Staff Reports
The Trump Organization may be on the verge of pulling off a real estate coup by reacquiring the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., a mere three years after unloading it. The property, cleverly situated in the historic Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue, originally opened its doors in 2016 but was sold to CGI Merchant Group for a cool $375 million in 2022, only to be rebranded under the Waldorf Astoria name. As luck would have it, Eric Trump recently rubbed elbows with a high-ranking bank executive at Mar-a-Lago, stirring speculation that the Trump family wants to reclaim their real estate glory.
The rumors are swirling, although insiders suggest that the talks remain in the “preliminary” phase, which is a fancy way of saying “let’s see where this goes.” However, it’s telling that interest in the property is rekindling just as Donald Trump gears up for what many believe is a triumphant return to the White House in just ten days—talk about perfect timing! Meanwhile, CGI Merchant Group is facing a bit of a pickle, having lost the lease rights after defaulting on a loan, with the rights subsequently auctioned off to BDT & MSD Partners. The saga of financial failure might just make a great reality TV series.
Raising the stakes, the original deal bringing the hotel to life was struck back when Trump was simply a businessman and not a polarizing political figure. The federal government’s agreement with the Trump Organization predates his 2016 campaign, suggesting that the Democrats’ hand-wringing over conflicts of interest was planted much later, likely as a political maneuver. In an ironic twist, despite howls of disapproval from the left, the General Services Administration (GSA) decided against terminating the lease with the Trump Organization when Democrats requested it back in early 2022, proving once again that even bureaucracies can occasionally embrace the spirit of fairness.
Trump Organization looking into buying back DC hotel https://t.co/oUk5spv0hH
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 11, 2025
To stay ahead of the game and quell any concerns as Trump prepares for another presidential term, the Trump Organization recently rolled out an ethics plan. This initiative is designed to ensure that the company meets and exceeds all legal and ethical obligations during Trump’s presidency. Eric Trump has made it clear that his father won’t be involved in the day-to-day dealings of the business, a strategic move aimed at quelling concerns that he might still be raking in the profits while running the country.
In the end, this news adds a tantalizing twist to Trump’s narrative. As the Trump Organization contemplates reclaiming its former hotel. Americans are witnessing a delicate dance between business-savvy decisions and political intrigue, all unfolding in the shadow of the White House. If the Trump family does pull off this real estate power play, it could once again remind everyone that in the world of Trump, deals are made, fortunes change hands, and the drama never seems to end.
