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Donald Trump Told Me Disabled Americans 'Should Just Die' | TIME

  
Via:  Gsquared  •  2 months ago  •  88 comments

By:   Fred C. Trump III (TIME)

Donald Trump Told Me Disabled Americans 'Should Just Die' | TIME
Fred Trump III describes conversations with his uncle about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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S E E D E D   C O N T E N T


When my uncle was elected President, I recognized what a highly privileged position I would be in. I would have some access to the White House. And as long as that was true, I wanted to make sure I used that access for something positive. I was eager to champion something my wife, Lisa, and I were deeply passionate about, something we lived every day: the challenges for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Our son William, our third child, was born on June 30, 1999. Within 24 hours, he went from seemingly healthy to fighting for his life in the NICU. Raising him was different from the start. William was diagnosed at three months with infantile spasms, a rare seizure disorder which in William's case altered his development physically and cognitively. We had so many questions: What would the future hold for someone like William? How far could he go? How much could he learn? Would he ever have the chance to do the things that other children do?

We just didn't know. It took 15 years before his medical team could accurately pinpoint the cause of his condition: a KCNQ2 mutation, a genetic misfire that the doctors called a potassium channel deletion.

In our journey with William, Lisa and I had become close to some truly inspiring parents and dedicated advocates who were doing amazing work to improve the day-to-day reality for families like ours. It's a huge lift for caregivers, not to mention the constant need to mitigate expenses. There are so many different demands and challenges. But there are things that the government can do—some things that can only be done by the government, both federal and state. We wanted to bring knowledgeable people to the White House, to see if we could make a difference.

Lisa reached out to my cousin Ivanka, who was working in the White House as an advisor to the President. Ivanka got right back to her and said she'd be happy to help. She provided a contact for Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who was secretary of housing and urban development. We brought several talented advocates with us for a meeting with Carson and members of his senior staff in April 2017. "Look," I said as we got started, "I'm the least important person in the room." I wanted the focus to be on the others, who knew a lot more than I did. They immediately started floating ideas, which was exactly why we were there. Our collective voice was being heard. It was a start.

In January 2020, just before COVID hit, Lisa, myself, and a team of advocates met with Chris Neeley, who headed the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, a much-needed federal advisory committee that promotes policies and initiatives that support independent and lifelong inclusion. We discussed the need for all medical schools to include courses that focus on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We emphasized how crucial it was for hospitals and other acute-care facilities to help patients transition from pediatric to adult services. We emphasized the importance of collecting sufficient data to explain medically complex disorders. This was not about more government spending. It was about smarter investing and greater efficiency.

We spent the next few months making calls and talking with officials and gathering our own recommendations, giving special attention to the critical need for housing support for people with disabilities. We were back in Washington in May.

By this time, COVID was raging. We were all masked up and COVID tested on the way into the White House Cabinet Room. Once we got inside, we sat down with Alex Azar, the administration's secretary of health and human services, and Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, both of whom served on the White House Coronavirus Task Force. The promising agency motto stated: HHS: Enhancing the Health and Well-Being of All Americans.

Sharp, direct, and to the point, Azar exhibited my kind of efficiency with no time to waste. His first question was, "OK, why are you here?"

I made a brief introduction. Our group included a leading doctor and several highly qualified advocates. What followed was a great discussion. Something clicked with Giroir—an idea for a program everyone could agree on that would cut through the bureaucracy and control costs and also yield better and more efficient medical outcomes.

Excellent. We were making progress.

"Really appreciate your coming in," Azar finally said, more warmly than he had sounded at the start. "I know we're going to see the President."

The meeting I had assumed would be a quick handshake hello with Donald had turned into a 45-minute discussion in the Oval Office with all of us—Azar, Giroir, the advocates, and me. I never expected to be there so long. Donald seemed engaged, especially when several people in our group spoke about the heart-wrenching and expensive efforts they'd made to care for their profoundly disabled family members, who were constantly in and out of the hospital and living with complex arrays of challenges.

Donald was still Donald, of course. He bounced from subject to subject—disability to the stock market and back to disability. But promisingly, Donald seemed genuinely curious regarding the depth of medical needs across the U.S. and the individual challenges these families faced. He told the secretary and the assistant secretary to stay in touch with our group and to be supportive.

After I left the office, I was standing with the others near the side entrance to the West Wing when Donald's assistant caught up with me. "Your uncle would like to see you," she said.

Azar was still in the Oval Office when I walked back in. "Hey, pal," Donald said. "How's everything going?"

"Good," I said. "I appreciate your meeting with us."

"Sure, happy to do it."

He sounded interested and even concerned. I thought he had been touched by what the doctor and advocates in the meeting had just shared about their journey with their patients and their own family members. But I was wrong.

