The Art of the Deal: Trump in '92

MODERATOR: Mr.Trump, you assert the claim that President Bush's actions in Iraq earlier this year, despite achieving the goal of liberating Kuwait from Iraqi aggression, was disastrous for the United States. Do you care to explain what you mean by that?

TRUMP: I believe you're misconstruing my words, sir. It was a great achievement for our country, and I'm glad that Kuwait can still be free. The problem is that the President has been focused on foreign adventures like these, and he completely ignores what the American people need. He breaks promises too, like, remember what he said during the convention in '88? "Read my lips:no new taxes", I believe he said. What do we get after that? New taxes! He broke his promise there, so what other promises will be break next? I'm running for President because I believe we need someone in the White House that won't break their promises, like President Bush did here.
-Excerpt from the Republican debate in Columbus, Ohio, 9/11/1991
 
END OF THE SOVIET UNION:
The Soviet state, born of a dream, dies.
-The New York Times, 12/25/1991

TRUMP: Shit, Pat, what the hell are we going to do?

BUCHANAN: Don't worry, Mr.Trump, this is but a minor setback. We'll catch up, I promise you that.

TRUMP: Jesus, the last poll we got had Bush at 77 percent. Fucking 77 percent, Patrick! How on Earth are we gonna beat that?

BUCHANAN: Remember September 11th, Mr. Trump. It shows that Bush isn't invulnerable. We nearly narrowed it down all through October, and the shit in the Soviet Union is the only thing holding us back. Once the shit storm clears, I promise, we'll get this fucker.

TRUMP: (mutters) Should have fucking stuck with the damn buisness.
- Transcript from phone call between Donald Trump and campaign manager Patrick Buchanan, 12/27/1991

January 1st polls:
BUSH:79%
TRUMP: 18%
Undecided: 3%
 
Could Trump really get away with Make America Great Again seeing how it pretty much rips off Reagan's slogan and he's still alive.
 
BUSH CAMPAIGN AD:

NARRATOR: Since George Bush won the Presidency in '88, he had made some very important accomplishments.

(Clips from Moscow coup)

NARRATOR: He handled the failed Moscow coup that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

(Clips of airstrikes during Operation Desert Storm)

NARRATOR: He liberated Kuwait from Iraqi aggression.

(Clips from the fall of the Berlin Wall)

NARRATOR: And he acted in the best interests of freedom everywhere. But what has Donald Trump done for you?

BUSH: I want to get re-elected so that I can continue to serve the best interests of the American people, while Trump only cares about power, fame.

(Clips of Trump's various buisnesses, with the word TRUMP noticeable)

BUSH: He only cares about name recognition, while I have only worked for you.

NARRATOR: Vote for President Bush during the primaries. Don't let Trump become the face of the GOP.

BUSH: I'm George Herbert Walker Bush, and I approve this message.
 
NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY:
February 18th, 1992

When the first primary for the Republican nomination neared, Donald Trump had campaigned throughout the state. He inflamed the tensions felt in the state from President Bush, who he portrayed as "crooked" for breaking his 1988 campaign promise of "no new taxes". When word got to the Trump campaign that Bush was campaigning in the state was well, Trump decided to hold a rally outside the town of Exeter, where Bush was holding a town hall meeting. The Exeter rally was a focal point for Trump's campaign in the state, allowing the businessman to take the spotlight from the President. Trump narrowly won the state, with 50.1% of the popular vote. With that win, Trump gained an anchor for his campaign, shocking many political pundits who dismissed Trump's candidacy as a joke.

DONALD TRUMP: 50.1%
GEORGE H.W. BUSH: 48.3%
 
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