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Donald Trump Piles It On: Now Claims He Gave Gaddafi Tent Rent Money To Charity

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by Tommy Christopher | 3:21 pm, March 22nd, 2011

» 34 comments

Possible 2012 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has doubled down on his revisionist claim that he “screwed” Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2009 when the embattled despot tried to pitch a tent on one of Trump’s properties in New York. Now, he’s telling CNN that his plan, all along, was to rook Gaddafi out of a small fortune, and give the money to charity. Unfortunately, Trump’s story is so full of holes, he could build several golf courses on it.

Without even doing any checking, Trump’s story reeks like a boardwalk Port-O-John, as he’s put on the spot by CNN’s Poppy Harlow. She asks if he still has the money, to which he replies “Do I still have it? what does that mean?”

When she asks Trump if he gave the Gaddafi money to charity, his first response is “I give tremendous, in fact, the other night, Comedy Central roasted me, they gave me a tremendous amount of money, it’s already gone to charity. So, I give money to charity. I gave that money to charity.”

Yeah, that’s the ticket!

Then, he reveals the grand plan, saying, “And in fact, I said, when I did it, I’m gonna take Gaddafi’s money, I’m not gonna make it easy on him, and I’m going to give the money to charity.”

Here’s the clip, from CNN:

Trump may, or may not, have given the money to charity at some point, but unless he was lying in 2009, there’s no way it happened the way he says it did. When news first surfaced that Gaddafi planned to pitch a tent (there’s an image worthy of ocular self-immolation) on Trump’s property, Trump didn’t know anything about it. In fact, based on his statements at the time, it doesn’t even appear that he got any money from Gaddafi, who was subleasing from Trump associates: (From Fox News)

The Trump Organization said Qaddafi would not be coming to Trump’s estate and insisted that Trump has not rented property to him. But it said part of the estate “was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners, who may or may not have a relationship to Mr. Qaddafi. We are looking into the matter.”

Also from Fox News:

Trump said earlier Thursday that he had “no idea” that Qaddafi might be involved in a deal to rent a section of Trump’s estate, a town official said.

Bedford Town Supervisor Lee Roberts said Trump told her Wednesday that as far as he knew, his arrangement was with partners in the United Arab Emirates and he was unaware of a Qaddafi connection.

So, Trump couldn’t have planned to take Gaddafi’s money, let alone give it to charity, because he had no idea Gaddafi was the one subleasing the property.

Even Trump’s claim that he “screwed” Gaddafi by “not letting him use” the property craps out when you realize it was the local government who ordered Trump to evict Gaddafi’s tent:

“At 2:30 p.m. yesterday, I spoke to Trump and told him that if they did not dismantle the tent, we would commence criminal prosecution,” he said. “And the only party we could name as a defendant would be the Trump Organization.”

The irony is that the original controversy was a tent-pest in a teacup, and Trump probably didn’t deserve the negative press he got. Had the town not gotten involved, and Gaddafi had stayed on the estate, Trump could hardly have been blamed for honoring a legal contract with an intermediary.

But for Trump to try and take credit for something he didn’t do is beyond ridiculous, and his claim that he gave the money to charity at all is highly suspect. This is the first he’s mentioned it, and in the days following the initial controversy, he not only didn’t reveal the disposition of the money, he actually tried to leverage the publicity to line his pockets some more:

The tent erected for the use of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Donald Trump’s Bedford, N.Y., property last week prompted national headlines, neighborhood outrage and a criminal summons.

But Mr. Trump sees a silver lining. “It’s the best piece of property in New York,” the mogul said in an interview. “Most people never even knew I owned it and now they do.”

The property in question, Seven Springs, is set to stay in the headlines. Last week, Mr. Trump filed a $30 million complaint against the Nature Conservancy and two neighbors, alleging they were depressing his property’s value by denying him the use of a closed road needed to provide access to a proposed 15-home luxury development on the 213-acre property.

While Harlow did a good job asking the charity question at all, she should have followed up by getting some details about the donation, and the organization to which it went. I’ve asked Trump’s spokesperson for that information, but they have not responded, as yet.