"Those people . . . " Donald said, trailing off. "The shape they're in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die."

I truly did not know what to say. He was talking about expenses. We were talking about human lives. For Donald, I think it really was about the expenses, even though we were there to talk about efficiencies, smarter investments, and human dignity.

I turned and walked away.

When William was 9 years old, Lisa and I met with Donald and a medical fund was created for William's care by the Trump Family, a fund that was crucial to our ability to support him.

In the summer of 2018, William was in the hospital for almost three weeks with a serious case of life-threatening pneumonia. He was 19 and very sick. It was incredibly frightening for Lisa and me—and for his brother and sister too. It was always hard to know if moments like these could compromise his health to the point that we would lose him. These are the times that you reach for all the strength you have.

William came home with oxygen and a feeding tube. After more than two weeks on a ventilator, he needed to learn how to eat all over again. We were too often in these setback situations, but you move forward the best you can.

It's times like these when family support is most needed and appreciated. At every opportunity, we let my aunts and uncles know how grateful we were for the medical fund for William's care and recovery. We sent pictures and updates, as we had in the past. We got no personal responses, which was the norm. It was the dedicated support and genuine love of caregivers that helped us the most.

Uncle Robert died in 2020, and the medical fund for William continued. It was enormously helpful with our home-care costs and medical expenses, and we were always grateful to my father's siblings for contributing. But even before Robert's death, their interest had seemed to begin waning. My cousin Eric, who was the administrator, called me to say the fund was running low. Donald was the only one contributing consistently. Eric said he'd been getting some resistance from Maryanne, Elizabeth, and Ann Marie, Robert's widow. I really didn't look forward to these calls.

"Why don't you call Donald?" Eric said. "Talk to him about it."

I thanked Eric for the heads-up and promised I would.

Soon thereafter, I was up at Briarcliff Manor, home of the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, N.Y. Donald happened to be there.

He was talking with a group of people. I didn't want to interrupt. I just said hi on my way through the clubhouse. I called him later that afternoon, and he answered.

I got him up to speed on what Eric had told me. I said I'd heard the fund for William was running low, and unfortunately, the expenses certainly were not easing up as our son got older. In fact, with inflation and other pressures, the needs were greater than they'd been. "We're getting some blowback from Maryanne and Elizabeth and Ann Marie. We may need your help with this. Eric wanted me to give you a call."

Donald took a second as if he was thinking about the whole situation.

"I don't know," he finally said, letting out a sigh. "He doesn't recognize you. Maybe you should just let him die and move down to Florida."

Wait! What did he just say? That my son doesn't recognize me? That I should just let him die?

Did he really just say that? That I should let my son die . . . so I could move down to Florida?

Really?

I'm usually pretty good at getting my head around things that other people say, even when I don't agree with them. But this was a tough one. This was my son.

Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised to hear Donald say that. It wasn't far off from what he'd said that day in the Oval Office after our meeting with the advocates. Only that time, it was other people's children who should die. This time, it was my son.

I didn't want to argue with him. I knew there was no point in that, not at the same time I was calling for his help. I tried to keep my cool.

"No, Donald," I said. "He does recognize me."

Donald's comment was appalling. It hurt to hear him say that. But it also explained why Lisa and I felt so strongly about advocating for our son and why we wanted to help other people understand what it was like to raise a child like William. A lot of people just don't know.

People with these disabilities are perceived as less than in so many ways. That attitude is everywhere, even at the highest levels of policy and politics.

William deserves a life just like anyone else, and to that end, I knew I had to advocate for him in every way possible. I might never change Donald's mind or change the mind of anyone who lacked love and compassion for those whose voices couldn't be heard and whose lives were fully dependent on others. But I knew what I could do. I could offer my voice, my experience, and my strength to push forward for those who needed it.

The barriers are everywhere, even in communities that are generally supportive, like ours. There are still doorways that can't accommodate wheelchairs. It is still hard to find meaningful day programs that foster independence with learning, socialization, and assistive technology. The whole narrative still needs to change.

I knew that acceptance and tolerance would only come with public education and awareness. Donald might never understand this, but at least he had been open to our advocating through the White House. That was something. If we couldn't change his feelings about William, that was his loss. He would never feel the love and connection that William offered us daily.

(Editor's note: TIME reached out to former President Trump for a response to the description of events in this piece and did not receive a reply.)

From the forthcoming book  ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Trumps and How We Got This Way  by Fred Trump, to be published by Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.


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Gsquared
Professor Principal
1  seeder  Gsquared    2 months ago
"Those people . . . " Donald said, trailing off. "The shape they're in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die."

...

Maybe you should just let him die and move down to Florida.

No one does empathy and compassion like Donald Trump. 

This should give the so-called "Pro-Life" people a warm and fuzzy feeling.

