For about 20 years Donald Trump was a punchline in some of the undergraduate classes I taught. In teaching about social class I would introduce the classifications developed by W. Lloyd Warner in the 1930’s and 1940’s–upper, middle, and lower classes, each divided into upper and lower. In distinguishing the upper upper class from the lower upper class I would include such stereotypes as follows. The upper upper class was “old money,” inherited wealth. These people do not work; their money works for them, and they live privately, usually out of the public spotlight. On the other hand, the lower upper were the “new rich.” They worked; they did things to make their money, and they lived very much in the public spotlight. Whereas we seldom see the houses of the old rich, the new rich build their homes so they can be seen. In other words, some of the new rich tend to be ostentatious. They want everyone to know they are rich.
After laying out these class stereotypes, I would ask the students who in America personified the new rich. Without fail, from the mid 1980’s to the 2000’s the answer was almost always the same, “Donald Trump.”
Although the students’ regard for Mr. Trump was not based on any of the seriously problematic issues about him that have been revealed over the last year or two, they would not have regarded this stereotypical lower upper class person as presidential timber. They may not have been surprised at some of the words and actions of Trump over the past year, but they would be astonished that he is going to be the Republican nominee for the presidency of the United States.
But we know a lot more now about Trump. My students knew he was arrogant and egotistical. Now they know he is racist, sexist, fascist, and a con artist; and they know he is ignorant of how our government works.
Nevertheless, Republican leaders are lining up behind Trump and trying to present him as a reasonable candidate for the presidency. This is clearly like putting lipstick on a pig.
One more thing: Trump is not as successful a business person as he and many of his followers claim. He had all kinds of help from his wealthy father as well as a sizable inheritance. I saw one report that Trump’s father loaned him $1 million and facilitated a $300 million loan. If I were provided $301 million I would assure everyone I would be a billionaire in 20 years. It is simply a matter of “them that got is them that gets.” This could be accomplished by relatively conservative investments. Financial analysts show that if Trump had retired in 1982 and sold his real estate holdings and invested in the S & P 500, the 500 stocks representing the American stock market, he would be worth $10 billion more than he claims he is worth today.
One of the many problematic attitudes we have in this country is the widespread belief that rich people are rich because they are smarter than the rest of us. Hopefully, the contrary evidence Trump is presenting will help to diminish that belief.