Trump’s finances have been historically elusive, and the lack of knowledge denies us an opportunity to better understand the president. While his critics will continue to assail him over the issue, they are turning a blind eye to a portion of his finances that is completely transparent.
The Trump Foundation is a non-profit, and its financial records are fully public. If we review those finances, we can learn a lot about the president that might otherwise be shrouded.
Where the Money Goes
The first place to look is at the general distribution of funds allocated by the Trump Foundation. Over the last decade, the group has spread funds in a wide array, ranging from police charities to college campus sports.
A few themes have become apparent, and the one major trend has been for increasing proportions of donations to go towards healthcare charities. In fact, they increased that percentage almost annually, for a 10-year average of 36 percent of total donations.
Some of the other popular donations trend towards children and education. There has also been a decrease in giving towards artistic and cultural charities. Overall, the Trump Foundation has shown a penchant for following donated money to ensure it is spent effectively, and the charities that receive repeat or increased donations tend to earn it.
Handling Criticism
Trump has built his reputation on harsh rebukes, and he is quick to respond to critics, no matter their origin. Because of this, it’s easy to assume that he is generally retaliatory and volatile. Following the money shows a very different side.
One of the most surprising revelations of the foundation’s finances has been how consistently the group gives money to groups that have been outspoken against him. Despite Trump’s verbal conflict with the New York Times and plenty of other media outlets, his foundation still donates money regularly to charities run by the Times and the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press.
This is extremely revealing and shows us that while Trump will never mince his words, his actions are that of a man who values results over all else. No matter how much he may disagree with members of the press, he still actively supports their autonomy, and any charity that is successful can earn his donation, regardless of personal feelings.
This is a level of professionalism and rationale that is difficult to derive from the President’s Twitter account, but it is vitally important to notice.
Anti-Semitism
Recently, we’ve discussed how and why Trump is the least anti-Semitic president in at least eight years. Despite that obvious truth, the far left is still determined to paint him as bigoted, no matter how desperate and transparent their approach may be.
While they will accuse Trump very loudly of being anti-Semitic, the chief advisor for the Trump Foundation is a devout practitioner of the Jewish faith, and the foundation regularly donates to organizations that support Jewish causes.
In fact, Jewish organizations have received 5 percent of all of the foundation’s money for the past 10 years. Once again, if you judge Trump by his actions, he is more appropriately described as a champion for Jewish people than an anti-Semite.
Comparing to Other Foundations
There is another important way the Trump Foundation distinguishes itself from other politically affiliated charities: basic competence. While the Clinton Foundation came under sharp review for “misplacing” massive portions of their funds, Trump’s charity has a clean ledger. To be fair, it is an imperfect organization that has had conflicts regarding specific regulations in the state of New York, but in the end, every dollar is accounted.
In an era where politicians are notorious for using charities to move funds discretely (and often illegally), Trump’s charity is fully above board. It may be frustrating to consider basic honesty from a charitable foundation as a merit of excellence, but these are the times that surround us.
The Trump Foundation gives us deep insight into how Trump handles business, and it lets us consider actions in addition to, and even in spite of his words. It paints the picture of a man who is consistently able to put results above personal differences, and it is a prime example of just one of countless ways Trump has devoted his money and influence to help those around him.
The final verdict is in and easily rendered: Trump has acquitted himself honorably and effectively through his foundation, and if it is any reliable indicator, the country is in surprisingly good hands.
~ Conservative Zone
