Report: Trump has made millions from Saudi Arabia

According to a report from the New York Daily News, Donald Trump has raked in millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia.

The Daily News’s investigation found that in June of 2001, Trump sold the 45th floor of Trump World Tower to the Saudi Kingdom for $4.5 million, making them part of the Saudi Mission to the United Nation in 2008.

The five apartments included 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms at the time of the sale, and had yearly common charges of $85,585 for building amenities, documents obtained by The News show. If those common charges remain the same, Trump was paid at least $5.7 million by the Saudi government since 2001.

The Daily News refers to Trump’s attacks on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for accepting Saudi money donated to the Clinton Foundation — money that comes from a country with a horrible human rights record.

Rebecca Ocampo, who alleged in court papers she helped broker the deal between Trump and the Saudis, said the apartments were about more than money — they were also about “access” to a new, potentially lucrative market in the Middle East.

Ocampo, 67, and her company, Housing International, which specialized in housing for diplomats, sued Trump in 2001, seeking a broker’s fee for the deal. She said she abandoned the suit without it being resolved.

Records obtained by The News indicate Trump’s connection to influential Saudis predate the Trump World Tower deal.

In addition, Osama Bin Laden’s half-brother Shafiq Bin Laden put down an $8,500 security deposit for an apartment in Trump Tower in 1985, ultimately moving in and living there for 4 months in 1986.

Trump’s messages on Saudi Arabia have been mixed to say the least. When Fox News host Sean Hannity recently asked him of he would take money from the Saudis, Trump responded with a definite “No.”

He told a different story last year.

“Saudi Arabia — and I get along great with all of them. They buy apartments from me,” Trump said in Mobile, Ala.

“They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.”

Trump reportedly has not responded to the Daily News’s request for comment.

Featured image: Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.

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