According to a CNNMoney investigation, Führer Cheeto President Trump owns at least 3,643 domain names.
Some are fairly typical:
- TrumpEmpire.com
- TrumpOrganization.com
- TrumpBuilding.com
Others, not so much:
- TrumpNetworkSucks.com
- TrumpNetworkMarketingFraud.com
- TrumpScam.com
Trump may have had a crystal ball in some cases. After launching the Trump Network in 2009 — a “recession proof” multi-level marketing business hawking vitamin supplements — he was quick to scoop up domains like TrumpNetworkFraud.com, TrumpPyramidScheme.com, and TrumpNetworkPonziScheme.com. He sold the business in 2012 amid allegations of — surprise — fraud.
He acquired similar domains — 157 of them — to protect Trump University. The “University” closed in 2011, but fraud lawsuits persisted. Two days before taking office, Trump settled them with a $25 million check.
All of this is fairly standard practice in business. Purchasing domain names to keep them out of the hands of detractors is standard practice for the Apples and Googles of the world. Registering a domain, after all, is much cheaper than purchasing it later from a squatter.
Trump’s purchases tell an interesting story. From early acquisitions (ImBeingSuedByTheDonald.com), to business dealings, both future and current (TrumpRussia.com), Trump’s domains tell a tale. In 2012, these URLs even predicted his political ambitions (VoteAgainstTrump.com — he tried to tell us). Even a cursory glance at his domain portfolio provides Nietszche-level insight into the Trump empire.
And if you’re wondering, Trump purchased his first domain 1997. The domain? DonaldJTrump.com, what else?
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