 
 
 
Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
1.1  Ozzwald  replied to  Gsquared @1    2 months ago
This should give the so-called "Pro-Life" people a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Nah, these disabled people he is talking about have already been born, pro-lifers don't give a crap after birth.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
1.1.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Ozzwald @1.1    2 months ago
pro-lifers don't give a crap after birth.

Exactly, you never hear of them adopting.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1.2  devangelical  replied to  Ozzwald @1.1    2 months ago

.. shocking, just shocking I tell you. trump should create a charity...

 
 
 
Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
1.1.3  Ozzwald  replied to  devangelical @1.1.2    one month ago
trump should create a charity

Does he need more pictures of himself?

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1.4  devangelical  replied to  Ozzwald @1.1.3    one month ago

lots of barren walls at mar-a-lardo...

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
1.2  Greg Jones  replied to  Gsquared @1    2 months ago

And without any evidence at all, we're supposed to believe that Trump actually spoke those words?

There's been too many made up and fictitious stories about Trump to take yet another one seriously.

Why has this never been brought up until now, a few weeks before the election?

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
1.2.1  MrFrost  replied to  Greg Jones @1.2    2 months ago
And without any evidence at all, we're supposed to believe that Trump actually spoke those words?

After he talked about batteries and sharks??? Yea, I believe it. 

poisoning the blood of our country...

If I happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very badly, I say go down and indict them, mostly they would be out of business. They’d be out. They’d be out of the election.

Flat chested women can't be a 10...

Grab them by the pussy...

Said he wanted to buy Greenland and tried to divert a hurricane with a sharpie...

Speaking of hurricane's, remember when he threw paper towels at people who had just lost EVERYTHING THEY OWN???!

Trump says some really weird shit, Greg. 

 
 
 
Ronin2
Professor Quiet
1.2.2  Ronin2  replied to  MrFrost @1.2.1    2 months ago

After all it is 2024 and this occurred in what 2020?

It took 4 damn years for it to come out?

Better still right after an assassination attempt on Trump's life; Biden dropping out to his obvious mental and physical decline; and the fallout from Harris and top Democrats covering it up for years.

Screams massive fake diversion.

If this was a real story it would have come out in 2020 during the elections; but it wasn't needed then.

Democrat lawfare hasn't worked; trying to keep Trump off of state ballots hasn't worked; slandering Trump in every way shape and form hasn't worked; so now it is another attempt with something that should have been readily available in 2020.

Keep trying. Kamala is an even worse candidate than Biden.

This election isn't just about Trump like it was in 2020. Democrats have fucked this country up since coming to power; that is what this election is going to be about.[]

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.3  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Greg Jones @1.2    2 months ago
without any evidence

This is a first hand acount.  Trimp's nephew is relating what his uncle said.  No other "evidence" is needed.

Why has this never been brought up until now

His book is just getting published now.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
1.2.4  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.3    2 months ago

[]

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.5  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Ronin2 @1.2.2    2 months ago

Your comment is completely idiotic on multiple levels.

The story is coming out now because his nephew is choosing to bring it out.  If anyone doesn't like that, too fuckng bad.  Take it up with him.

massive fake diversion

Obviously, reactionaries realize how devastasting this story is to their Lord and Master.  They can bitch and moan all they want, but the vast majority of Americans recognize Trump for the miserable sociopath/psychopath he is and will undoubtedly believe his nephew.

Democrats have fucked this country up since coming to power.

Comments really don't get any stupider than that.  Of course, no one is forcing anyone to live here.  

 
 
 
Snuffy
Professor Participates
1.2.6  Snuffy  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.5    2 months ago
The story is coming out now because his nephew is choosing to bring it out. 

And the simple fact that the nephew has a book coming out. You can see that at the bottom of the article.

Copyright © 2024 by Frederick Crist Trump III. From the forthcoming book   ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Trumps and How We Got This Way   by Fred Trump, to be published by Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC. Printed by permission. Donald Trump Told Me Disabled Americans 'Should Just Die' | TIME

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.7  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Snuffy @1.2.6    2 months ago

Correct.  As I stated in Comment 1.2.3 above.

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
1.2.8  MrFrost  replied to  Ronin2 @1.2.2    one month ago
Democrats have fucked this country up since coming to power

15 million new jobs... The horror... /s

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
1.2.9  MrFrost  replied to  Ronin2 @1.2.2    one month ago
Screams massive fake diversion.

Kind of like your entire post. 

