This past Friday, Trump's deposition video was finally released to the public. You can watch it and read the transcript here.
The footage, which is a little over an hour and a half long, isn't very surprising. Trump boasts about his business, carries himself in a haughty manner, and occasionally smiles like he has millions of secrets locked away in a gold-cased safe. He reveals he didn't prepare for the case at hand, and doesn't seem worried about the outcome. In fact, he doesn't even seem worried about the value of his assets or business at all as long as he's profiting. But that's not the controversy--what's drawing attention is his statement concerning his infamous comment on Mexicans being "rapists".
Here's a snippet of the statement (Q is Deborah B. Baum, who questioned him throughout the video, and Trump is A):
(Photo Credit: Buzzfeed)
Trump blatantly admits that he planned to demonize Mexicans. If you keep reading the transcript, Baum goes on to say that she thinks Trump "tapped into something" with his remarks. But when they discussed the business repercussions, Trump was solemn.
(Photo Credit: Buzzfeed)
He couldn't even foresee the repercussions his words could have on his own life.
Trump's ambition is dangerous. While he has no idea what he's doing with his own businesses, he knows exactly what he's doing when he degrades people. He knows it's bad for business but he doesn't care about business right now. He cares about being president. And if degrading racial minorities will give him the votes he needs, he'll gladly do so.
Many people probably aren't surprised by this latest gaffe, but they shouldn't underestimate the consequences. Why? Because the video is evidence that Trump has acknowledged the detrimental power of his words.
(Photo Credit: Buzzfeed)
Political analysts and critics alike have claimed that Trump sparks outrage on purpose. The Trump campaign and their supporters, however, have said that he's being honest. Supposed honesty is how Trump has maintained his following from the beginning. And that could potentially be threatened by this video. It's proof that Trump concocted at least one controversy. What else could he have staged for votes?
Perhaps the worst aspect of this latest revelation is Trump's inability to realize long-term consequences if they don't prove ruinous for him. Trump was dismayed about his businesses but not devastated. With numerous bankruptcies and lawsuits attached to his name, it's clear he has more than enough money to get by. He doesn't realize how his rhetoric may impact his business in the future (as made evident by his continual outbursts) because he won't be hurt. Maybe he just doesn't care. The only asset Trump has to lose is his most consistent one--his following. He has no power without his following. No power means no presidency. Trump maintains a "candid but honest" manner in order to keep his followers from giving up their support, even if that means utilizing offensive rhetoric.
What Trump fails to realize is how disastrous his shortsighted mindset would be during a potential presidency.
The Trump in the Oval Office would be a Trump with more power than he bargained for. There's no telling what he would or could do. The issue already poses some serious questions, but the deposition video raises a couple of particularly haunting ones:
If Trump was willing to risk his most prized businesses to win the presidency, what would he be willing to risk as president? And at what cost?
