To some voters, Trump’s biggest appeal is his self-proclaimed success as a businessman. Being a foriegner to the political world, Trump has used his business backround to show experience in being able to run the country like a business. These ideas have come into sight more recently with the discussion following the first general election presidential debate and the recent leaks of his taxes showing a whopping $915 million claim in operating losses in 1995.
Why the big deal?
During the recent general election debate between the two candidates, Trump claimed he could take advantage of the housing crisis by going in, buying homes and making some money. It is up to interpretation if this “money-making” would benefit himself or those enduring the crisis themselves. This side comment did not bode well with audience members and voters as it portrayed him as a callous businessman that chases money and success, on the backs of those who may be failing.
This sets the narrative for why the recent leak unveiling of his 1995 taxes may serve his reputation as the booming businessman.
Losing millions of dollars is the big deal
To the general public, seeing a loss of $915 million dollars is shocking and upsetting news. What makes this amount so shocking is that it would have allowed Trump to evade paying taxes for up to 18 years. Trump has claimed numerous times that his business savvy would allow him to do this 
because of his smarts with handling money. In light of the negative assertions assoicated with this New York Times leak of tax documents, Trump was able to use the news scandal to further back his business tycoon record. He quotes ““I was able to use the tax laws in this country and my business acumen to dig out of the real estate mess,” which only helps enhance his comments during the debate discussion of the housing crisis. He was able to prove that this is a success; prove that he can rebuild both himself and his empire stronger even after such a heavy loss. After all, a common saying in business is to “fail fast”.
true. Once Donald Trump filed a $916 million loss in 1995, he was exempt from paying no more than the legal requirement for up to 18 years. Donald Trump opened casinos and hotels, contracted workers and then just walked out on them, without having to pay them. Was this the wrong way to go? Absolutely. Donald Trump may have placed himself in a hierarchy to those workers and have only been thinking about him, but he knows business.
