In an appearance on CNBC today, Donald Trump argued that it's time for the federal government to step in and force banks to lend. "Banks are not lending money, no matter how prime you are," Trump said. "The economy can't come back until the banks start lending."

"I don't think any bank in this country is soliciting loans," he added "Banks are bragging about the fact that they're making loans and they're not making loans."

Donald Trump's plan to build a Scotland resort with two golf courses, a 450-room hotel, 500 homes and 950 short-term rental apartments are being scuttled by a quarter of home owners who say their homes aren't for sale at any price.

Trump improved his offer to the sellers but according to Bloomberg, "David Milne, whose four-bedroom house, Hermit Point, is a former coastguard station, rejected an offer of 230,000 pounds, he said in a telephone interview today. He turned down an offer of 175,000 pounds three years ago."

While Donald Trump fights to regain control of the bankrupt Trump Entertainment Resorts, the company is also being sued by Coastal Marina, LLC , the company that had agreed to acquire the Trump Marina Hotel Casino from the company prior to the bankruptcy filing.

The lawsuit alleges that the company allowed the casino to fall into disrepair, and alleges fraud. Claiming that the buildings need $50 million in repairs, the lawsuit suggests that the casino put plants under leaky windows and skylights instead of repairing them. Ouch.

It's been a tough month for Donald Trump.

First his defamation suit against a New York Times reporter who authored a book casting doubt on Trump's claims of a 10-digit net worth was tossed out by a superior court judge.

Last month Trump took his $51 million Trump Park Avenue apartment off the market last month. Now it's back on the market but at a price of $31 million -- a discount of nearly 38% off the previous listing price.

World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE: WWE) is calling on an old friend to help it bring in an audience beyond the media company's hardcore demographic. Donald Trump, who has worked storylines with WWE before (remember the battle between Trump and Vince McMahon, the one that saw McMahon lose his hair?), recently appeared on WWE's Raw television program. In fact, TVSquad.com discussed the high-profile promotion Trump's involvement received over this past weekend. TV Squad also covered the little controversy caused by Trump's "purchase" of WWE's famous asset (I honestly cannot believe that some investors actually sold the company's stock based on a storyline).

Using Trump isn't a bad idea. He's a pretty good performer, and he seems, at times, like a natural for the wrestling business. How should an investor process his involvement, however? Does it show that WWE is having a hard time developing engaging angles with its own talent roster?

After his Atlantic City casino chain rejected his buyout offer and descended into bankruptcy, Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka resigned from the board and he proclaimed that he wanted nothing more to do with the company.

Let the back-tracking begin. The Associated Press reports that Donald Trump is making an offer to acquire the company out of bankruptcy with the backing of Dallas-based Beal Bank. His offer will have to beat out a competing offer made by the bondholders. Since neither offer was publicly filed with the bankruptcy court, it's hard to handicap the Donald's chances.

The Atlantic City casinos have filed for bankruptcy twice in the past five years, and have been unable to compete in the highly competitive market because of a crushing debt load.

Another day, another Donald Trump lawsuit.

Bloomberg reports that "Trump and Los Angeles-based Irongate Development allegedly induced buyers with marketing materials touting Trump's involvement when he had merely licensed his name to the project, known as Trump Ocean Resort Baja, according to the complaint filed yesterday on behalf of 69 condo buyers in state court in Los Angeles."

Donald Trump and the banks backing his flailing Trump International Hotel & Tower project in Chicago have reached a deal to temporarily suspend litigation.

The parties now have 90 days to figure out a settlement, and Trump has time to try to complete the 92-story building without the looming threat of foreclosure. The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that "Sales of 339 hotel rooms and 486 condominium units have come in below original estimates and the project's current projected revenue remains short by nearly $100 million needed to pay off the senior first mortgage loan."

The bankruptcy of Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) and legal and financial woes surrounding the Trump International Hotel & Tower are causing some to question whether Donald Trump's name as a symbol of luxury will continue to carry value.

"His brand is associated with success and making money. And every time the word bankruptcy appears next to Trump, that's not good," says Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor, a brand consultancy. "He can take a few chinks in the armor, but I think he's probably at the limit."

Another day, another Donald Trump-related financial crisis.

After years of financial problems, Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) has filed for bankruptcy for the third time in its history. The company's last bankruptcy came in November of 2004.

