You have missed a lot of things that had happened BEFORE that... Let me refresh the events in sequence:

He made the move from the outer boroughs into Manhattan's real estate market in the mid-'70s, and instantly won a deal from the bankrupt Pennsylvania Railroad Company for rail yard property on Manhattan's West side from West 30th-39th streets, and from West 59th-72nd streets along the Hudson River. ..... < snip >

..... Trump reportedly benefited in the 1970s from the financially strained New York City government's willingness to give tax concessions in exchange for investment. He proposed reconstruction of the Commodore Hotel in 1976, funding the project with tax breaks .....

..... Later in 1980, a similar situation would take place .....

Trump Organization soared in the economic highs of the '80s with Donald's own real estate deals in residential and hotel properties. He and Ivana ruled Manhattan society, and his status grew on the contacts he made with politicians and other businessmen. .....

..... The rail yards along the Hudson River Trump acquired in the 1970s became the basis for a multi-billion dollar housing project, comprised of 5,700 units, called Trump Place. Trump Place expands along his entire Upper West Side rail yard property. .....