Donald Trump, fox news, gaddafi tent, Gaddafi Trump tent, Lee Roberts, Muammar Gaddafi, Poppy Harlow

kvon

Palling around with Terrorists.
Thelonious Funk

Aw, he’s just like Sana Claus.
jerrybobphil

How is this a story? Who cares who Trump claims to screw over. Seems like another one of Trumps idea of getting his name out there. Its odd that the media plays right along with this stuff.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

“Possible 2012 Republican presidential candidate”

Which explains why you and the other on Mediaite have switched over to smear mode when it comes to reporting on him. Do you guys realize how blatantly obvious it is that you’re trying to smear him like you guys did Palin? You do it to EVERY SINGLE prominent non-left wing figure that might run for president. Why haven’t you ever done this to Obama?
The Lantern of Truth

Dronetek said:
Why haven’t you ever done this to Obama?

Hey Tommy . Look into the shady background of Obama and come back and tell us he’s ” as squeaky clean as a flake of snow at the North Pole ” or one of your other patented metaphors .
THE REAL ROYAL KING

Thelonious Funk said:
Aw, he’s just like Sana Claus.

No, he’s more like a male Sara N. Italy. “Look at me! Look at me!”
George C

THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
No, he’s more like a male Sara N. Italy. “Look at me! Look at me!”

Rent free.
Barack Must Go

Trump has nothing to be ashamed of, nor does he need to apologize to anyone over this incident.

If you remember, Gaddafi is afraid to sleep indoors, therefor he brings his giant tent wherever he goes. He rented a Trump owned property, through a broker. where there was enough room to pitch his Ringling Bros. size tent, which his people did.

The town came along the day before the nut job was scheduled to arrive and made them dismantle the tent and haul it away due to zoning and permit issues.

That had nothing what so ever to do with the Donald. His place was ready and they did actually occopy the property for several days while setting up and waiting the gadflies ill fated arrival. So technically ” The Donald ” is only guilty of embellishing the story a bit to fit his rather larger than life persona and matching head.

Did anyone else notice the size of his head last night at his roast? That thing is enormous.
Tommy Christopher

Dronetek said:
you’re trying to smear him

Where is the “smear?” Can you identify anything false, or even misleading, about this story?
Tommy Christopher

Dronetek said:
Why haven’t you ever done this to Obama?

I’ve written several million words on politics over the past three years. You should try reading some of them before you accuse me of doing, or not doing, anything.

But yeah, I never wrote a story about Obama lying about his tent deal with Gaddafi because he never had one.
Lover

kvon said:
Palling around with Terrorists.

Progressive hypocrisy noted.
tiredocrapp

Hey Donald, as the old saying goes…”Liar, Liar, pants on fire”
Oh, and Poppy sucks!
skyfet

BS, Donald. He must have read the comment sections around the net yesterday. He was bragging about reaping Ghaddafi ff yesterday, now his phony self is claiming to have used the stolen money for charity. It steal doesn’t make it right Donald, you didn’t earn it you stole it. You are not Robin hood, you acted like a Robber, robbing a hoodlum.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

Tommy Christopher said:
I’ve written several million words on politics over the past three years. You should try reading some of them before you accuse me of doing, or not doing, anything.

But yeah, I never wrote a story about Obama lying about his tent deal with Gaddafi because he never had one.

Bullshit. Here is a list of your most recent stories:

http://www.mediaite.com/author/tommy-christopher/

I challenge anyone to find a story where you go after any Democrat much less the president. Its all stories about those dumb Republicans or puff pieces about left wing media people.
notsofast

What a whack-job Trump is. He pulled the same thing years ago, saying he screwed Merv Griffin when Merv bought his hotel.

It Donald’s world, only he wins.
Tommy Christopher

Dronetek said:
Bullshit. Here is a list of your most recent stories:

http://www.mediaite.com/author/tommy-christopher/

I challenge anyone to find a story where you go after any Democrat much less the president. Its all stories about those dumb Republicans or puff pieces about left wing media people.

Bullshit, you made the accusation, YOU look. And check these out, while you’re at it.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/bloggers/tommy-christopher/

http://www.asylum.com/bloggers/tommy-christopher/
http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

kvon said:
Palling around with Terrorists.