The company reported assets of less than $50 million and debts of less than $500 million. Nine affiliates of the company also filed for bankruptcy, including Trump Plaza Associates, Trump Marina Associates and Trump Taj Mahal Associate. Including all affiliates, the company said it had consolidated assets of $2.1 billion and debt of $1.7 billion as of December 31st of 2008.

Although he was a supporter of Senator John McCain during the election, author and reality television star Donald Trump says President Barack Obama has done well so far. "We hope Obama is going to be better," he said. "I think he is going to be better. He's off to a good start, and we have to see what happens with the stimulus."

He also had harsh words for Obama's predecessor: "I'm not a fan of George Bush," he said. "I think he has been the worst president maybe we've ever had. He's a total disaster. Frankly, when the economy cratered, that was the end, because the only thing he could say about his administration was that the economy was good. Well, it turned out that it was falsely good, not really good."

Yesterday, Peter Cohan wrote that Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) could be on the brink of its fourth bankruptcy filing since 1991.

Well it won't happen. At least, not until next month. In an 8-K filed with the SEC today, the company disclosed that "On January 21, 2009, the parties to the Noteholder Forbearance amended the Noteholder Forbearance to extend its term until February 4, 2009, unless certain events occur."

In other words, Trump will be back in this very situation in less than two weeks. The company failed to reach any kind of long-term restructuring.

Shareholders chose to notice that rather than the brief reprieve, and the stock has tumbled more than 10% today, to less than 25 cents per share. In 2006 it traded over $20.

If Donald Trump files for bankruptcy, it certainly won't be the first time. For Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP), the Donald has a deadline of today to renegotiated a $1.25 billion debt.

What's the big deal? It turns out that Trump Entertainment -- which owns the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Marina in Atlantic City, missed a $53.1 million bond payment on December 1, and got a 30-day extension. The holders of 70% of Trump Entertainment's outstanding senior secured notes due in 2015 agreed to wait until today to exercise their rights related to the missed bond payment. And today is the day for coming to terms on another loan as well. The lenders involved in a $490 million loan agreement also agreed to wait until today to exercise their rights.

If Trump Entertainment files for bankruptcy today, it will only be the fourth time it's done so since 1991. The weak economy is not helping Trump Entertainment. In 2008, sales at The Taj Mahal fell 5.1%, those at Trump Plaza dropped 6.4% and Trump Marina sales fell 15.8%. One analyst thinks that Trump will get another extension on his payment.

When Donald Trump isn't busy getting sued for defaulting on loans, he occasionally finds time to sue other people.

The Los Angeles Times reports that The Donald is suing Rancho Palos Verdes for $100 million for thwarting his efforts to maintain his precious "Trump Image" at the country club he built there five years ago. TMZ chimes in that "Trump is particularly pissed that he's been blocked from building a clubhouse terrace and a row of 12-foot ficus trees to block what he thinks are unsightly houses -- the last thing his putters want to see."

The poster boy of nepotism and grandiosity is accusing the town of fraud and, get this, civil rights violations.

But before you get out that Rosa Parks plaque to bestow on Trump for his battle against prejudice, the city and its residents have a few things to say. Mayor Larry Clark told the Times that the city has tried very hard to work with Donald Trump and he fears the lawsuit is going to anger many residents. One retired citizen added that "I think he just feels rules aren't made for him. He expects them to say he can do it because he's Donald Trump."

Trump has been the victim of an endless litany of atrocities. For instance, they wouldn't let him rename a road after himself. Hello? Haven't these people heard of the Civil Rights Act?

Donald Trump hates to appear the loser, at anything. It damages his reputation as a business superman. It may prevent him from getting a fourth wife. He could lose his TV series. Success is Trump's way in the front door and always has been.

One place where Trump has stumbled is his gaming and gambling business. He is not alone. Many casino companies, including MGM Grand (NYSE: MGM), have been hurt by too much debt, over-building and the recession.

Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) has already missed a $53 billion debt payment. According to the FT, "The group, which operates three properties in Atlantic City, is saddled with $1.7bn of debt, of which about $1.2bn is bond debt." The paper says that one of Trump's options is to take the company private and give creditors stock in the new business. In the midst of a credit crisis they may rather do that then get pennies on a dollar in Chapter 11.

Who gets screwed? Why the common shareholders, of course. Two years ago, Trump shares were above $23. Now they trade at 21 cents.

Trump may get out of this without it costing him a dime to restructure the debt. People who bought the stock, perhaps because his name was attached to the company, will get zilch.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com