Economy

Donald Trump Just Answered His First Question About Student Debt

September 21st 2015

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump fielded questions from Twitter users on Monday, posting 12 video responses as part of the social media company's Q&A event. While Trump's 15-second answers to questions regarding business, NFL players, and illegal immigration really didn't reveal much in the way of actionable policy, there was one surprising issue that the candidate addressed: student debt.

One user wanted to know how Trump planned to "fix the student debt crisis," an issue that few GOP candidates have addressed. The topic has also been given little attention in the first two debates of the 2016 election season.

Here's how Trump responded.

"Student debt is a tremendous problem in the United States," Trump said. "We're going to restructure it, we're going to make it possible for people to borrow money, go through college, get through it. We're going to make it so it's very affordable."

"Right now it's not fair," Trump continued. "It's one of the only places, frankly, where our country actually makes money—and they make a lot of money—and that should not take place. We're going to make it really good for the student."

If anyone knows how unfair the college system can be in the U.S., it's Trump. After all, he was sued by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in 2013 following an investigation into the questionable business practices of Trump University, a for-profit college that the real estate mogul founded ten years ago. Schneiderman alleged that Trump University engaged in "persistent fraudulent, illegal, and deceptive conduct" that left thousands of students in debt.

To Trump's credit, he has been on the record criticizing the federal government for profiting off student loans in the past, but his own record in the private college industry raises questions.

 

Share your opinion

Would you consider voting for Donald Trump?

Yes 10%No 90%