### Comment:
He was a successful RE developer prior though.... That's why he was able to license the brand.

### REPLY:
He never was though, it was a 'show' from day one: 
  
 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html 
  
 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/07/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html

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