Taking a step that many critics thought he never would, Donald Trump has apparently filed the required financial disclosures with the Federal Election Commission:
Donald J. Trump’s wealth is rising with his polling numbers, if his characterization of his own net worth is to be believed.
Mr. Trump issued a statement Wednesday saying that his net worth was now in excess of $10 billion, more than the $8.7 billion he said he was worth when he announced his presidential candidacy a month ago.
The statement noted that Mr. Trump had filed his financial disclosure report with the Federal Election Commission, a requirement of presidential candidates. The statement was full of the bombast often associated with Mr. Trump, including an all-capitalization declaration of his wealth:
“Mr. Trump’s net worth has increased since the more than one year old financial statement produced at his presidential announcement. Real estate values in New York City, San Francisco, Miami and many other places where he owns property have gone up considerably during this period of time. His debt is a very small percentage of value, and at very low interest rates. As of this date, Mr. Trump‟s net worth is in excess of TEN BILLION DOLLARS.”
But Mr. Trump’s characterizations of his wealth have drawn skepticism in many quarters, partly fueled by his own statements.
“My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with markets and with attitudes and with feelings — even my own feelings — but I try,” he once said.
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Mr. Trump declared that he had an income of $362 million in 2014, not including dividends, interest, capital gains, rent and royalties. And he said that he had made $213 million during his 14 seasons hosting NBC’s “The Apprentice.” NBC recently ended its relationship with Mr. Trump after remarks he made during his presidential announcement speech in which he referred to Mexican immigrants as “rapists” and “murderers.”
Given the fact that both CNN and Fox News had said that they considered the filing of the required financial report to be one of the prerequisites for debate participation, there has been more attention on whether Trump in particular would go ahead with this filing before the deadline, which would have expired later this week at the 30 day anniversary of his entry into the Presidential race. The fact that he has gone ahead filed, although the actual document may not be released by the Federal Election Commission for up to another 30 days, seems to suggest that he intends to stay in this race for at least awhile longer.
