Think back before Donald Trump became president, a nominee, or even a right wing mouthpiece spewing hate filled conspiracy theories.I'll give Trump credit that he is smart as a con man. But I also think that says far more about those he's been able to con than it can ever say about him.
I find his non street smarts/con smarts to be nonexistent. He does have a PhD in spewing crap that makes no sense and is not rooted in any intelligent thought whatsoever. Gronk resembles the remark that he has zero intelligence.
Go back to the beginnings of The Apprentice.
Did you think he was anything other than a brash but successful real estate developer?
He's conned well more than just "his base" to get to where he is. His status as a right wing icon is a recent development.
He's conned people into believing he was successful since the 80s - his family before that. He's a casa nostra version of Bernie Madoff.