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| Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never to marry, biography says | Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never to marry, biography says |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Donald Trump at one time believed he would be dead before 40, believes he “knocked the shit” out of Cher during an infamous Twitter spat and once invented a fictional business executive to issue statements on behalf of his real estate empire. | Donald Trump at one time believed he would be dead before 40, believes he “knocked the shit” out of Cher during an infamous Twitter spat and once invented a fictional business executive to issue statements on behalf of his real estate empire. |
| These are just a few of the revelations contained in a new biography, to be published on Wednesday, that shed light on the billionaire Republican presidential frontrunner. | |
| Journalist Michael D’Antonio was initially granted access to Trump over a series of interviews for his book Never Enough. Several interviews in, Trump rescinded that access, after learning D’Antonio had interviewed an old foe, but the book still contains several new details on the 69-year-old who leads the pack of GOP presidential aspirants. | Journalist Michael D’Antonio was initially granted access to Trump over a series of interviews for his book Never Enough. Several interviews in, Trump rescinded that access, after learning D’Antonio had interviewed an old foe, but the book still contains several new details on the 69-year-old who leads the pack of GOP presidential aspirants. |
| D’Antonio reveals, for example, that Trump, who inherited his father’s successful housing business in 1971, fired two workers in the 1980s at the behest of the late TV host Johnny Carson. Perhaps less surprising are the disclosures that Trump believes he has “innate ability”, and that most people “aren’t worthy” of his respect. | D’Antonio reveals, for example, that Trump, who inherited his father’s successful housing business in 1971, fired two workers in the 1980s at the behest of the late TV host Johnny Carson. Perhaps less surprising are the disclosures that Trump believes he has “innate ability”, and that most people “aren’t worthy” of his respect. |
| According to the author, Trump told business associate Ned Eichler in the 1970s that he “expected to die before age forty”. | According to the author, Trump told business associate Ned Eichler in the 1970s that he “expected to die before age forty”. |
| Trump had pursued Eichler in a bid to acquire the Penn Central Midtown train yard, in Hell’s Kitchen, west Manhattan. Eichler, who had a wealth of property experience, was in charge of brokering a deal for the yards, and a young Donald Trump was keen to build on the site. | Trump had pursued Eichler in a bid to acquire the Penn Central Midtown train yard, in Hell’s Kitchen, west Manhattan. Eichler, who had a wealth of property experience, was in charge of brokering a deal for the yards, and a young Donald Trump was keen to build on the site. |
| “Eichler was impressed by the younger man’s energy,” D’Antonio writes, “even though he sometimes spoke in fatalistic terms. He recalled that Trump explained his impatience by saying he expected to die before age forty.” | “Eichler was impressed by the younger man’s energy,” D’Antonio writes, “even though he sometimes spoke in fatalistic terms. He recalled that Trump explained his impatience by saying he expected to die before age forty.” |
| Related: The woman who stunned Trump into silence – and threw the race wide open | Related: The woman who stunned Trump into silence – and threw the race wide open |
| Trump also reportedly told Eichler that he would “never marry”. Both predictions proved inaccurate: the 69-year-old has been married three times. | Trump also reportedly told Eichler that he would “never marry”. Both predictions proved inaccurate: the 69-year-old has been married three times. |
| The book also claims that in 1980 Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. The fictional executive would repeatedly issue statements on behalf of the company, D’Antonio says. According to the book, Baron was the name Trump “and at least one of his employees hid behind when they didn’t want their identities attached to a statement”. | The book also claims that in 1980 Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. The fictional executive would repeatedly issue statements on behalf of the company, D’Antonio says. According to the book, Baron was the name Trump “and at least one of his employees hid behind when they didn’t want their identities attached to a statement”. |
| Baron, or whoever at Trump’s company was allegedly fabricating his quotes, commented on a range issues on behalf of the company. He spoke on behalf of the company when Trump reportedly purchased the 21 Club, and also commented on the removal and disposal of artwork from the Bonwit Teller building, which was replaced by Trump Tower in 1983, before apparently being retired in the 1990s. | Baron, or whoever at Trump’s company was allegedly fabricating his quotes, commented on a range issues on behalf of the company. He spoke on behalf of the company when Trump reportedly purchased the 21 Club, and also commented on the removal and disposal of artwork from the Bonwit Teller building, which was replaced by Trump Tower in 1983, before apparently being retired in the 1990s. |