 
 
 
Drakkonis
Professor Guide
1.2.10  Drakkonis  replied to  Ronin2 @1.2.2    one month ago

I'm not going to say Trump didn't say this, but I will say that, the way it was described as going down, it seems really odd. Trump spends 45 minutes of his precious time as president to listen and talk about something he must not have cared about (according to the story) and then calls his nephew in privately afterward to say something like that? Why? I know people think Trump can be, and sometimes is, an ass, but I have trouble seeing him calling his nephew back to speak privately with him and then saying something like that when he knows how passionate his nephew must be about the issue. What would be his motivation for doing such a thing? What purpose would it serve? What would he gain by it? If he felt that way, why give his nephew the time in the first place? 

I know Trump can be petty and a jerk sometimes. Heck. a lot of the time. But this just doesn't feel right to me. I find it hard to believe. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
1.2.11  JohnRussell  replied to  Drakkonis @1.2.10    one month ago
I know Trump can be petty and a jerk sometimes.

The day never dawns when Trump is not a jerk.  You know it, I know it, we all know it. 

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
1.2.12  evilone  replied to  MrFrost @1.2.8    one month ago

The news today was the GDP for the 2nd Qtr was up and inflation down. That's some brutal shit right there. 

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.13  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Drakkonis @1.2.10    one month ago
What would be his motivation for doing such a thing?

With Trump, cruelty is always the thing.   Haven't you noticed?

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.14  devangelical  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.13    one month ago

I wonder which country his kids will be relocating to when he takes his dirt nap...

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.15  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  devangelical @1.2.14    one month ago

The more pertinent question is what country without an extradition treaty with the U.S. is where Trump is planning to make his November 6th quick escape?

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.16  devangelical  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.15    one month ago

from prison? you're assuming he won't be remanded into custody at his fraud/contempt sentencing...

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.17  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  devangelical @1.2.16    one month ago

A big assumption on my part, I know.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.18  devangelical  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.17    one month ago

I'm wondering how much affect the highest court's recent rogue rulings could be having on some judges a few  levels down that may not agree with some recent legal theory or revisions of precedence.

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.19  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  devangelical @1.2.18    one month ago

Lower courts are required to follow precedents set by the Supreme Court.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.20  devangelical  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.19    one month ago

good thing his business fraud crimes occurred prior to him being elected president...

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
1.2.21  Trout Giggles  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.15    one month ago

Venezuela? I don't believe they have an extradition treaty

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.22  devangelical  replied to  Trout Giggles @1.2.21    one month ago

maybe he can build some upscale condos in north korea...

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
1.2.23  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Trout Giggles @1.2.21    one month ago

Venezuela has an extradition treaty with the U.S., or at least they did, but they don't always honor it.

The U. S. doesn't have extradition treaties with Russia or China, but I'd say that North Korea is his safest bet.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
1.2.24  Trout Giggles  replied to  Gsquared @1.2.23    one month ago

I really don't think he would like North Korea. Are there any McDonald's there?

Isn't there an island in the Caribbean that doesn't have an extradition treaty?

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.25  devangelical  replied to  Trout Giggles @1.2.24    one month ago

cuba?

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
1.2.26  Trout Giggles  replied to  devangelical @1.2.25    one month ago

LOL! Yeah he would love it there

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.27  devangelical  replied to  Trout Giggles @1.2.26    one month ago

trump in spanish is triunfo... ... not quite as catchy as fidel...

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.2.28  devangelical  replied to  Trout Giggles @1.2.26    one month ago

he'd really be rich there...

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
1.3  CB  replied to  Gsquared @1    2 months ago
This should give the so-called "Pro-Life" people a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Somebody should reach out to "them" for a response!

 
 
 
Krishna
Professor Expert
1.3.1  Krishna  replied to  CB @1.3    2 months ago
Somebody should reach out to "them" for a response!

And of course one must be sensitive to their preferred pronouns-- them, they, etc

 
 
 
Thomas
Masters Guide
1.3.2  Thomas  replied to  Krishna @1.3.1    2 months ago

If you know that someone wants to be referred to with a certain pronoun or in a certain way, what harm does it do to call them what they have actively expressed? 

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.3.3  devangelical  replied to  Thomas @1.3.2    one month ago

I'm pretty lazy and maintaining a full time lifestyle of racism, bigotry, xenophobia and homophobia seems like an awful lot of unnecessary extra work...

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
2  CB    2 months ago

There is only one reason why a family member would go public with an internal family matter: It's needful. That gives it a certain 'heft.' Unless, the family member is irresponsible and/or insane.

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
2.1  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  CB @2    2 months ago
There is only one reason why a family member would go public with an internal family matter:

revenge comes to mind , ill will or a feeling of being slighted out of something they thought they were entitled to also comes to mind .

 and since he is hawking a book , what juicier thing to include to sell more books  ?

