Home : Painfully Blunt or Just Honest?

Painfully Blunt or Just Honest?

Posted by Donald J. Trump on 12/30/2008 at 3:27 PM
Posted in Leadership

I was interviewed by Neil Cavuto of Fox News and he announced that it was the most ticked off he’d seen me in the twenty years he’s been interviewing me. I’d say I was being blunt, which is typical for me, and Neil said I was painfully blunt. Well, these are painful times, and I’m not running for any political office so I can afford to be honest.

We covered the situation in New York, and the 137 proposed tax hikes by Governor Paterson. These tax hikes include non-diet soda and massages. Meantime, we’ve spent a trillion dollars in Iraq. And now we have to pay taxes on non-diet soda? Isn’t something wrong here? After a trillion dollars, Iraq has become a breeding ground for terrorists and they throw shoes at President Bush. It looks like a mess to me.

Then we got on the subject of Governor Blagojevich. It seems like every day another scoundrel surfaces. What he said was stupid, but at the same time it was perhaps just the bravado of a politician. As far as Jesse Jackson admitting that he was an informant, people just don’t like informants. He’s got to be careful with that. Every politician is about fundraising, but the question should be was it bravado or a criminal act? Either way, he’s a disaster.

Our conversation then went to a more pleasant topic, Caroline Kennedy. Just recently I sat next to Kerry Kennedy at a dinner and she feels strongly about her as a contender for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, but I don’t know Caroline. I do, however, know Ted Kennedy who is a friend of mine, and he thinks she’ll do a great job. That means a lot. But I was wondering, would she be willing to go to Buffalo and Albany at all hours to take care of business? I don’t see her loving that. Hillary did a tremendous job, and I hope Caroline Kennedy would do a good job. She’d be filling some big shoes. But we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

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15 Comments

Posted by Business 2000 Foundation.com on 12/30/2008 5:56 PM

interesting observations....

To be honest a person needs to be blunt and to the point. How did these leaders get appointed and or elected to office? People need to participate and voice their concerns in an open forum. Hilary Clinton got the best deal...with Bill as a special advisor. His leadership or hers? Might be interesting to watch and participate in Washington D.C.

Fundraising ...can be fun if done in a professional mannor with honor.

Posted by Rachael Sutton #1253595 on 12/30/2008 6:28 PM

No pain. Definitely direct. Real. Honest. Straight shooting. Focused. Worth listening to.

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&str...

But what was that - no car czar?

Posted by Alf J. Lundgren on 12/30/2008 6:43 PM

From what I make out of what you wrote you were not painfully blunt, you were honest. The only thing that's painfull is the truth. And it is important that the truth is spoken. People should never blame you for beeing painfully blunt, they should blame the people that made the truth as painfull as it is today.

Perhaps some people just need to open their eyes and get smart, fast. And start seeing things for what they are. Although it takes time to earn the qualities that are required to do so.

I mean, you can't make the truth better if you can't even recognize it.

Be honest, there is enough chit-chat out there. But like I said, you have to earn the qualities that are required to do so.

Posted by member1902727 on 12/30/2008 8:10 PM

Mr. Trump,

Let me first say thank you for all the great work you do for educating in the arena of financial education. I appreciate and applaud your honesty. It is something that needs to be brought to the world of politics and sooner, better than later. I hope that you will consider running for office one day. Our country needs a strong business leader that is not afraid of looking at a very difficult challenge (Social Security, Medicare, Debt, GCP, etc) and turning a bad situation into a solution. I am truly saddened how our Country has left its roots of a strong economic leadership to where we are today...in debt up to our boot straps!

Sometimes bluntness offends, but with a true leader, it will to make one work harder to improve as you point out several times in your books.

Keep up the great work and I look forward to learning more from you!

Posted by Joshua Kundert Consulting on 12/31/2008 8:53 AM

This world and this country needs more honesty, I applaud you for being just honest in your interview. I agree we have sank way to much money in Iraq and i think we have created a sinking ship over there, we have problems right here at home that we could have stuck 1 trillion dollars on. I bet a lot less than that amount could have given our children a better education, and we could have taken all the homeless people off the street with the money we have dumped into iraq.

Posted by Cheryle on 12/31/2008 12:46 PM

Being honest with respect and diplomacy is far better than a person saying something like, "she's a fat slob." It may be true that the person could shed a few pounds for better health, and self-appreciation but that doesn't make it right to state the obvious in a hurtful way.

Choosing your words more carefully is a sign of intelligence. It brings people closer together and usually gains admirers instead of enemies. Being mean-spirited is a turn off for educated ears. Fools laugh at this sort of behavior because they are fools.

Sometimes people use harsh words to get a reaction from their audience.Being "painfully blunt" should tell you something about your choice of words. Maybe that's exactly what you wanted... a dramatic reaction. If so, then I guess you chose the right words. If not, try to be a little more understanding and sensitive.

What comes out of your mouth represents what you are. A kind, loving person is usually described that way by others based on their actions, what they say and how they say it.

What kind of person do you want to be? Painfully blunt or kind and generous? Both can be honest.

Posted by user41859 on 12/31/2008 1:03 PM

Speaking of being painfully blunt.

Perhaps you can get this in front of Neil and others because I havent been able to do so.

