Trump was :”sign on to this investment - you can trust it - it has my name! - OK they only RENTED my name - I otherwise wasn't involved at all other than accepting a paycheck to fool people into thinking I was involved”
That is not Presidential - and Trump will NEVER be President - I would be willing to be good money that he isn't even going to seek the nomination.
He, like many other hucksters frauds and charlatans - sees going through the motions of Presidential candidacy as a way to up his name recognition.
And he uses that name recognition when he whores out his name.
That's exactly what it is. Reagan wasn't playing a part when he endorsed the product, he was getting paid to get people to buy a product because he, Reagan, endorsed it. I'm not against doing this, but I also don't see a lot of difference what Reagan did, using his name to sell cigarettes or Trump using his name to get people to buy real estate.