University's 'top' instructor's job was to sell, not teach
Former Trump University instructor James Harris told students that he was Donald Trump's "top nationwide instructor and mentor" and "his number one guy." But he was a "top guy" for his salesmanship, not his real estate expertise.
In an interview with CNN, Harris admits that his main job wasn't to teach real estate, it was to sell real estate seminars. And while the school claimed its instructors were real estate experts that were handpicked by Trump himself, Harris has little related experience that CNN could verify.
Students who enrolled in Trump University programs sometimes paid as much as $35,000 hoping to be taught the real estate mogul's secrets to success. But much of what was taught at seminars were scripted presentations, and the real goal was to get attendees to sign up and pay for another event.
Harris said he served as a motivational "platform speaker" and trainer at free introductory workshops and two- to three-hour training sessions that were held in hotels and ballrooms.
"My job was to present all of the material that they told me to present. And absolutely motivate them to get registered and enrolled into the programs. That's any sales position at any company, that's your job," Harris told CNN.
Many of the people enrolled at Trump U were elderly, he noted. And among the things instructors taught were ways students could come up with the money to invest, including raising credit card limits, tapping a home's equity or dipping into a 401(k) or IRA.
Trump University's 'top' instructor's job was to sell, not teach - Jul. 13, 2016
Former Trump University instructor James Harris told students that he was Donald Trump's "top nationwide instructor and mentor" and "his number one guy." But he was a "top guy" for his salesmanship, not his real estate expertise.
In an interview with CNN, Harris admits that his main job wasn't to teach real estate, it was to sell real estate seminars. And while the school claimed its instructors were real estate experts that were handpicked by Trump himself, Harris has little related experience that CNN could verify.
Students who enrolled in Trump University programs sometimes paid as much as $35,000 hoping to be taught the real estate mogul's secrets to success. But much of what was taught at seminars were scripted presentations, and the real goal was to get attendees to sign up and pay for another event.
Harris said he served as a motivational "platform speaker" and trainer at free introductory workshops and two- to three-hour training sessions that were held in hotels and ballrooms.
"My job was to present all of the material that they told me to present. And absolutely motivate them to get registered and enrolled into the programs. That's any sales position at any company, that's your job," Harris told CNN.
Many of the people enrolled at Trump U were elderly, he noted. And among the things instructors taught were ways students could come up with the money to invest, including raising credit card limits, tapping a home's equity or dipping into a 401(k) or IRA.
Trump University's 'top' instructor's job was to sell, not teach - Jul. 13, 2016
