Marco Rubio says if not for inheritance, Donald Trump would be ‘selling watches in Manhattan’
Things got personal real quick in Thursday’s debate.
There was a question if Marco Rubio would attack Donald Trump before Thursday’s Republican debate.
The question was answered within minutes, as the Florida senator went after Trump’s record as a businessman — including his past use of undocumented immigrant labor, the billionaire’s Chinese-manufactured clothing, his allegedly fraudulent university, and his inheritance.
The attack began with Rubio urging viewers to look up Trump’s history of using undocumented Polish workers to build Trump Tower.
Rubio: If Trump builds the wall the way he built Trump Tower, he'll be using illegal immigrant labor #GOPDebate https://t.co/DBVk3dFpIH
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 26, 2016
Rubio continued by bringing up Trump University, a closed, for-profit school, which is now facing three separate lawsuits that claim the $35,000 seminars defrauded and deceived students.
.@marcorubio attacking @realDonaldTrump, "A fake university!" #GOPDebate https://t.co/OgDvw7E5rv https://t.co/V50cJwEnnY
— CNN (@CNN) February 26, 2016
After Trump attacked the senator’s mired personal finance history, Rubio attempted to undermine Trump’s image as a self-made man.
Rubio says Trump would be "selling watches in Manhattan" if he hadn't inherited his father's money. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/n73H5Ipcn1
— PolicyMic (@PolicyMic) February 26, 2016
“If he hadn’t inherited $200 million, you know where Donald Trump would be right now?’’ Rubio inquired. “Selling watches in Manhattan.’’
The claim that he inherited $200 million, which Trump rejected, is misleading. As PolitiFact recently debunked, the figure was Trump’s estimated wealth in 1982, after he had been running his father’s real estate company for eight years.
“While the father’s business put Trump on the path to have $200 million in 1982, Trump himself had been running the company for eight years,’’ PolitiFact wrote. “We rate this claim False.’’
In reality, Trump inherited a $40-million stake in his father’s business.
Regardless, the path of attack outlines a new strategy in the Republican primary race. Former Mitt Romney advisor Stuart Stevens wrote Thursday that Trump’s opponents should attack his history and credentials as a successful businessman.
“Don’t let him get away with this assertion and define himself,’’ Stevens wrote. “Trump has a long history of failures in business.’’
Seems like Rubio took note.
Top moments from final GOP debate before Super Tuesday.
Rubio and Cruz go on the attack against front runner Donald Trump
