As much as the American public hears Donald Trump talking about his hotels, foreign leaders apparently hear it even more in their interactions with him. The man just cannot shut up about his private property even when doing his public job, and everyone seems to have a different theory about why.
“He talks up his properties every chance he gets with anyone—with staff, with members of Congress, with the press, with the public, with foreign leaders, with anyone,” a former White House official told Politico. “That’s what he has done. He’s been a salesman. He’s been a PR person for his properties for the last 50 years, so almost out of force of habit, that’s what he does.”
That’s theory one: “almost out of force of habit.”
Theory two, from a “former senior administration official,” is that “It’s literally to show how big and powerful I am.” And definitely the best way a U.S. president shows power is to talk about hotels.
Theory three, from “An official who worked for Trump after he was elected during the transition,” is that “He’s just trying to relate. He’s looking for issues of commonality, just trying to personally connect with someone.”
Add that up and what you get is someone who’s so stunted and narcissistic that every thought and impulse is filtered through the lens of his resort properties. Need to relate to someone? Talk about hotels. Need to dominate someone? Talk about hotels. Just looking for conversation topics? Talk about hotels. And, of course, need to host a major international event? Locate it at your own hotel until you can't take the heat.
Donald Trump just seems to think his hotels are more important and interesting than the interests of the United States. Go figure.