New York: In the heart of Jerusalem, a short walk from the Israeli Supreme Court and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Donald Trump’s family business spotted a moneymaking opportunity. The Trump Organisation pursued a deal last year to open a luxury hotel on a former site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to people involved in the previously unreported talks, as well as documents reviewed by The New York Times . The property’s proximity to the nexus of governmental power evoked Trump’s erstwhile hotel near the White House , abuzz with dignitaries and supporters during his presidency.
The 880-room Sarona Hotel, which will be Israel’s largest. The Trump Organisation has pursued a branding and management deal for the hotel. Credit: Amit Elkayam/The New York Times Trump’s company also considered turning a rising skyscraper in Tel Aviv into another Trump-branded hotel, the documents show.
That tower, which will twist with glass and steel, is near the headquarters of the Israeli military and will have the most hotel rooms in the country when construction is completed. Eric Trump, who runs the family business, embarked on the negotiations well after his father kicked off his latest presidential bid in November 2022, the interviews and documents show. And while he has not finalised either prospective deal – talks have not resumed since Hamas’ attack on Israel a year ago – the Trump Organisation continues to express interest in opening an Israel.
