This 1990 Playboy Interview Predicted Donald Trump's Insane Campaign
Playboy interviewed Donald Trump way back in 1990, when his hair had more oomph than it does now.
As The New York Times pointed out, the interview is oddly prescient. Say what you want about him, but Trump is surprisingly consistent in his egomania and obsession with size.
Here's how Trump's 1990 interview with Playboy stacks up to this year's presidential campaign.
Trump on Trump in 1990.
The show is 'Trump,' and it is sold-out performances everywhere.
Trump on Trump in 2016.
Over here the other day we had a 9,000 -- we had a 10,000 -- we have people. The only thing that stops the crowds are the walls because we can't get them in. We have to send thousands of people away.
Trump on America getting ripped off in 1990.
I think our country needs more ego, because it is being ripped off so badly by our so-called allies; i.e., Japan, West Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, etc.
Trump on America getting ripped off in 2016.
And we were the big bully who was -- the big stupid bully and we were systematically ripped off by everybody. From China to Japan to South Korea to the Middle East, many states in the Middle East, for instance, protecting Saudi Arabia and not being properly reimbursed for every penny that we spend.
Trump on handling hostages in 1990.
I would let the takers of hostages know that they'd have one week to return that hostage. And after that week, all bets would be off. You would not have any more hostages taken, believe me. Weakness always causes problems.
Trump on handling hostages in 2016.
We should have gone in and said, 'Release our prisoners,' they would have said 'no,' and we would have said, 'Double up the sanctions,' and within a short period of time we would have had our prisoners back.
Trump on the death penalty and police in 1990.
I hate seeing this country go to hell. We're laughed at by the rest of the world. In order to bring law and order back into our cities, we need the death penalty and authority given back to the police.
Trump on the death penalty and police in 2016.
One of the first things I'd do in terms of executive orders, if I win, will be to sign a strong, strong statement that will go out to the country, out to the world, that anybody killing a policeman, a policewoman, a police officer, anybody killing a police officer: Death penalty is going to happen, OK?
Trump on nuclear war in 1990.
I've always thought about the issue of nuclear war; it's a very important element in my thought process... We have thousands of weapons pointed at us and nobody even knows if they're going to go in the right direction. They've never really been tested.
Trump on nuclear war in 2016.
Now, does that mean nuclear? It could mean nuclear. It's a very scary nuclear world. Biggest problem, to me, in the world, is nuclear, and proliferation... We have nuclear arsenals which are in very terrible shape. They don't even know if they work.
Trump on presidential toughness in 1990.
Some of our presidents have been incredible jerk-offs. We need to be tough.
Trump on presidential toughness in 2016.
We need a certain toughness. We have weak people leading our country.
Trump on presidential aspirations in 1990.
I don't want the presidency.
Trump on presidential aspirations in 2015.
So ladies and gentlemen… I am officially running… for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again.
Citations: Between Playboy's Pages, a Peek at How a Future Donald Trump Would Campaign (The New York Times), Playboy Interview: Donald Trump (1990) (Playboy), Transcript: Trump's victory speech after the South Carolina GOP primary (The Washington Post), Transcript: Donald Trump Expounds on His Foreign Policy Views (The New York Times), A transcript of Donald Trump's meeting with The Washington Post editorial board (The Washington Post), Donald Trump wants the death penalty for those who kill police officers (The Washington Post), RUSH Transcript: Donald Trump //CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall Columbia, SC (CNN), Here's Donald Trump's Presidential Announcement Speech (TIME)
