Paul F. PetrickHaving secured sufficient delegates to become the first thrice-nominated Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon and the only person to bear the GOP standard in three consecutive elections, Donald Trump moves closer to completing the greatest political comeback in American history.
A Trump triumph in November would far surpass any previous political rehabilitation, including Nixon’s 1968 victory. Despite the effortless manner in which Trump dispatched his intraparty rivals, the road to a Trump Restoration remains perilous. Not since Napoleon returned from Elba has the global establishment been so focused on the defeat of one man. Luckily for Trump, he is an authority on comebacks.
“Not since Napoleon returned from Elba has the global establishment been so focused on the defeat of one man.”
“The Art of the Comeback” (1997) was published by Random House almost exactly 10 years after the same publisher released “The Art of the Deal” (1987). Sequels, being derivative in nature, are rarely superior to the first installment. But this one is because Kate Bohner is a better ghostwriter than Tony Schwartz. Nevertheless, the volumes are similar. In both books, Trump’s edifice complex is on full display. Each is essentially a photo album of skyscrapers. But “Comeback” is more relevant to Trump’s present situation.
“Comeback” contains the story of Trump’s return from near insolvency when the early 1990s recession devastated the New York real estate market. “Survive ‘til ‘95” was the mantra Trump put into practice via a complex restructuring of his business’ debt, much of which he had personally guaranteed. His back against the wall, Trump persuaded creditors that they were better off if he were a going concern. And when the economy roared back stronger than ever, so did Trump. Other developers were not so fortunate.
Trump acknowledges in “Comeback” that his financial troubles were compounded by his own mistakes and inattentiveness. Today, all of Trump’s financial problems stem from one very poor business decision in 2015 — his decision to run for president.
Trump was the closest thing to an independent president this country has seen. And boy, has he paid for it. Most politicians leave politics far wealthier than when they entered it. Not Trump. His net worth has fallen precipitously as his businesses have suffered sustained attacks by his adversaries. In one particularly vindictive act, congressional Democrats insisted that Trump’s companies be ineligible for aid from the Exchange Stabilization Fund under the CARES Act despite the devastation the pandemic wrought on the hospitality industry.
But it is not just Democrats who have it out for Trump. The establishment of both parties despise Trump because he threatens the status quo. If Franklin Roosevelt shook up politics with the New Deal and Harry Truman followed with the Fair Deal, then Trump is leading a political realignment called the Art of the Deal. It consists of an outright rejection of the bipartisan consensus on immigration, trade, and foreign policy, offering Americans what should have been offered to them upon victory in the Cold War – government in the national interest.
Trump has already risen considerably since his Jan. 6, 2021, nadir. This has only intensified the determination of his opponents, who will stop at nothing to keep him out of the White House.
When Alger Hiss sued Whittaker Chambers for defamation, Chambers confidently stated “I do not believe that Mr. Hiss or anybody else can use the means of justice to defeat the ends of justice.” The famous pessimist Chambers was too optimistic. A judge has already suspended Trump’s ability to do business in New York. And the hundreds of millions of dollars in judgments, fines, and legal fees that Trump is already on the hook for plus a slew of potential criminal penalties in cases still pending could make any electoral victory a pyrrhic one. Trump could re-take the presidency, only to find his business empire in ruins.
Fortunately, Trump is one politician who clearly is not in it for the money. Otherwise, he would have abandoned politics long ago. Trump even gave his entire $400,000/year salary as president back to the government. Despite going to great lengths to cultivate an aura of success, the true essence of the Trump story is coming back from adversity.
Having once categorized Manhattan real estate powerbrokers as among the “most vicious people in the world,” Trump now knows that his business rivals have nothing on his political opponents and the Department of Justice.
The reversal of fortune Trump pulled off a generation ago shows what he is capable of. But this time the stakes are considerably higher. If he wins, Trump will be more than a president. He will be a legend.
Paul F. Petrick is an attorney in Cleveland, Ohio, and a regular contributor to Issues & Insights.
I & I Editorial Board
Using these vague “policy violations,” Google is now threatening to demonetize us. It’s part of Big Tech’s effort to silence conservative voices.
The ferocious attacks since 2015 emboldened a worried population enough to notice the turn of the democrat party to a full blown authoritarian force to wrecken with. Disagreement is no longer allowed, complete agreement and or submission is expected. A single party America is the goal and democrats expect nothing less.