 
 
 
Thomas
Masters Guide
2.1.1  Thomas  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @2.1    2 months ago

or... Maybe he is a smart business man who happened to actually be slighted by Trump and thought it the perfect time to make the revelation. Unless evidence is presented from another source, it is Fred's word against Donald's. Right now, I am giving Fred III the benefit of the doubt. It does sound totally in character for Donald. 

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
2.1.2  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Thomas @2.1.1    2 months ago

fools and their money , caveat emptor .

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
2.1.3  CB  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @2.1.2    2 months ago

The Donald Trump I Saw on The Apprentice

For 20 years, I couldn’t say what I watched the former president do on the set of the show that changed everything. Now I can.

May 30, 2024

[EXCERPT]

When the tasks are over, we are back in the boardroom, having our conference with Trump about how the two finalists compare—a conversation that I know to be recorded. We huddle around him and set up the last moments of the candidates, Jackson and Rancic.

Trump will make his decision live on camera months later, so what we are about to film is the setup to that reveal. The race between Jackson and Rancic should seem close, and that’s how we’ll edit the footage. Since we don’t know who’ll be chosen, it must appear close, even if it’s not.

We lay out the virtues and deficiencies of each finalist to Trump in a fair and balanced way, but sensing the moment at hand, Kepcher sort of comes out of herself. She expresses how she observed Jackson at the casino overcoming more obstacles than Rancic,  particularly with the way he managed the troublesome Omarosa. Jackson , Kepcher maintains, handled the calamity with grace.

“I think Kwame would be a great addition to the organization,” Kepcher says to Trump, who winces while his head bobs around in reaction to what he is hearing and clearly resisting .

Why didn’t he just fire her?” Trump asks, referring to Omarosa. It’s a reasonable question. Given that this the first time we’ve ever been in this situation, none of this is something we expected.

“That’s not his job,” Bienstock says to Trump. “That’s yours.” Trump’s head continues to bob.

“I don’t think he knew he had the ability to do that,” Kepcher says. Trump winces again.

“Yeah,” he says to no one in particular, “but, I mean, would America buy a n— winning?” *

Kepcher’s pale skin goes bright red. I turn my gaze toward Trump. He continues to wince. He is serious, and he is adamant about not hiring Jackson.

Bienstock does a half cough, half laugh, and swiftly changes the topic or throws to Ross for his assessment. What happens next I don’t entirely recall. I am still processing what I have just heard. We all are. Only Bienstock knows well enough to keep the train moving. None of us thinks to walk out the door and never return. I still wish I had. (Bienstock and Kepcher didn’t respond to requests for comment.)

Afterward, we film the final meeting in the boardroom, where Jackson and Rancic are scrutinized by Trump, who, we already know, favors Rancic . Then we wrap production, pack up, and head home. There is no discussion about what Trump said in the boardroom, about how the damning evidence was caught on tape. Nothing happens.

* Emphases CB.

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
2.1.4  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  CB @2.1.3    2 months ago

In all fairness , i never watched the show, reading that im glad i didnt  , and frankly i am failing to see the point , unless the point is trump is a despicable man in general . 

 personally i have never thought otherwise .

 so i take it , its a good thing im on record that i have never voted for him and im not voting for him in this election either .

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
2.1.5  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @2.1    2 months ago

Possibly he is a bit miffed because when he went to his uncle for help his uncle told him that maybe he should just let his son die.  What do you think?

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
2.1.6  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Gsquared @2.1.5    2 months ago

this is separate from our previous discussion I take it .

i also take it you would like my opinion on discussing someones life .

my answer not everyones , is that having to think about that and make such a choice is likely the hardest one i can imagine , thankfully i have not had to do it .

Some of the things i would have to consider is not only the quantity of life, how long it might extend their life , but the quality of the life they would live .  with the medical treatment available , extending life isnt as difficult as would seem , but if that life is full of pain , and constantly needing more treatments to fix what the current treatments mess up , and the constant dependence on others , for me i wont put my kids through that taking care of me , if it were one of my kids ,and we have discussed it , they have told me , no artificial life support , if they are cognizant and can make their own choices then they will.

Now if it were someone asking me about someone else , i would point out my wishes for myself , and no one else  and explain my reasoning , as best and as gently as i could , but my final real answer , is , i can not tell them what the answer for them or their loved one is . That has to come from the person themselves and if they cant , from their closest loved one .

 as i stated above , i have not had to make that choice , but i have had someone make that choice about themselves , for me . and he made that choice because even though his entire life he said he would let things run its course naturally and in its own time , he knew I was in a bad place with my divorce . so he opted for chemo , it extended his life , and he saw me through that dark period ,  he did it because he would not leave until he was sure , i was going to come out of it ok .

 he gained 9 months , through what i was told was almost unbearable pain . I am 62 years old , i lost him 10 years ago last Jan , and i can say my father , was not only my hero , but to the end , he was my Champion .

