Trump at Mount Vernon:
"If he was smart, he would've put his name on it," . . .
"You've got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you."
According to Politico, Trump took French President Emmanuel Macron on a tour of Mt. Vernon. Apparently, the Macrons “were far more knowledgeable about the history of the property than the president.”
Trump asked whether Washington was "really rich," according to a second person familiar with the visit. In fact, Washington was either the wealthiest or among the wealthiest Americans of his time, thanks largely to his mini real estate empire.
“That is what Trump was really the most excited about,” this person said.
(Trump’s only gauge of value).
But the most interesting insight comes from Trump’s declaration that Washington wasn’t really very smart.
“If he was smart, he would’ve put his name on it,” Trump said, according to three sources briefed on the exchange. “You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.”
Pause for a moment.
If George Washington had been smart, it seems, he would have renamed Mt. Vernon after himself.
“Or no one remembers you.”
I was born in Washington D.C., our nation’s capitol. Within a half an hour of where I now live in Missouri, there are at least 8 Washington Streets and Washington Avenues. Plus Washington Parks, Washington Squares, Washington Bridges, Washington Monuments, Washington Universities. Even a state, somewhere out west. (There are even towns and cities named Mount Vernon.) Other people have put George Washington’s name on things.
George Washington is remembered for what he accomplished, and the legacy and the nation he left us. He is remembered for the legacy of slavery that was part of his life as well. He is remembered — good and bad — and people still analyze his life and his work. Especially his presidency.
In Trump’s case, in a few years, his name will be on nothing.
No building, no golf course, no vodka, no university, no steak, no airline, no football team, no wall, no resort, no casino, no organization, no high school, no mountain, no watch, no perfume, no tower, no street, no town, no park, no foundation. Nothing.
My prediction is that within 3 -5 years his name will be blotted out from everything but court records, lists which include his name with an asterisk, and somber historical analyses.
[ “Failure: The Donald Trump Story” ]
His name may live on in figures of speech. [ “He did a Trump on them . . .” ]
But the Trump name will be gone.
I only hope it happens quickly enough that he can see it.