👓 As the ‘King of Debt,’ Trump borrowed to build his empire. Then he began spending hundreds of millions in cash. | Washington Post

Read As the ‘King of Debt,’ Trump borrowed to build his empire. Then he began spending hundreds of millions in cash. by Jonathan O'Connell, David A. Fahrenthold and Jack Gillum (Washington Post)

In the nine years before he ran for president, Donald Trump’s company spent more than $400 million in cash on new properties — including 14 transactions paid for in full, without borrowing from banks — during a buying binge that defied real estate industry practices and Trump’s own history as the self-described “King of Debt.”

Given the mediocrity of Trump’s business while he was doing roughly what everyone else was doing, I’m even more skeptical of his ability to float a business with the numbers presented here. Based on now better researched reports, Trump only had a fraction of the wealth he’s always said he had. Unless his political position is being heavily leveraged now, I’m not sure how he’s staying in business. These back of the envelope numbers make Trump’s concerns even more suspicious.

One of the things not being reported in the Mueller investigation is investigation into Trump’s businesses and finances. I’d have to imagine that they’re looking into his tax records and business dealings more closely than has been reported.