Donald Trump's Financial Disclosure Statement Part 1 of 2: Public Financial Disclosure Report as of July, 2015 (2016 U.S. Presidential Election Etc. Financial Disclosure Statements)

About Donald Trump

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American business magnate, investor, author, television personality and candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 presidential election. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization, and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's career, branding efforts, lifestyle and outspoken manner helped make him a celebrity, a status amplified by the success of his NBC reality show, The Apprentice.
Trump is a son of Fred Trump, a New York City real estate developer. He worked for his father's firm, Elizabeth Trump & Son, while attending the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and officially joined the company in 1968. In 1971, he was given control of the company, renaming it The Trump Organization. Trump remains a major figure in American real estate.
On June 16, 2015, Trump formally announced his candidacy for president in the 2016 election, seeking the nomination of the Republican Party.

(Jennifer Agiesta, "CNN/ORC poll: Trump elbows his way to the top" CNN July 26, 2015)

Public Financial Disclosure

he Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended, requires senior officials in the executive, legislative and judicial branches to file public reports of their finances as well as other interests outside the Government. The statute and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics's (OGE) regulations specify which officials in the executive branch file an OGE Form 278. Unlike confidential financial statements filed by some mid-level employees, the OGE 278 is available to the public. Reviewing officials within each agency certify and maintain these reports. Agencies do, however, forward reports of Presidential appointees confirmed by the Senate and certain other reports to OGE for additional review and certification.

Although a financial disclosure report sometimes reveals a violation of law or regulation, the primary purpose of disclosure is to assist agencies in identifying potential conflicts of interest between a filer's official duties and the filer's private financial interests and affiliations. Once a reviewing official identifies a potential conflict of interest and consults with the filer's supervisor as necessary, several remedies are available to avoid an actual or apparent violation of Federal ethics laws and regulations.

(oge.gov, 2015)

OGE Form 278

The purpose of this report is to assist employees and their agencies in avoiding conflicts between duties and private financial interests or affiliations. Agency ethics officials will use the information filers provide to determine whether any potential conflicts exist. The form also will be made available if it is requested by a member of the public. Public requesters are prohibited, however, from using the information on an individual’s form for any unlawful or commercial purpose, or from using it as a basis to establish a credit rating or to solicit any money from the filer.

(oge.gov, 2015)

Report Completeness

A presidential candidate may report asset values in wide ranges. In addition, a candidate's federal plan, homes, and cars are not required to be on the report. Members of congress are not required to disclose stock transactions in the last 45 days or titleholders on their mortgages.