With U.S. President Donald Trump's intervention, Israel and Iran have entered a ceasefire, and forecasts suggest that 'Trump Tower' could be established in stable Israel. It seems that the Trump family's business expansion in the Middle East is accelerating.
On the 25th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported, "In April, Trump's son Eric Trump discussed potential partnerships with the owners of the Sarona district hotel in Tel Aviv," adding, "This discussion took place a few weeks before missiles from Iran fell near the hotel."
According to NYT, the Trump family plans to manage the hotel built on land owned by the Nitzba Group, an Israeli real estate company, and the discussions are proceeding with the intent to brand the hotel with the name 'Trump.' The Nitzba Group is operated by oil tycoon Chaim Tsuf and Kobi Maimon, associated with Israel's political elite.
Eric Trump stated, "Israel has always been a market we want to explore, but at this time, there are no specific plans, and all discussions are merely in preliminary stages." However, NYT noted through an anonymous source that Eric Trump plans to finalize at least one contract in Israel by the end of this year.
The Trump family has previously pushed for the construction of a 'Trump Hotel' in Israel. Israel has long faced a shortage of hotel rooms and has been a market for American hoteliers to explore. Following Trump's presidential victory in 2016, the Trump family withdrew from a 61-story hotel and residential project in Israel, stating that they could not "build the tallest building in Tel Aviv while simultaneously attempting Middle East peace negotiations."
After Trump lost the presidential election in 2020, the Trump family again partnered with the Nitzba Group to pursue the construction of a Trump Hotel in the Jerusalem area. The Nitzba Group indicated last year that they had "reached an agreement on almost all matters, including price" concerning the Jerusalem hotel project, but this plan fell through after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel in 2023.
NYT reported that the Trump family is actively involved in the Sarona district hotel plans. When completed, this hotel is expected to be the tallest building in Tel Aviv at 47 stories, and Eric Trump is said to have expressed the desire to build even taller when introducing the Trump brand.
The Nitzba Group proposed adding 12 stories beyond the existing height during meetings with Eric Trump, and plans to utilize the additional space for dwellings were also discussed. To increase the height of the building, government approval for a change in use is required, and Tsuf, who leads the Nitzba Group, reportedly stated that there is a high likelihood of approval for the change if they cooperate with the Trump family.
However, as tensions in the Middle East have not been fully resolved, it remains uncertain whether the project will proceed as planned. Peter Bazeli, an executive at the real estate consulting firm Weitzman, remarked, "Trump Tower clearly carries the risk of becoming a target and this affects not only the U.S. government but also President Trump's financial interests."
Even if the construction of the Trump Hotel is confirmed, it is likely that the Trump family will once again find itself embroiled in controversy over conflicts of interest. Since President Trump's election, the Trump family has provided licenses for the Trump name in various Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar over the past seven months. It is reported that the family's corporate entity, Trump Organization, is currently engaged in approximately 30 potential global transactions.
NYT evaluated, "This is a profit-making venture that combines personal interests and presidential interests in an unprecedented manner in modern U.S. history," adding, "If a Trump Hotel towers in a war zone, the president's foreign policy could impact not only the fate of the region but also his personal finances."