 Now , i will not ask to be excused , but i have to go take a walk and get some fresh air with a bottle of Buffalo trace bourbon.

 I dont think I can make my answer to the question posed , any clearer , i hope it suffices .

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
2.1.7  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Mark in Wyoming @2.1.6    2 months ago

G2, my apologies to you and the readers , but the end of that last post caught me somewhat unprepared , and off guard , and was to me a bit raw  to be sharing .

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
2.1.8  Split Personality  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @2.1    one month ago

The sale of the book should address the lack of funding for the family fund that is running low.

I would buy the book just to help fund the kids remaining life and use the book to level furniture or something.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
3  JohnRussell    2 months ago

Whats more likely ? Trump said "let them die" or that he wrote a check for his great nephews care from his fortune of 10 billion dollars ? 

Do we have to ask? 

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
4  Kavika     2 months ago

This really hits home since I have two grandchildren with disabilities and I been confined to a wheel chair for four months my suggestion would be that his spawn replace each of the disabled trump wants to abandon and he could include his slimy self in the occasion.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1  JohnRussell  replied to  Kavika @4    2 months ago

Donald Trump  : "My wheelchair is the greatest wheelchair in the world, no one has ever seen anything like it, and no one knows as much about wheelchairs as I do. No one can wheel a wheelchair like me."

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
4.1.1  devangelical  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1    one month ago

everybody says how amazing it is, more than the world has ever seen before...

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5  Mark in Wyoming     2 months ago

just did a search on snopes . even used their AI factcheck bot .

que: did trump say the disabled should just die ?

results?

 there is no evidence that this was said .

 2nd query : did trump tell his nephew that disabled people should just die?

 result?

 There is no evidence this has happened .

256

me considering the article .

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
5.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5    2 months ago

[]

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
5.2  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5    2 months ago
There is no evidence that this was said.
There is no evidence this has happened.

Since you're apparently not aware of what constitues evidence, an account by a witness (here, Trump's nephew) relating statements by another person is considered evidence (it would not be excluded as hearsay), is admissible at a trial and is sufficient for a judge or jury to render a verdict.  

Your comment that there is "no evidence this happened" referring to Trump's statements to his nephew is totally misplaced.  The statements are related by the nephew.  That is the proof it happened.  The nephew is telling us that is what Trump said.  If it's your contention that the nephew is lying about what Trump said to him, the burden of proving that is on you.

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5.2.1  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Gsquared @5.2    2 months ago

oh I am aware of what evidence is , maybe your correction is better directed to Snopes .

 as for this being a first hand witness statement , can it be corroborated and verified? that is the first thing a good lawyer or investigator would ask .

 considering i found out after i posted , or realized that the individual is in the prosses of selling a book that this is contained in , then i would have to say it does fall into the hearsay category without corroboration from a separate individual that heard the same thing .

 i could also say that this pretty fairly could be slander if it cannot be proven it was actually said .

the onus is on the nephew to prove he did say that , not trump or anyone else to prove he didnt .

congratulations  councilor , you have pretty well set the stain , with something the accused can not disprove , yet even the supposed witness can not prove .

 if you believe in blood libel , every family has a grifter , the trump family likely more than their share than most , whats this witnesses last name again ?

 ADD:after all if those on the left are to be believed , every member of the trump family are lying sacks of feces .

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5.2.2  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5.2.1    2 months ago

you may have the closing statement , , you just read mine .

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
5.2.3  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5.2.1    2 months ago
as for this being a first hand witness statement , can it be corroborated and verified?

If someone heard the statements other than the nephew that would be corroboration.  Even without corroboration it remains evidence.

 it does fall into the hearsay category 

I suggest that you review what hearsay is.  I'm not going to write a treatise here, except to say that a statement of a party (Trump), or an admission, is an exception to the hearsay rule.  Of course, we are not dealing with a court proceeding, just a nephew quoting his uncle in a book.  If you chose not to believe him, oh well...

the onus is on the nephew to prove he did say that

Incorrect.  The nephew relating what his uncle said is all the proof required.  If someone wishes to challenge the veracity of the nephew's statement, the burden of proof is on the person making the challenge.

congratulations  councilor , you have pretty well set the stain , with something the accused can not disprove , yet even the supposed witness can not prove .

It seems that you are of the belief that a statement related by a witness is not evidence.  That is not correct.

every family has a grifter , the trump family likely more than most , whats this witnesses last name again ?

A witnesses' credibility can be challenged, but is "guilt by family association" your standard?  That certainly rests on thin ice.

ADD:after all if those on the left are to be believed , every member of the trump family are lying sacks of feces .

Who ever said that?  I believe that probably everyone on the "left" believes Trump's niece, Mary, is as truthful as the day is long.  I see no reason to doubt the veracity of her brother, either.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
5.2.4  JohnRussell  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5.2.1    2 months ago

no slander involved in this.  

