Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump is demanding a retraction from a Rubio-affiliated super PAC over new attack ads going after Trump University, a “school” founded by Trump in 2005.
The ads, produced by American Future Fund, feature three former students, called “victims” of Trump University. In each ad, the students explain how they were “trumped” by Trump by attending the university, which became a center of controversy after the State of New York filed a $40 million lawsuit against the company, alleging it made false promises to students.
Trump himself has waved the banner of the school high, citing its “A” rating by the Better Business Bureau as evidence of its legitimacy all while trashing the New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for continuing to “waste taxpayer money” to smear Trump.
“The fact is that the overwhelming majority of students had a great experience,” said Trump. “It’s a minor civil case I have not settled out of principle.”
But those featured in the attack ads seem to paint a different picture, accusing Trump of stealing their money and demanding repayment.
“I became, ironically, a distressed homeowner who almost was in preforeclosure, exactly the kind of person we were told to target,” says former student Kevin Scott in one of the ads.
“Please don’t fall for the same line that I fell for,” warns Bob Guillo, another former student. “He can make people believe practically anything.”
A “victim” in one ad says Trump University ruined his credit and his life after he spent $30,000 to attend Trump University, a New York-based education initiative offering students classes like real estate, asset management and entrepreneurship.
Fees to “attend” the former Trump University (now called The Trump Education Initiative) ranged from anywhere to $1,500 to $35,000. The education initiative is now part of three different lawsuits -- two in California and one in New York.
The Super PAC producing the ads, American Future Fund, does not have a specific candidate affiliation, but the PAC supported former Republican nominee Mitt Romney when he campaigned for president in 2012.
Trump’s campaign team, which misidentified the creators of the ads as Conservative Solutions PAC (which backs Marco Rubio) says the group “clearly unlawfully coordinated” with Florida Senator Marco Rubio to create the ads.
“The ads feature three individuals who are part of a lawsuit against Trump University, an educational program that has a 98% approval rating from all attendees,” read a release from Trump’s campaign team.
Trump’s team also says two of the people featured in the ads were clearly satisfied by their experience at Trump University, providing two student surveys in which Bob Guillo and Kevin Scott say they would recommend Trump University seminars to a friend.
The campaign team has also launched a counter-offensive website supporting Trump University, called “98 Percent Approval.”
In recent weeks, Trump has been the main target for his fellow Republican presidential hopefuls, with Marco Rubio being one of the leading forces trying to take down Trump.
Rubio’s Super PAC, Conservative Solutions PAC, has already hit the ground running against Trump, calling him a “con artist,” funneling money into Trump attack ads headed into Super Tuesday.
The group even paid for two separate Snapchat filters in Virginia, one of which features a red “Trump-style” hat embroidered with “Stop The Con Artist” on it.
“Friends don’t let friends vote for Trump,” read the filter.
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Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
