Australia’s Trump Tower Plans Scrapped as Developer Cites ‘Toxic’ Brand

The ambitious plan to construct Australia's inaugural Trump International Hotel & Tower on the Gold Coast has been abruptly scrapped, a mere three months after its fanfare announcement. David Young, CEO of Altus Property Group, the local developer behind the project, cited the "toxic" nature of the Trump brand in Australia as the primary reason for the cancellation. This decision reflects a significant shift in public perception and marketability, directly influenced by global political events and the associated social divisions.

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Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly unpopular in Australia.

Young specifically pointed to the "Iran war and everything else" as factors contributing to the Trump brand's increasing unpopularity Down Under. The backlash against the project was substantial, evidenced by a petition that garnered over 140,000 signatures. Critics, like the petition's anonymous organizer, expressed opposition rooted in concerns over "anti-immigrant violence and the social division" observed in the United States. This sentiment highlights a disconnect between the Trump Organization's business operations and the values held by a segment of the Australian public.

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the brand in this country has become toxic to Australians.

Despite the withdrawal of the Trump name, the development of the 91-story tower is set to continue. Young stressed that the project itself is not dead, but rather seeking new luxury partners to replace the Trump brand. He lamented the "grossly unfair" portrayal of the Trump Organization by some Australian media and organizations, arguing that it is a "non-political" entity run by Donald Trump's sons, Eric and Don Jr., and has a successful global track record. However, the reality on the ground in Australia, as reflected by the public's reaction and the developer's ultimate decision, is that the brand's political and social baggage has become too heavy to carry for such a high-profile venture.

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Trump Org is a non-political, free of the President run organization by Eric and Don Jr and run well with over 136 resorts and towers globally yet here in Australia both the media and certain orgs paint a picture of Donald Trump for pure sensationalism.