Trump University ads promised to make students millionaires in a year

Trump U made some lofty promises.
(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/BuzzFeedAndrew)

Donald Trump promised students of Trump University that they would become millionaires in a year if they took his workshop on foreclosures, according to advertisements dug up by BuzzFeed. Over the course of the past several weeks, Trump University has faced scathing criticism by some customers for being a scam; it is also the subject of three civil lawsuits. Trump, however, has vigorously defended the school.

"I could have settled and probably still could very, very easily. But I don't want to settle it because, look, the people that took the course, 98 percent of those people liked the school. We have report cards," Trump told Good Morning America.

The ads, most of which are from 2008, feature quotes like, "If you're not a millionaire by December 2009, you didn't attend my foreclosure workshop" and "I'll show you how to turn this sizzling opportunity into a tidal wave of profits." BuzzFeed explains that the ads were for free introductory workshops, where wannabe millionaires would then be instructed that to continue their education, they would need to sign up for Trump University classes for thousands of dollars in tuition.

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As it turns out, when things seem too good to be true, it's because they usually are.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.