Trump stuns David Letterman as he asks why host's chair was placed higher than his in resurfaced video
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: President-elect Donald Trump is known for dodging questions and going off on wild tangents during interviews, and things don't appear to have been much different in his youth.
A resurfaced clip of Trump's interview with David Letterman from the late 1980s shows the real estate mogul trying to dodge a question regarding his wealth by asking the legendary late-night host why his chair was placed higher than his, and it surely stunned Letterman.
Donald Trump dodges questions on wealth and asks David Letterman why his chair is higher than his
During the interview, David Letterman asked Donald Trump, "How big would that check be that you put in your pocket when you headed west for the trailer?" to which the president-elect replied, "Well, I hate to disappoint, but I have zero idea, David."
Trying to change the topic, he inquired, "How come this seat is at such a low level? You know, I'm looking at him. He's got this stage rigged, folks."
"That seat is a good half, six inches higher than my seat," Trump said, and Letterman responded, "And so am I," before bluntly adding, "But no, I'm serious. I'm not going to get you over that subject."
"No, I think this is the kind of thing that people love to fantasize about, because you are unquestionably one of the most successful men in the country, if not the world, and also one of the wealthiest," Letterman remarked, and once again asked Trump, "So give us a figure that we might ponder here."
However, Trump refused to give a clear answer and said, "You'll never get it out of me, David. You'll never get it out of me."
Donald Trump's current wealth
Donald Trump may have joined the ranks of the richest people in the country through his real estate holdings - from golf courses to hotels. However, it's his stake in the fledgling Trump Media & Technology Group that has more than doubled his net worth to $5.5 billion in 2024, according to CBS News.
The social media company has had a volatile year since going public in March. An early surge in the market value of Trump Media in March made the former president's 57 percent stake worth $5.2 billion, but that tumbled to $1.4 billion when the stock hit a low of $11.75 in September, per the outlet.
Moreover, the wild swings in Trump Media shares prompted comparisons to meme stocks or companies that trade on social media buzz rather than revenue or profit growth, investors' favored yardsticks.
Notably, Trump Media, whose main asset is the Truth Social platform, has declining revenue and large losses, with University of Florida finance professor Jay Ritter informing CBS MoneyWatch that the "stock is incredibly overvalued."
However, the MAGA spearhead's original fortune comes from real estate, spanning residential buildings in New York City to golf courses and hotels around the world.
