Trump: An American Dream

Anyone familiar with this topic BEFORE 2011 won't consider it a 'hit piece'. It'll be a historical record. I followed him since the early 80's. At the time, I'd never seen anyone who continually referred to himself in third person. Plus, if I'd spoken of others the way he did, my parents would have... um... disciplined me until I demonstrated actual social skills.

Let me just say, this is NOT a feel good Trump series. Definitely a hit piece, be prepared. What I loved about this series is the same thing I Loved about the book The Art of the Deal. They both prove that Donald J Trump is and always has been exactly the same man. Has always thought the same way, spoke the same way, dressed the same way, had the same hand motions (fist pump in the air), same optimism and same vision. He takes after his mom in the way he speaks and he shares her unwavering faith that all will be great. Therefore, those who aren't fans today might try learning by reading the books. A note about the music: I didn't notice any music at all until Ep 4. Man, is it depressing doom music. And it goes on & on, like the Death Doom third "Ding-Dong" in Christmas Vacation, only over and over and over again. Really obvious and way over done.

Does a great job of cataloging the life story, highs and lows and evolution of a thoroughly detestable human being. Fascinating too, to see the characters who strayed into his orbit... now somewhat chastened, sometimes sad, even traumatized.

Almost a cartoonish character, this series does a great job exposing the dangerous, vindictive side to the man, and there are many examples of people dazzled by - as one character put it - the "Trump bug". Reading some of these reviews it is clear he still has the ability to con, to bamboozle, to bankrupt.

One of the most revealing anecdotes was over the helicopter crash that killed some of Trump's executives. The man couldn't resist making it about himself by exaggerating the likelihood of himself being on the same flight, when he knew he would never have traveled on a chartered helicopter. A soulless man, with few redeeming features.

I was wondering if it's be a full scope of donald trump of just more left rhetoric. it starts off unbiased to rope you in but quickly become a savage documentary to demonize trump.

Trump: An American Dream is a documentary mini-series that attempts a serious look at Donald J. Trump, but ultimately does little more than rehash what has been known about him for close to 40 years of being in the public conscience.

He's shown to have a massive ego.

He's shown to be petty.

He's shown to be a womanizer.

He's shown to be dismissive of factual criticism, and will ad hominem instead of face the facts.

He's shown to have a firm belief in himself.

None of what this docu-series focuses on is anything new. And yet, there are a couple things which were mentioned in passing, but could have provided more an in-depth look at the man and been a much more interesting character study.

The first is the relationship he had with his father. Yes, Fred Trump built buildings too, but not to show off wealth or even buy his way into the upper crust of the New York City social scene. He built apartments that, for an increasingly expensive city to live in, were much more affordable. I was left wondering if Donald Trump actually had this drive to outdo his father, or perhaps a better question, go where his father didn't want to? I think if that question were to be answered, we'd all have a much better understanding of the man Donald Trump.

The second thing that was brought up briefly, but not pursued further, was even his closest and perhaps most trusted friends said they weren't sure what his beliefs actually are, if in fact he has any at all. For someone who has cast himself as a political outsider and found an appeal to a wide range of people, to latch onto someone that might not believe in anything is very fascinating to me. Except this was not pursued at all, only hinted at, in this docu-series.

Overall, it's just another thing that exists that will confirm whatever bias one has about Donald Trump. However, it could have been so much more.