Note to President Trump: If you win in November (and I truly hope you do, but Dems are *far* better cheaters), please do not donate your Presidential salary back to the government. Instead, donate it to charities who actually *accomplish* things. Just a thought.
The deep state cannot afford to allow Trump to make it to November, much less have a second term as president.
If they steal the election AGAIN the Second Amendment will come into effect.
It will be messy.
Trump is the last ‘Great Hope’ freedom has in America. Anyone else won’t be the fighter Trump is. At least that is how it appears to me and many others. Globalism and Marxism is slavery. Of that, there is no doubt.
If the voting system isn’t fixed of all the issues, drop boxes, endless time to vote, no signature verification in some states, and suspect machines he’ll have to win by a very large margin. Too many states, especially the swing states have bloated voter rolls, ripe for fraud. Also, the polling places in the urban high population centers, are controlled by dem’s. Don’t have many days to try to get this issue under control.
You are correct. Trump will be hard pressed to maintain leads in MI, WI and PA. Nobody talks about Nebraska 2nd Congressional District. It could give Trump 269 vote tie and a 26 state win in the House.
God bless President Trump and ruin to his enemies!
I’m curious why the Southern District of NY didn’t prosecute Mr Trump.
Would be interesting if his lawyers have that lawyer who didn’t prosecute explain just why. Might get sTrump out of hot water.
Well, seeings how he didnt lose 2020 to begin with… he’s only continued to grow in support since 2016.
When late President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe fell on the stares, many thought it was mere falling, in the realm of the spirit he had fallen from the throne, a little while later his once trusted army commander toppled him. The falling of President Biden on the stares on the plane was not mere falling, in the realm of the spirit he fell from the throne. Come rain come sunshine, Trump is winning in November. I’m Moses from Zambia, Southern Africa, WhatsApp+260955780181
This is a very nice (informative and insightful) column. Thanks, Mr. Petrick, for writing it (and thanks for the Trump book recommendation).
This is not the nation of the WWII hgeneration nor even of the yougn rebels of the late1960’s-1970’s. Can you imagine Eisenhower or JFK or Jimmy Carrter using the justic esystem to target , prosecute and imprison political opponents, not just the candidate of the other party, but pro-life activists, parents who protested at school board hearings, the large fraction of Jan. 6th protesters who committed no acts of violence? Must was made at the time of Nixon and his ‘enemies’ liest,” but Nixon was a piker compared to Joe Biden and Merrick Garland. That’s what happens when all the boundaries are broken; ‘no limits’ is such a s ad affair, as the Eagles sang. Even in the days of the CIvil War, a sense of civility prevailed and Lincoln never talked trash about the leaders otf the COnfederacy, never demonized Southerners the way Biden has demonized “MAGA extremists” on the public stage. The Leftists of today have been encourages to believe that those who diagree with them are not only wrong, they are pure evil, and when you are fighting ppure evil, there are no restrictions.
He already is a legend.
Yes, yes, good comments, but the brass tacks of this election are to win back the millions and millions of votes and many elections lost across the country on one issue that has been so foolishly suicidal for the Republicans: abortion.
The previously suicidal RNC knuckled under the power of the zealously cruel Evangelical Christians and others, sacrificing much of our country to the imposition of their Religious Doctrines on the rest of the nation. Where did our Freedom of Religion and Freedom from the Religions of others disappear?
Bring back our Freedom from the Religious Doctrines of others!
To win, the RNC and Trump must strongly support women, the right to chose without any draconian government mandated dates and limits. Leave the decisions to families and their doctors, as it always ought to have been. Almost everyone will make the very best decision for their family.
This one issue, abortion, lost the votes of millions of Republicans, (almost every Republican I know!) almost all Independent voters and millions of sort-of-Democrats, too.
As a bold strategy, if Trump and the RNC declare their honest support for abortions at the discretion of families and their doctors, will any Evangelicals vote for the other party? No, and they happily retain and reserve their own religious convictions and their rights not to have their own abortions.
Do Lara Trump, the RNC and Donald Trump seriously wish to win in 2024?
If Yes, the brass tacks are that they must boldly and repeatedly support the right to choose abortions, to win back those millions and millions and millions of votes previously lost on that one issue.