  • If a false statement is made about a public figure, an actual malice standard applies. The defendant is at fault and liable for defamation only for knowingly making a false statement or for acting with reckless disregard in determining whether or not the statement was true.
 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5.2.5  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Gsquared @5.2.3    2 months ago
but is "guilt by family association" your standard?

seems to be enough for those on the left that vote in the case of the trump family .

 you have very well tried this issue , in the court of public opinion , how it pays off with voters , remains to be seen .

 all i had to do is introduce reasonable doubt , which  judging public opinion of all trumps ? i think i did. 

 see my comment 6.1 below , the second part .

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5.2.6  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  JohnRussell @5.2.4    2 months ago

John , we both and all know , that the court of public opinion runs by a different set of rules . The main one being the departed Harry Reids ,try and say anything, it worked didnt it ?

 I am sure if a public figure feels they have been slandered , libeled , or defamed , they would have their real lawyers on it to see what could be done .

 as for those of us in the court of public opinion whose ability to pass the bar required is rather low , be it one in the neighborhood or in our living rooms ,

i am sure both the readers on site and the public in general will give this the due diligence they feel it deserves .

I have already given it 2 Raspberrys and a qweef.

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5.2.7  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5.2.6    2 months ago

256

You do know , if you too have been insulted or offended by this gentleman , you too may be entitled to compensation .....

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
5.2.8  JohnRussell  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5.2.6    2 months ago

his lawyers would be wasting their time. you could never prove he knowingly lied about trump.  without the intent there is no slander. 

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5.2.9  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  JohnRussell @5.2.8    2 months ago

and we of course , should take your legal expertise in this matter oh graphic arteest?

 one thing I do know , when it comes to slander and libel , though there is a common definition  and standard , each states jurisdiction has its own set of guidelines . What wont fly where you are can get your ass barbequed in molasses somewhere else due to subtle differences and intricacies.

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
5.2.10  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @5.2.9    one month ago
each states jurisdiction has its own set of guidelines

While it is true that each state may determine for itself what constitutes libel and slander, the U.S. Supreme Court in New York Times v. Sullivan enunciated the rule with regards to the press and others who speak on public affairs, and public figures. 

The Supreme Court held that public officials and public figures must show that the author or speaker acted with “actual malice” or “reckless disregard” of the truth in order to win a defamation suit.   That rule applies regardless of where a defamation suit may be filed (it doesn't matter which state or jurisdiction - all have to follow the same rule) and is a very difficult burden for a public figure claiming defamation to overcome.

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
6  CB    2 months ago

I love the subtle part of the story where Fred Trump III lets it be known that his son is nineteen now. . . and the same love as from the beginning has persisted throughout many, many, trying years and dedication to servicing. While I am stunted to read this recounting (which will receive pushback from Donald eventually), because the article implies Donald is a major benefactor for this 19 years old disabled family member. The father, mother, and immediate family must have felt strongly about a neglect, abuse, or disrespect to pen an article and go 'public' at a time like this for Donald and his self-interests.

This is intended to hurt Donald (especially with disabled Americans), whether it accomplishes its goal or not.

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
6.1  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  CB @6    2 months ago

it is said , a lie makes it all the way around the world before the truth can get out of bed and get its pants on . 

 slander , even without evidence  and later proven untrue , will still leave a stain in the minds of those that wish to believe the worst .

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
6.1.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @6.1    2 months ago
lie makes it all the way around the world before the truth can get out of bed and get its pants on . 

truth puts its pants on one leg at a time, lie likes to travel naked.

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
6.1.2  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Drinker of the Wry @6.1.1    2 months ago

jrSmiley_91_smiley_image.gif

he said naked ......

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
6.1.3  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @6.1.2    2 months ago

Naked as a jaybird!

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
6.1.4  seeder  Gsquared  replied to  Mark in Wyoming @6.1    one month ago
slander , even without evidence  and later proven untrue , will still leave a stain in the minds of those that wish to believe the worst .

No doubt.

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
7  CB    2 months ago

Donald Trump's nephew alleges his uncle said disabled Americans 'should just die'

Story by Rachel Barber, USA   TODAY
 •  1h  •  2 min read

Fred C. Trump III, the nephew of former President Donald Trump , claims in  an excerpt from his upcoming  memoir that his uncle told him that disabled Americans, including his own son, “should just die.”

The book “All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way,” set for   release on July 30 , is anticipated to feature a scathing portrayal of the former president, including claims of his use of racial slurs , as reported by TIME magazine on Wednesday.

