The popular TV comedy Seinfeld was so successful partly because of the writers, who created implausible, yet entirely believable situations for the show's quirky characters.  One memorable scene placed George Costanza at a pizzeria counter.  Wanting to ingratiate himself with the server, he ostentatiously dropped a bill into the tip jar.  But just then, the server turned away, and the tip went unnoticed.  It seemed almost understandable for the bumbling, weasely Costanza to reach into the jar to retrieve the tip.  It was both funny and pathetic when he was caught doing it.  George only wanted his generosity to be acknowledged.   

Many good deeds and kind gestures come with some element of self-interest, even if it’s just a small thing – the need to be recognized and appreciated for those deeds. 

Of course, real selflessness does exist.

We see it through the millions of dollars Americans anonymously contribute to various charities.  It’s reflected by the emergency personnel who risk their lives to rescue victims of accidents and fires, by the police officers who protect our communities, and by our soldiers who sacrifice their lives to protect their fellow warriors and to safeguard our way of life.

We saw an exceptional example of selflessness by one particular naval aviator in the mid-1960s.  From late 1967 to 1973, Senator John McCain, then a lieutenant commander in the navy, was held captive by the North Vietnamese and tortured on a regular basis.  Soon after his capture, the North Vietnamese offered to release him after learning that his father had been appointed commander-in-chief, Pacific command.  Because his release would have been unfair to those captured before him, McCain declined the offer of freedom.

Actor and patriot Gary Sinise has spent most of his adult life tirelessly advocating for men like McCain and for all those who have served our country.  His selflessness should be an inspiration to us all.  Other humanitarians devote their entire lives to helping others.

Still, pure altruism is a rare thing.  Many seemingly generous deeds are lessened by self-serving undercurrents.  Worse, some are born entirely from selfish motives.  While many would argue that good deeds stand alone, that the motives behind them are unimportant, there’s a crucial distinction between those who give selflessly and those whose generosity is tied to personal gain.  One is heroic; the other is exploitive and conniving.

On January 28, Donald Trump skipped the Republican primary debate in Des Moines and instead held a rally to benefit military veterans.  With the fanfare of a major telethon, he boasted that he had raised $6 million for veterans groups, including a $1-million personal contribution.  Like George Costanza, Trump clearly understands that there’s no personal benefit to anonymous charity. 

In late May, The Washington Post began looking into the claims Trump made that night.  Reporters learned that only a fraction of the monies committed had been received, and there was no record of a $1-million contribution from Trump’s personal account.  That check wasn’t issued until May 24 – after the Post began its inquiry.  Other large donations also began arriving at various veterans organizations, only after the scrutiny began.

Trump was livid at the suggestion of impropriety.  He said the long delay was necessary because the recipient organizations had to be screened – even though he announced during the rally that that had been done. 

No one knows what’s in a man’s heart, but we know that, unlike Gary Sinise, Trump has not always been so appreciative of our veterans.  Both in 1991 and 1994, Trump formally complained about disabled veterans who were supporting themselves as street vendors on Fifth Avenue.  In one letter, Trump argued that their presence was allowing “the world’s finest and most luxurious shopping districts to be turned into an outdoor flea market.”  

Then, early on in his campaign, Trump infuriated veterans and military members by demeaning Senator McCain’s POW status: “[h]e’s a war hero because he was captured[.] … I like people who weren’t captured.”  Trump’s hyper-inflated ego would not allow him to apologize to veterans, but he knew he needs their votes.  The veterans event both rehabilitated his image and diverted attention away from his petty boycott of the debate. 

So now Trump has established himself as a champion for veterans.  His personal $1-million contribution will go a long way to help them, and at roughly 0.01 percent of his net worth, it was a small price to pay for a new image.

The writer is a military veteran, retired from the U.S. Secret Service as a senior special agent.  His political commentaries are widely published online and in print, and he is a regular contributor to renewamerica.com.