Did you know Fox is partly-owned by a Middle Eastern Prince that practices Sharia Law?

http://bigthink.com/ideas/22891

Murdoch partnered with him, meaning the head of Fox thinks Sharia Law is OK… I guess? I guess it means Murdoch also supports women being treated like ****, who knew.
http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

notsofast said:
What a whack-job Trump is. He pulled the same thing years ago, saying he screwed Merv Griffin when Merv bought his hotel.

It Donald’s world, only he wins.

I just don’t understand how he thinks explaining how he ripped off someone will get people to vote for him. What are his people thinking?
OxyCon

It figures, Tommy is smearing Trump but he’s taking it easy on Steve Wynn.
OxyCon

Dronetek said:
“Possible 2012 Republican presidential candidate”

Which explains why you and the other on Mediaite have switched over to smear mode when it comes to reporting on him. Do you guys realize how blatantly obvious it is that you’re trying to smear him like you guys did Palin? You do it to EVERY SINGLE prominent non-left wing figure that might run for president. Why haven’t you ever done this to Obama?

Tony Rezko who?
OxyCon

notsofast said:
What a whack-job Trump is. He pulled the same thing years ago, saying he screwed Merv Griffin….

Was that before or after Merv came out of the closet?
OxyCon

Tommy Christopher said:
Bullshit, you made the accusation, YOU look. And check these out, while you’re at it.
rel=”nofollow”>http://www.asylum.com/bloggers/tommy-christopher/

Ah-ha! An escapee!
OxyCon

Snowspot said:
Did you know Fox is partly-owned by a Middle Eastern Prince that practices Sharia Law?

http://bigthink.com/ideas/22891

Murdoch partnered with him, meaning the head of Fox thinks Sharia Law is OK… I guess? I guess it means Murdoch also supports women being treated like ****, who knew.

Murdoch only cares about making money and being a global disseminator of news, which is why he consorts with all the world’s leaders.
OxyCon

Snowspot said:
I just don’t understand how he thinks explaining how he ripped off someone will get people to vote for him. What are his people thinking?

I can’t understand why anyone would vote for him in the first place!
kvon

Lover said:
Progressive hypocrisy noted.

Sarcasm and cunning highlight of Republican idiocy overlooked.
kvon

OxyCon said:
Murdoch only cares about making money and being a global disseminator of news, which is why he consorts with all the world’s leaders.

Palling around with terrorists?
http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

I personally don’t consider Trump a serious candidate, though he may try to ride it for as long as someone will listen, but if he thinks that he can repackage and sell a false version of a well-covered, eighteen month old story in today’s media climate, I’d say that he has little respect for the rest of us and is deluded about his skills.
stephenpyle

Dronetek said:
Bullshit. Here is a list of your most recent stories:

http://www.mediaite.com/author/tommy-christopher/

I challenge anyone to find a story where you go after any Democrat much less the president. Its all stories about those dumb Republicans or puff pieces about left wing media people.

You shouldn’t post links that prove the other guy’s point. The sixth one down, entitled “Michael Moore Shreds Obama’s Libya Policy with Shock and Awe Twitter Bombardment” should do it. If you hate this site so much, why keep coming back?
Persistence

Rhymes with “Chump.”
http://cbcf.groupsite.com Miss Capri

The idea of Trump running for US president is simply insane, and he definitely doesn’t belong in the republican party at all. God help America if the worst comes to the worst. The only thing I’d vote him as president for is maybe the womanizing section of the arrogant cheaters and liars club. Yeah, Trump, just shut your big mouth and go away already!
http://cbcf.groupsite.com Miss Capri

Trump’s in love with himself and he has no respect for anybody else. Trump stinks and the media needs to stop paying any attention to him. He needs to fade away into obscurity.
Fuzzytoes

What a loser. He admitts screwing people over. How many tohers has he screwed over that he’s not talking about? Another Palin for the Jerry Springer shows. The republicans really have their work cut out for them.
timcajun

Trump delt with a terrorist, then changed his story! Yes, he’s now a tea party member!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RWT6CWINZEXETLPIYEYYEJQNPE starnapper

That’s right, you should make up stories that the president did something just as bad, when you report something bad about trump or republicans. It’s only fair. There should be equally bad stories about both. Somebody wrote a story about what a brutal killer Jack the Ripper was, and they didn’t have a single story saying the same thing about Tom Cruise. That’s just biased reporting.