Exit Through the Grift Shop
The Washington Post is reporting that Donald Trump "has told supporters he wants to raise $2 billion" for his planned presidential library and museum in Florida. That would be by far the most expensive cultural complex in the state (the Pérez Art Museum Miami's Herzog & de Meuron building was $131 million). The outlay would be comparable to that of the Getty Center plus Zumthor-LACMA (with ample allowances for inflation and overruns). Two billion is roughly twice the amount spent, or planned to be spent, for the Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama libraries combined.
The Post quotes two unnamed Trump fundraisers, each acknowledging that a $2 billion Trump library is essentially impossible. "I thought to myself, what is this alternative fantasy life you're living?" said one fundraiser. "I have no clue where they think they'll get this money raised. Anyone who gives to him will be radioactive."
(At top, the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda)
Comments
Tell your gullible supporters you need $2B for a library.
Raise only a $100 million.
Hire your kids and cronies to run the Library Foundation.
Squander the money on salaries, pompous portraits of Trump, and payments to Trump properties.