The most hilariously incorrect things The Washington Post found in Trump financial statements
A month after Michael Cohen testified that President Trump frequently inflated his wealth as a businessman, The Washington Post has obtained financial statements it says are full of obvious exaggerations and misstatements.
The Post on Thursday obtained some "Statements of Financial Condition" Trump provided to lenders and investors as a businessman from 2002 through 2013. Here are some of the key details from the report:
1. In one statement, Trump allegedly claimed he had 55 home lots for sale at his golf club, when in fact he only had 31 lots available. The difference is the equivalent of $72 million in future revenue, the Post says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2. Trump allegedly described Trump Tower as a "68 story bronze glass structure," even though Trump Tower only has 58 stories.
3. Trump reportedly claimed to own a 2,000-acre vineyard, even though the vineyard in question is only 1,200 acres.
4. Trump reportedly claimed an estate he owned was valued at $261 million, when local assessors actually valued it at about $20 million. He apparently got to this inflated number based on homes he didn't officially have approval to build.
5. Trump intentionally did not include information about two buildings he owns in one statement so that "readers can't get a full picture of how much he owes, and to whom," the Post writes.
6. Trump in on document claimed that his net worth was $8.6 billion because his "brand value" is worth $4 billion. This was not present in previous statements, the Post says.
7. The report raised questions about whether Trump may have committed fraud with these statements, with George Conway, Kellyanne Conway's husband, writing on Twitter, "people go to prison for things like this."
8. One expert told the Post, however, that disclaimers Trump's accountants provided along with statements might put him in the clear, also arguing the records being so obviously ridiculous and incorrect could actually work in Trump's favor. After all, they're so "humorous" that he wondered if anyone could have possibly believed them anyway.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Spines and the rise of AI book publishers
Under The Radar New publishing venture has been roundly condemned by industry figures
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
A Man on the Inside: Netflix comedy leaves you with a 'warm fuzzy feeling'
The Week Recommends Charming series has a 'tenderness' that will 'sneak up' on you
By The Week UK Published
-
Bread & Roses: an 'extraordinarily courageous' documentary
The Week Recommends Sahra Mani's 'powerful' film examines the lives of three Afghan women under the Taliban
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire
Speed Read Both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Khan supporters converge on Islamabad
Speed Read Protesters clashing with Pakistani authorities are demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Prosecutor drops federal cases against Trump
Speed Read Special counsel Jack Smith requested to drop the charges against President-elect Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump completes Cabinet selections
Speed Read The president-elect's latest picks include Scott Bessent and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published