[11] What Gotham City Can Teach Us About Donald Trump’s Rise

... and the new movie "The Apprentice"

Hello on Saturday morning.

Today we will talk about:

1. The Gritty Reality of 1970s New York

   • Discover how financial crises, urban decay, and crime shaped the city’s identity and inspired the comparison to Gotham City.

2. Donald Trump’s Role in New York’s 1980s Revival

   • Learn how Trump leveraged real estate to reshape the skyline and became a symbol of the city’s rebirth—and controversy.

3. The Influence of Roy Cohn on Trump’s Persona

   • Uncover the mentorship and tactics Cohn used to mold Trump’s public image and combative style.

4. The New Movie That Dives into Trump’s Origins

   • Get a sneak peek at the film that explores Trump’s rise and his Gotham-esque transformation in 1980s New York.

5. Parallels Between a City and Its Icon

   • Explore how New York’s turbulent journey mirrors Trump’s own path, blending resilience, ambition, and polarising legacy.

New York back in 70s

Honestly, I’ve never been to NYC. I do plan to visit someday, but it’s not a top priority for me right now. That said, I must admit that as a teenager, it was my biggest dream and a huge motivation to learn English. I was absolutely obsessed with shows like Friends and Sex and the City. The vision of New York City completely captivated me.

But let’s be real—Hollywood productions are one thing, and reality is something else entirely.

Now, let’s take a step back in time to the 1970s...

New York in the 1970s was a city that appeared to be on the brink of collapse. Facing severe fiscal crises, the city struggled to maintain essential public services. The streets, dimly lit and strewn with graffiti, became symbols of urban decay and abandonment. Vandalism, looting, and crime became rampant (=getting worse quickly and in an uncontrolled way), and iconic areas like Times Square and the South Bronx faced record-breaking crime waves.

on the brink of

being on the edge or verge of something, typically a significant event or change.

It is often used to describe being close to a critical point, which could be positive (e.g., success) or negative (e.g., disaster)

• The company is on the brink of bankruptcy after several failed product launches.

• The species is on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss.

urban decay

the process where parts of a city or urban area experience a decline in quality, infrastructure, and overall livability.

It often involves factors like population loss, economic stagnation, crime, poor maintenance of buildings, and reduced public services.

Urban decay is typically characterised by deteriorating (=becoming worse) neighbourhoods, abandoned properties, and shrinking economic activity.

• Urban decay can lead to higher crime rates and lower property values.

The decline of New York in this era created an atmosphere that drew people in like “moths to a flame.” It had a gritty allure, a kind of “anti-glamour” where corruption ran through the veins of city officials and the wealthy elite.

Against this backdrop, developers like Trump would later thrive, transforming the city’s landscape and taking advantage of new real estate opportunities.

thrive

to grow, develop, or succeed in a healthy, vigorous, or prosperous way.

It is often used to describe flourishing in challenging circumstances or achieving success and prosperity.

• Startups that focus on innovation often thrive in competitive markets.

• Our company thrived after adopting a customer-centric approach.

• Children thrive when they receive encouragement and support.

New York as Gotham City—The Gritty Inspiration for a Modern Myth

The 1970s vision of New York as a dark, gritty place echoes in the myth of Gotham City, Batman’s haunting, crime-ridden home. Like Gotham, New York was a place where heroes and villains seemed to coexist. The “eerie, dimly lit” streets of 1970s New York were perfect inspiration for Gotham’s shadowy alleys, neon signs flickering above the dangerous streets. It was a city that could chew people up and leave them with little hope, yet many were drawn to its unique energy.

New York’s image as Gotham also added a sense of drama to the role of powerful real estate moguls like Trump. This atmosphere of high stakes, blurred morality, and resilience was central to Trump’s brand and the way he operated in the city.

eerie

strange, mysterious, or unsettling, often because it is unexpected or seems to have a supernatural or ghostly quality

• The abandoned house had an eerie silence that sent shivers down my spine.

• She couldn’t shake the eerie sense that something was lurking in the shadows.

• New York’s eerie streets in the 1970s inspired the shadowy atmosphere of Gotham City.

But while the city teetered on the edge, a new figure was emerging in the chaos—a man who would both embody and challenge the very essence of New York’s transformation: Donald Trump.

The Rise of Trump in the 1980s—Reshaping New York’s Skyline

Amid this collapse, the 1980s brought a real estate boom, and Donald Trump emerged as a major figure in reshaping New York City. Seizing on tax incentives and public-private partnerships, Trump developed high-profile projects that transformed Midtown Manhattan. His brash, larger-than-life persona was central to his appeal and his business strategy, casting him as both a hero and villain in the city’s evolving story.

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Trump’s developments—including the iconic Trump Tower—were symbols of the city’s rebirth and luxury resurgence. Yet, his aggressive tactics and close association with figures like Roy Cohn raised questions about his influence on local politics and ethics. His real estate ventures were fueled by media attention and a relentless ambition to remake New York in his image.

fueled by

to be driven or motivated by a particular force, emotion, or resource

• His ambition is fueled by a desire to make a difference in the world.

• The startup’s innovation is fueled by a commitment to sustainability.

The New Film—Trump’s Journey and the Influence of Roy Cohn

The Appentice, which I can’t wait to watch, highlights Trump’s early years, focusing on his meteoric rise in the New York real estate scene and his connections with Roy Cohn, his infamous lawyer and mentor. Known for his ruthlessness and ability to manipulate public perception, Cohn had a significant impact on Trump’s approach to business and public life.

Under Cohn’s guidance, Trump learned how to use the media to his advantage, creating a narrative around himself as an unstoppable figure.

The film, arriving at a critical moment in American politics, stirs debate over Trump’s complex character and controversial methods. It examines how Cohn’s mentorship fostered Trump’s disregard for traditional norms and his reliance on aggressive tactics to silence opposition—a style that would follow him into politics years later.

Cohn’s Lasting Impact on Trump’s Public Persona

Roy Cohn’s influence on Trump cannot be overstated. Cohn, a former attorney with a long history of high-profile cases, was known for his tough, uncompromising approach to law and public relations. His guidance helped shape Trump’s brash style and his combative relationship with the media—a trait that remains evident today.

Under Cohn’s influence, Trump adopted a philosophy of never backing down and always fighting back, which became a defining characteristic of his public persona. This approach, though polarising, won him a devoted following that admired his boldness. The film sheds light on this relationship, illustrating how Cohn’s mentorship helped shape Trump’s trajectory, from real estate mogul to political powerhouse.

mogul

a wealthy, influential, and powerful person, especially in business, media, or industry.

The term is often used to describe individuals who have achieved great success and hold significant control in their field.

• She became a media mogul after launching a successful TV network.

• She started as a small business owner and eventually became a mogul in the tech world.

What’s next:

• the interview with the leading actor of The Apprentice. Check out how he describes Roy Cohn (Trump’s mentor)

• Trump was always sceptical about new mass media (podcasts) until his son advice to make an appearance in one of the most popular one: