President Trump

In the 2016 election real-estate developer and self-proclaimed "outsider" Donald Trump ran for President, vowing to "make America great again." Filmmaker Michael Kirk's PBS-aired Frontline documentary (shown shortly before Trump's inauguration) looks at Trump's upbringing, personality, business deals, divorces, and more, all leading up to his stunning upset victory. Trump is depicted as reflecting the cool, aloof personality of his father, who believed in the "racehorse theory," which divides the world between winners and losers. Always wanting to please his father, young Trump found himself shipped off to a military boarding school that was characterized by hazing, barracks humor, and a Playboy view of women and life. In business, Trump quickly set his sights on Manhattan as his ticket out of Queens, NY, and towards a life of success. Entering a mentored relationship with notorious lawyer Roy Cohn, Trump adopted a "never settle, take no prisoners" view of life. Perfecting the art of the deal, Trump espoused the philosophy of "truthful hyperbole," and noted that all publicity is good publicity (Trump has always enjoyed being in the spotlight). The documentary covers Trump's high profile marriages and divorces, lawsuits, bankruptcies, and his comeback through branding (slapping his name on buildings and products), followed by his long-running Apprentice TV series. Also examined here is Trump's relationship with former President Barack Obama, most notably the birther controversy and his seething resentment at what he felt was Obama's public humiliation of him at a White House Correspondents' Dinner (Trump has few friends, and above all dreads being ridiculed and shamed). Unfortunately, there is almost no coverage of Trump's 2016 campaign, a major shortcoming since much of the material here was already presented in the superior PBS documentary The Choice: 2016 (VL-3/17). Still, the title alone should make this a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)