These are the figures that our experts should be tracking and then they will see why we are going through this financial crisis

http://keepamericaatwork.com/ind_qty_by_year_irs.html

Regards,

Virgil
http://www.KeepAmericaAtwork.com

Posted by member1874232 on 12/31/2008 4:22 PM

A tax on diet soda? This is an outrage. Whose brilliant idea was that? That person should be FIRED. Ya hear me? You should bring em to Trump Tower and sit em down and call em by name, and go: "YOU'RE FIRED!" I mean what's next? Renters paying property taxes on their Brooklyn apartment rentals? You know what, Mr. Trump? I'm scared. I am very, very scared.

by Marion TD Lewis, Esq.
Author: How Oprah Donald Trump and Jesus helped me turn a midlife crisis on its exquisite nose

Posted by TERESA SKINNER VA BCH member1784598 on 12/31/2008 6:48 PM

FIRST OF ALL WHO IS GOING TO TO INTERVIEW DONALD TRUMP AND NOT EXPECT HIM TO BE BRUTILLY HONEST, I SAY NO BODY. ITS STUPID DONT ASK TO ITERVIEW MR. TRUMP AND EXPECT A YES MAN. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE SAID AND BRAVO TO HIM FOR SPEAKING HOW MOST AMERICANS FEEL.
MOST PEOPLE CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH, I KNOW I CAN"T, JUST KIDDING. I REFUSE TO LET THESE SO CALLED HARD TIMES STEAL MY JOY.
SALES ARE UP FOR WOMENS COSMETICS, I SEE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES, THIS IS A TIME TO BE CREATIVE AN D INOVATED, I CREATED A PRODUCT THAT WILL SELL ESPECIALLY IN HARD TIMES. IF ITS NOT OUT THERE AND ITS ONE OF A KIND IDEA PEOPLE WILL FLOCK TO IT. THAT IS A SECRET KEY TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND TRUMP MY ACE (PLEASE) MR. TRUMP.
HAPPY NEW YEAR,
LOVE TERESA SKINNER

Posted by member1903196 on 01/01/2009 10:27 PM

I am aware that this question has nothing to do with the posted blog but would still like to ask. I am sure this has already been thought of by the network execs, but in light of the Apprentice needing to have new life pumped into it, why not do a season with husband and wife teams? I just think it would make for an interesting and competitive season.

Just an idea

Posted by member1815053 on 01/02/2009 3:11 AM

Hi everyone,

At first I want to wish to all of you a Happy New Year 2009 from Finland!
I live in Southern Finland and here is snow about one centimetre and there in Northern Finland is snow overt three feet and snowstorms.

Now to the point of this interview that was made lately. I did watch this program from my computer in the last day of the year 2008 and I was again very confinced about the ability how Mr Trump deal with the questions that the interviewer asked him. I liked it very much because there was any lies or frothy in his answers, they were full of knowledge and any uncertainty was not seen. I liked that very much.

Posted by TERESA SKINNER VA BCH member1784598 on 01/02/2009 7:38 PM

I HAVE READ ALL THE BLOGS FOR PAINFULLY BLUNT OR JUST HONEST. I POSTED A BLOG, BUT WANT TO MENTION NEIL WAS NOT AS HIS BEST. I HAVE TO SAY I HIGHLY RESPECT MR. TRUMP FOR KEEPING HIS COMPOSURE. I FOUND NEIL IN THAT INTERVIEW ANTAGONISTIC, OVERLY
AGRRESSIVE, RUDE AND LOUD AND CONSTANTLY INTERRUPTING MR. TRUMP. THIS IS NOT ABOUT MR. TRUMP....ITS ABOUT NEIL COMING OFF ARROGANT. YA KNOW WHAT I WOULD FIRE HIM BECAUSE HIS JOB IS TO STAY CALM KEEP HIS COMPOSURE AND NOT REACT WHILE TRYING TO GET A RISE OUT OF WHO HE IS INTERVIEWING, THAT MAKES FOR GREAT GOSSIP THE AVERAGE AMERICAN ENJOYS. NOT ME HOWEVER. NEIL WAS TRYING TOO HARD TO MAKE MR. TRUMP LOSE COMPOSURE, IT BACK FIRED ON HIM.
MY 2 CENTS WORTH ABOUT THE APPRENTICE, FIRST I LOVE THE SHOW.

I DO NOT LIKE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE. UNKNOWN'S Were MUCH MORE INTERESTING. CELEBS TURNS IT INTO A SHOW WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE A MOVIE STAR TO GET ON. IT DID NOT START OUT THIS WAY. I HAVE A THOUGHT.....CHOOSE LESS CONTESTANTS THAT HAVE LESS EXPERIENCE. FIND A GENIOUS IN THE RUBBLE. MY 2 CENTS. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK OF MY IDEAS?
TERESA
FWD TO MR. TRUMP PLEASE, DONT LET HIM LOSE TOUCH WITH HIS VIEWERS, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU

Posted by member1907000 on 01/11/2009 3:46 AM

Either way I would rather be dealing with someone who can tell the truth as it is and not how the person wants it to be. I've had a boss who always used to avoid the truth at the time I would have to admit he would have been the most pathetic bloke I have ever met and consistent liar.

Posted by member1912978 on 01/25/2009 10:17 PM

I commend you for honesty. It is fascinating to me not that you are so honest, but that most people are not. Isn't it shocking how far people progress in this world by being dishonest? I believe you were just being honest, and that is something far too lacking in today's society. Are you really worried about this, or just commenting on it?? I hope the latter. You can't really be worrying about some anchor person's views about honesty?!

Posted by member11025298 on 10/12/2009 11:59 AM

I love the way he (Trump) speaks. He's direct and makes his point. Even if i'm not an American, his good does show through all his avenues.

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