Donald Trump video sees him backing Mexican resort before it went bust

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Trump promoted complex in Baja California, just south of San Diego, in video and brochures - and one brochure spoke of ease of crossing border
'The mood changes the moment you cross the border,' it said in bid to lure investors
But project failed in 2008 and became focus of litigation when investors were told Trump was not directly involved
Trump says he does not have double standards over rhetoric saying he is 'close friends with many Mexican people'

By Daniel Bates For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:54 EST, 14 July 2015 | Updated: 16:10 EST, 14 July 2015

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He claims that Mexico is a dangerous nation sending its rapists and criminals to America.

He threatens to charge their government $100,000 for every illegal immigrant they sent to the US.

But back in 2007 Donald Trump sounded very different when he was promoting his new luxury development - on the coast of Baja in Mexico.

In a brochure for the ill-fated project the leading Republican Presidential candidate boasted how it would be 'the most spectacular place in all of Mexico'.

The literature made much of how the building's 'Mexican art will immerse you in the culture' and that it drew inspiration from local architects.

It even noted the 'easy access from California' - across the same border over whose security Trump is now raising concerns.

In 2007 Donald Trump was full of praise for Mexico

Promoter: Donald Trump gave his name to - and lavished praise on - the plan for Trump Baja, an hour south of San Diego across the Mexican border

Border reference: This was the way the border was described in a brochure for the project. In recent days Mr Trump has called for a wall to be built at the border to make immigration across it more difficult

Trump also starred in a seven minute long video which was full of praise for the country he now blames for America's decline.

Trump smiled into the camera and said: 'One of the things I really love about this project is that it's in Baja, and Baja is one of the really hot places.'

In the end the project failed before construction began amid the 2008 recession. More than 100 investors sued Trump and the developers and won a multi-million dollar settlement.

Now Daily Mail Online can reveal that the language he used to promote the condos shows how Trump's views on Mexico were markedly different when it had the promise of making him a profit.

Trump has made immigration the center of his Presidential campaign and in his declaration speech claimed that he would force Mexico to pay for a new wall along the border with the US because it is such a threat.

His comments have sparked intense criticism from immigrants rights groups, prominent Hispanic celebrities and rival Presidential candidates from his own party - but have also seen his poll numbers increase, with one putting him front of the Republican field.

So the praise that Trump had for Mexico when trying to sell units in the Trump Ocean Resort Baja Mexico, just south of Tijuana, will no doubt raise some eyebrows.

The block of 526 condos was to have panoramic views of the Pacific ocean, 17 acres of property right on the waterfront, fine dining restaurants, swimming pools and tennis courts.

Plan: 'The mood changes the moment you cross the border,' the promotional material remarked

What would have been: The Trump Ocean Resort Baja Mexico resort foreclosed in 2008, and in the course of litigation afterwards, it was revealed that the now Republican candidate had only given it his name

Owners paid millions of dollars in deposits to secure their units but it foreclosed in the 2008 recession. They sued when it emerged their deposits had been spent.

By that point Trump had already given them the hard sell in a blitz of videos, brochures and letters to persuade them to buy in.

Many of the investors said that reassurances for Trump were key in forking out money because of his reputation as a shrewd deal maker on The Apprentice, the reality show where he was a judge.

The literature they were sent included a glossy brochure featuring pictures of the Mexican coastline and shots of a glamorous couple relaxing in the sun.

Next to a picture of Trump smiling at the camera wearing a dark blue suit was a quote from him that was designed to put buyers at ease.

It read: 'There are no words that can possibly explain what is about to take shape here, but it is certainly going to be the most spectacular place in all of Mexico.

'The property will be sensational in every way that one would expect a property of this caliber to be.

'I cannot imagine anyone not having the time of their lives at TRUMP Ocean Resort Baja'

Elsewhere the brochure talks about how the 'Latin accents and original Mexican art will immerse you in the culture'.

Under the architecture and design section it says the the apartments will be inspired by 'Modernist influences of great 20th Century Mexican architecture'.

The barrage of sales literature included a short lived newsletter about the project called 'Trump Baja News'.

The first edition boasted how the project would draw on the influence of Luis Barragan who it calls the 'father of Mexican Modernism'.

Buyers also saw a seven and a half minute long video with a jazz and dreamy hip hop soundtrack that made it seem as if the project was already completed.

In the footage a soothing female voiceover talks about about 'the desire to escape, it's in every one of us' and how 'the real Mexico is only steps away'.

Speaking to the camera, Trump says: 'One of the things I really love about this project is that it's in Baja, Mexico and Baja is one of the really hot places.

'Baja is where Cabo was 10 years ago and you know what happened to Cabo'.

He adds: 'If there's one thing I stand for, it's quality'

Ivanka Trump also appears in the video saying that Baja is 'incredibly gorgeous'.

She talks about how she has already bought a condo in what she calls the 'best site in Baja and arguably Mexico'.

During the court proceedings it emerged that despite giving the development the hard sell, Trump had just loaned his named to the project and was not directly involved.

The backlash in Mexico was strong and local news website Mexico Matters described Trump as 'just another American gangster in Baja'

Spokespeople: Both Donald and Ivanka Trump were involved in the promotion of the Baja Mexico resort. Ivanka and her brothers Donald Jr and Eric are involved in his business empire and broke ground for its Washington DC hotel last year

New project: Donald Trump spoke today at the Albemarle estate and winery in Charlottesville, Virginia, which is now a Trump property

Development: The Albemarley estate in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the latest Trump property. However his business activity is now being overshadowed by the controversy caused by his presidential run

The disclosures are not the first time that Trump's commercial activities and his recent rhetoric have appeared at odds.

His critics have pointed out that his Macy's clothing line was made in China, though the department store has now severed its ties with him.

Trump's new hotel in Washington, DC, is also being built by some workers who are illegal immigrants, the Washington Post reported.

Trump is now first in the polls among Republicans for the 2016 Presidential race.

His incendiary rhetoric on immigration has propelled him to 15 per cent of the vote, past Jeb Bush who is at 11 per cent, according to the Economist.

A separate poll by Public Policy Polling put Trump on 16 per cent to Bush on 12 per cent in a crowded field of 14 Republican candidates which so far includes Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.

Daniel King, the attorney who represented those who sued Trump, said: 'Based on the extensive body of marketing materials, the buyers believed, and alleged that they were purchasing a property which was being developed by Donald Trump and the Trump organization.'

He declined to comment on the specifics of the settlement.

In a statement Trump said: 'I am personally offended by the mainstream media's attempt to distort my comments regarding Mexico and its great people.

'My views have been consistent and totally clear, but inaccurately reported. I have many successful business relationships with Mexican companies and employ, and am close friends with, many Mexican people.

'I also have tremendous respect for the leaders of Mexico, who, frankly, are much smarter and tougher than our politicians here in the United States.

'The disappointment I expressed relates to our incompetent politicians and their failed trade and immigration policies.

'We cannot allow illegal immigrants to pour into our country.'