NEW YORK — Donald Trump says Hunter Harrison is too "soft" to takeover another railroad.
In a brief interview with Trains News Wire on Wednesday, the billionaire Republican Presidential candidate spared a few moments to offer counsel to the veteran Tennessean railroader turned Canadian Pacific CEO.
"I like Hunter. I know Hunter, good man. But, he's using too few small words," Trump says about Harrison. "Take that 'precision scheduled railroading' thing. Means nothing. If he wants people to get it, Hunter needs to say something like, 'We'll make the trains run on time.' That's very easy, very clear."
The New York-based real estate mogul also says Harrison should avoid talking about analysts, plans, and financial statements, but instead offer a "super good" vision of the future.
"A vision so good, so beautiful, people can't help but say that that is a good thing," he says. "When you start talking about numbers and ratios, people get bored. You can't do that. Let the pencil necks figure it out later. You've got to win people's hearts.
"Hunter, my beautiful friend Hunter, has yet to do this."
When asked what Harrison should be saying, specifically, about bids to take over CSX Transportation, then Norfolk Southern, then CSX again, Trump took a long pause.
"Well, not what he's been saying. Winners don't send out news releases saying they'll sue someone for trying to block a business deal," Trump says. "And winners don't go begging in public from one potential partner to the next like a kid desperate for a date to the dance. Winners go out and make deals happen. And they use winning words."
If Harrison wants to take over NS or CSX, or any other railroad, Trump says that the CP CEO needs to get down and dirty. Among other things, Trump says Harrison needs to personally attack NS' Jim Squires and CSX's Michael Ward for their personal appearances, their educations, their wives' shopping habits, in addition to calling them out as "no good paper pushers."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Hunter knows these things. He knows how to win, but he's not winning," Trump says. "I think he's thinking too much. If he wants to win another railroad he can't be so soft. And then he can achieve greatness."
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