Trump University: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - Summary

Summary

The host discusses the 2016 US presidential election and Donald Trump, calling him a "punchline turned nightmare." He shares a USA Today report that Trump and his businesses have been involved in at least 3,500 lawsuits over three decades, which is unprecedented for a presidential nominee. The host also criticizes Trump for implying that a Mexican-American judge, Gonzalo Curiel, is unfit to preside over cases against him due to his heritage, which the host calls bigotry.

The host then shifts to Trump University, a now-defunct business venture that offered real estate courses. He shares documents that reveal the university was a scam, with instructors having no experience in real estate and using aggressive sales tactics to sell expensive courses to vulnerable individuals, including single mothers. The host also shares testimonials from former students who feel duped and ripped off by the university.

The host criticizes Trump's claims that 98% of students approved of the courses, citing evidence that the surveys were not anonymous and were filled out when participants were still expecting to receive future benefits. He also shares a quote from a former student who now regrets giving the university a good review, saying they felt "poisoned, and ripped off."

The host concludes that Trump University's playbook, which instructs salespeople to sell feelings rather than products or solutions, is similar to Trump's campaign strategy. He warns that if Americans vote for Trump, they should be aware of what they're getting themselves into.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text:

1. A report by USA Today found that Donald Trump and his businesses have been involved in at least 3,500 lawsuits over three decades.
2. Trump University was not a real university.
3. Trump claimed that the university's instructors were handpicked by him, but this was not true.
4. Some instructors and mentors at Trump University had no experience in buying or selling real estate.
5. Sales tactics used by Trump University included telling potential customers that the cost of the course "ranges from $29 to $35,000."
6. Employees were instructed to be aggressive in selling the courses, even to those who could not afford them.
7. The university's playbooks included instructions on what to do if an attorney general showed up, including not showing them personal information without a warrant.
8. Ninety-eight percent of students who took the courses approved of them, but this number may be inflated due to the fact that the surveys were not anonymous and were filled out when students were expecting future benefits.
9. Some former students have spoken out about feeling duped and ripped off by Trump University.
10. Trump's campaign strategy may be similar to the sales tactics used by Trump University, focusing on selling feelings rather than products or solutions.
11. Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is overseeing cases involving Trump University, is of Mexican heritage.
12. Trump has questioned whether Judge Curiel can be impartial due to his heritage.