Manish K. Pandey | June 2016 Issue | The Dollar Business

When American business magnate Donald Trump announced his candidature for the post of US President on June 16, 2015, most of us could imagine only a few Americans voting for him. The reasons were simple – his controversial remarks on anything to everything, and his superficial plans and polices!

We still think so. But oh! How wrong emotions can be!

From building a wall between Mexico and United States to demanding the deportation of millions of Mexican immigrants, from imposing import tariffs as high as 45% on Chinese products to renegotiating NAFTA, from reforming tax code to repealing Obamacare, everything “eccentric” or “alien” seems to be a part of his hit list or the so-called Trump’s Election Manifesto! While Trump feels that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a “disaster”, he believes China is attacking US through currency manipulation via TPP. And how can we forget his recent thoughts on Muslim immigration – he also called for a ban on the community’s entry into US. What’s more interesting? He has even charted out a plan to make Mexico pay for the wall between US and Mexico! In short, he is a person that not many would want to see as the next US President, arguably the most powerful man in the world!

And what should India expect? If Trump wins, one can expect cordial ties with India (especially given his hatred for China), but expecting surging levels of trade might be dreaming a bit too big. Considering his stand on immigration, future job seekers too stand to lose a chance of working in US. Not to say, outsourcing and offshoring business will too be hit hard.

So if the world hates him, how has Trump become the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee? Here’s a secret – the world hates him; except many millions of Americans!

Over the last one year he has made several controversial remarks and every comment would have otherwise been presumed to be the final straw (in his campaign). However, every drama led to another and gave him greater support! In fact, there are many of us who have come up with our own reasons why Trump stand a poor chance of becoming the next US President. But he’s been scoring home runs at ease. So, what helps him gain supporters?

Well, one important thing we should not forget is that Trump is a shrewd, debt-loving businessman and has been running several businesses for decades now – from real estate to media, from hospitality to entertainment, his portfolio of assets is worth over $8.7 billion. So, he surely knows what he is up to. In fact, there is no doubt that Trump’s business acumen is one of the drivers of his success and that he has shown remarkable resilience all through his career.

What we have also failed to realise is that he has been playing “Joe the Plumber” card. A large section of the American population feel that they have been stripped of their real rights and their jobs have been taken away from them. And Trump has been smart enough to sense that social distress.

Interestingly, while a Bloomberg Survey from late last year found that 73% of Republicans think the property baron-turned-reality TV star “knows how to get things done” (outdoing all rivals on that parameter by a wide margin), a recent CNBC All-America Survey rated Trump and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton evenly on key economic issues. So, American populace too agrees on these fronts.

We should understand that Trump also has this uncanny ability to say anything and then easily get away with it. For instance, he claims he hates a debt-laden America, but debt is what his companies run on! So, who knows – when he becomes the White House occupant, he may even shake hands with sheikhs, fly to China, offer discounts on Mexican fajitas and tequila, and give outsourcing his nod. Afterall, beyond the circus of comments and placards, after elections are done, Trump – like his predecessors – may follow the old adage of putting his money where his mouth is!