Donald Trump's nephew alleges his uncle said disabled Americans 'should just die' (msn.com)

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
7.1  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  CB @7    2 months ago

sounds to me like he is trying to sell a book , and possibly get on the gravy train that trumps niece has as a paid commentor .

 i think i will give this , 2 Raspberrys and a qweef .

 
 
 
squiggy
Junior Silent
8  squiggy    2 months ago

I hear these leaky stories in the AI voice common in Facebook Reels.

 
 
 
Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
9  Hal A. Lujah    2 months ago

"Those people . . . " Donald said, trailing off. "The shape they're in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die."

I truly did not know what to say. He was talking about expenses. We were talking about human lives.

This is probably what JD Vance was referring to when he made his Hitler comparison.  But now JD says he wrong totally wrong about Trump.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
9.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Hal A. Lujah @9    2 months ago

Yea, JD showed himself to be a real opportunist.  Did Harris ever get her demanded apology from Biden for working with segregationist and opposing school busing?  No, ambition frequently surpasses ethical behavior in our political world.

 
 
 
Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
9.1.1  Hal A. Lujah  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @9.1    2 months ago

Every time you combatively whatabout with long ago events you reveal your real leanings.  Perhaps you are in denial of your inner maga.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
9.1.2  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Hal A. Lujah @9.1.1    2 months ago
Every time you combatively whatabout with long ago events you reveal your real leanings.

2020 Dem debates aren’t long ago events to me, why are they to you?

 Perhaps you are in denial of your inner maga.

Perhaps you’re letting your bias run away with you again.

 
 
 
Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
9.1.3  Hal A. Lujah  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @9.1.2    2 months ago

The thing that was discussed in those debates were events from decades before.  Bringing them up here is straight up whataboutism.  Vance called Trump Hitler, and this new publicly revealed and sincerely described information about Trump backs up Vance’s claim.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
9.1.4  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Hal A. Lujah @9.1.3    2 months ago
Bringing them up here is straight up whataboutism.

You should address that with Kamala, not me.

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
10  Buzz of the Orient    2 months ago

Guess he said that before he faked bone spurs disability to cowardly escape military service. 

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
11  CB    2 months ago

The Donald Trump I Saw on  The Apprentice

For 20 years, I couldn’t say what I watched the former president do on the set of the show that changed everything. Now I can.


MAY 30, 2024
On Jan. 8, 2004, just more than 20 years ago , the first episode of The Apprentice  aired. It was called “Meet the Billionaire,” and 18 million people watched. The episodes that followed climbed to roughly 20 million each week. A staggering 28 million viewers tuned in to watch the first season finale. The series won an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, and the Television Critics Association called it one of the best TV shows of the year, alongside  The Sopranos  and  Arrested Development .   The series—alongside its bawdy sibling,  The Celebrity Apprentice —appeared on NBC in coveted prime-time slots for more than a decade.

The Apprentice  was an instant success in another way too.

It elevated Donald J. Trump from sleazy New York tabloid hustler to respectable household name.*

In the show, he appeared to demonstrate impeccable business instincts and unparalleled wealth, even though his businesses had barely survived multiple bankruptcies and faced yet another when he was cast. By carefully misleading viewers about Trump—his wealth, his stature, his character, and his intent—the competition reality show set about an American fraud that would balloon beyond its creators’ wildest imaginations.

I should know. I was one of four producers involved in the first two seasons.

During that time, I signed an expansive nondisclosure agreement that promised a fine of $5 million and
even jail time if I were to ever divulge what actually happened.

It expired this year .

No one involved in  The Apprentice —from the production company or the network, to the cast and crew—was involved in a con with malicious intent. It was a  TV show ,   and it was made for  entertainment . I still believe that. But we played fast and loose with the facts, particularly regarding Trump, and if you were one of the 28 million who tuned in, chances are you were conned .

As Trump answers for another of his alleged deception schemes in New York and gears up to try to persuade Americans to elect him again, in part thanks to the myth we created, I can finally tell you what making Trump into what he is today looked like from my side. Most days were revealing. Some still haunt me, two decades later.

Source: 2.1.3 reference box. 

*   Emphases CB.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
11.1  devangelical  replied to  CB @11    one month ago

I watched the apprentice when it first came out. it morphed from barbecue night to a drinking game with my closest friend and we would mock him for his ignorance relentlessly. I only remember watching the first season because it became too repetitive...

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
11.1.1  CB  replied to  devangelical @11.1    one month ago

I can't remember if I got through the first season or not. I am sure that I opted out on everything else from the franchise as I was getting out of reality shows as a whole (genre).

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
11.1.2  devangelical  replied to  CB @11.1.1    one month ago

I'm not big on multi episode serials...

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
12  Trout Giggles    one month ago

Shameful

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
12.1  devangelical  replied to  Trout Giggles @12    one month ago

maga!

 
 

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