| Around the time of Baron’s “employment” several celebrities were investing in Trump’s eponymous tower, including Michael Jackson, Steven Spielberg, and former Tonight Show host Johnny Carson. D’Antonio tells of how Carson called Trump one day to complain that “two fucking men who were working in the building” had stolen an expensive coat from his apartment. | |
| Trump tracked down the men, who denied the theft. He told Carson that the men, who were from Queens, would be unlikely to wear such a coat – it was made of rare South American vicuna wool – and would be “run out of their neighborhoods if they ever did”. Carson was still dissatisfied, and Trump fired the men. “Months later,” D’Antonio writes, “Carson would discover the coat in the back of a closet.” | Trump tracked down the men, who denied the theft. He told Carson that the men, who were from Queens, would be unlikely to wear such a coat – it was made of rare South American vicuna wool – and would be “run out of their neighborhoods if they ever did”. Carson was still dissatisfied, and Trump fired the men. “Months later,” D’Antonio writes, “Carson would discover the coat in the back of a closet.” |
| Since announcing his presidential bid in June, Trump has surged ahead of his Republican rivals in the polls. His popularity has remained unaffected by his depiction of Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug dealers and his criticism of Carly Fiorina’s appearance. | Since announcing his presidential bid in June, Trump has surged ahead of his Republican rivals in the polls. His popularity has remained unaffected by his depiction of Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug dealers and his criticism of Carly Fiorina’s appearance. |
| His standing as the frontrunner in the pack has continued despite an apparent suggestion that Fox News host Megyn Kelly was menstruating during the first Republican debate and, more recently, his indulgence of an anti-Muslim audience member who asked him a question at a rally. | |
| Trump’s vivid description of his Twitter spat with Cher comes from a conversation with D’Antonio about his social media presence. | Trump’s vivid description of his Twitter spat with Cher comes from a conversation with D’Antonio about his social media presence. |
| The former Apprentice host had been criticised by the singer on Twitter for his repeated demands that Obama release his birth certificate. Specifically, Cher called him a “flaming asshole” and a “racist cretin”. | The former Apprentice host had been criticised by the singer on Twitter for his repeated demands that Obama release his birth certificate. Specifically, Cher called him a “flaming asshole” and a “racist cretin”. |
| “Cher said some nasty shit,” Trump recalled of the 2012 incident. “So I took on Cher. I knocked the shit out of her and she never said a thing about me after that.” | “Cher said some nasty shit,” Trump recalled of the 2012 incident. “So I took on Cher. I knocked the shit out of her and she never said a thing about me after that.” |
| Trump’s recollection – as relayed via the book – contrasts with the fact Cher has continued to say lots and lots of things about him over the past three years. | Trump’s recollection – as relayed via the book – contrasts with the fact Cher has continued to say lots and lots of things about him over the past three years. |
| At times Trump comes in the book across as more sensitive than he would probably care to admit. He admits that on Twitter “you’ll say things that you can regret”, although he qualifies that by lamenting that people are “always knocking the shit out of my hair”. | At times Trump comes in the book across as more sensitive than he would probably care to admit. He admits that on Twitter “you’ll say things that you can regret”, although he qualifies that by lamenting that people are “always knocking the shit out of my hair”. |
| Related: The Trump juggernaut took out Scott Walker. But he may live to run again | Jeb Lund | Related: The Trump juggernaut took out Scott Walker. But he may live to run again | Jeb Lund |
| D’Antonio also interviewed Trump’s eldest children, Donald Jr, Ivanka, and Eric (Trump has two other children from his second and third marriages). | D’Antonio also interviewed Trump’s eldest children, Donald Jr, Ivanka, and Eric (Trump has two other children from his second and third marriages). |
| Eric describes his father as “a supergenius in a very, very practical way”, and compares him to Winston Churchill. Donald Jr, the eldest of the Trump brood, appears to have inherited his father’s self-belief. “I’d like to believe generally I’m predisposed to better than average,” he told the author. | Eric describes his father as “a supergenius in a very, very practical way”, and compares him to Winston Churchill. Donald Jr, the eldest of the Trump brood, appears to have inherited his father’s self-belief. “I’d like to believe generally I’m predisposed to better than average,” he told the author. |
| Ivanka shows more self-awareness, merely reflecting that Donald Trump Sr is “going to say exactly what he is thinking”. That said, Trump (or his campaign) did not immediately respond for a request to comment. | Ivanka shows more self-awareness, merely reflecting that Donald Trump Sr is “going to say exactly what he is thinking”. That said, Trump (or his campaign) did not immediately respond for a request to comment. |
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