Reports from Tel Aviv indicate that the Trump Organization is considering a new luxury hotel project in the heart of Israel’s largest city, sparking concerns about potential security risks in the volatile region.
The Trump family has expressed interest in managing the Sarona Hotel, a 47-story luxury development currently under construction in Tel Aviv’s upscale district. Eric Trump, speaking to The New York Times, confirmed that discussions about entering the Israeli hospitality market are in preliminary stages.
The proposed hotel site recently found itself at the center of escalating tensions when Tel Aviv was targeted by Iranian missile strikes on June 13th. These attacks followed Israeli airstrikes on military facilities near Tehran, underscoring the precarious nature of the region’s geopolitical landscape.
Peter Bazeli, managing director at Weitzman, told The New York Times that a Trump-branded property in this location is “clearly at risk of becoming a target,” citing both its connection to the U.S. government and its impact on the president’s financial interests.
It’s important to note that the Trump Organization has been expanding its brand presence in the Middle East, with properties in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. This latest venture comes at a time when President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have proposed a tentative plan to end hostilities in Gaza, involving joint governance by several Arab states.
The Trump family’s business ambitions in Israel predate the recent escalation of conflict. However, it remains unclear whether these plans will proceed given the current turmoil. Previous Trump hotel projects in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were withdrawn, raising questions about the viability of this latest proposal.