As voters are exposed to more about presidential frontrunner Donald J. Trump’s record as a businessman, the list of failed ventures comes to mind: Steaks sold at the Sharper Image, an airline, vodka, magazines, mortgages, and a travel agency.
One such venture, a failed multi-level marketing scheme by the name of the Trump Network, has received scant attention. The group’s product was vitamin supplements that were tailored and provided to customers based on the results of a urine test. Subsequent follow-up tests were encouraged, and the group’s sales consultants could build a network of recruits upon which they’d receive a commission for their sales.
Like many of Trump’s recent business ventures, it wasn’t a Trump-owned enterprise, but rather a name-licensing agreement with branding from Trump himself.
“Hello, I’m Donald Trump. And welcome to the Trump Network! I want you to know why I’m so excited to be a part of this great organization. At no time in recent history has our economy been in a state that it is today. It’s a mess! The economic meltdown, greed, and ineptitude in the financial industry have sabotaged the dreams of millions of people. Americans need a new plan. They need a new dream. The Trump Network wants to give millions of people renewed hope, and an exciting plan to opt out of the recession. Let’s get out of this recession right now with cutting edge health and wellness formulas and a system where you can develop your own financial independence. The Trump Network offers people the opportunity to achieve their American dream! I’m still looking for dreams! I’m doing damn well in life, but I’m still looking for the dream. It’s a winning combination because it means you and your family can benefit financially from our breakthrough program. Follow our step-by-step success system that will help you grow your business. This journey is going to be a fantastic one, and you’re going to have a lot of fun. The Trump Network is positioned to help millions of people overcome the recession and achieve the success they’ve always dreamed of. I hope you’re going to join us. It’s going to be fun, and hopefully, very profitable.”
STAT, a magazine focusing on health and medicine, has done the most extensive report on the Trump Network:
On a Friday night in November 2009, Trump stood before a crowd of thousands at the Hyatt Regency in Miami to launch a new enterprise, The Trump Network. Behind him was a gigantic image of his family crest and an enormous photograph of himself. “We’re gonna come out with new and different products,” Trump told the crowd. “They’re gonna be wonderful products.” For about two years, a STAT investigation has found, The Trump Network sold customized vitamins and scientific testing kits, claiming they would yield health benefits. But according to many outside experts, the network was selling bad science. Among other claims, The Trump Network asserted that it could use a urine test to recommend customized nutritional supplements, its signature products. It also offered products that purportedly tested for allergies and bone health. But scientists said such claims were never backed up by modern medicine.
The group behind the Trump Network, Ideal Health, folded within three years, selling its assets to another vendor. It didn’t help that, after two years, the Trump Organization declined to renew its licensing agreement with Ideal.
You can read the whole thing here, or watch a brief video below.
