‘He Has Become Increasingly Toxic’: Trump Tower Project In Australia Scrapped Amid Iran War

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 17:38 IST

The proposed 91-storey Trump Tower in Surfers Paradise was set to become Australia’s tallest building and the first official Trump Organisation project in the country.

Plans for a Trump-branded skyscraper on Australia’s Gold Coast have been abandoned just three months after being announced, with the developer blaming geopolitical tensions and the “increasingly toxic" perception of the Trump brand following the Iran war. The proposed 91-storey Trump Tower in Surfers Paradise was set to become Australia’s tallest building and the first official Trump Organisation project in the country. The development has now been shelved, with both sides trading blame over the collapse of the A$1.5bn (£802m) deal.

Why Was Trump Tower Project Cancelled?

Altus Property Group chief executive David Young said the decision to scrap the project was influenced by rising geopolitical tensions, including the Iran war, which he claimed made the Trump brand increasingly difficult to work with in Australia. He said, “Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly toxic in Australia. Some time ago, we knew it was time to part company. It was not about not meeting obligations. There are other luxury brand options for us. The project is live."

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How Did Trump Organisation Respond?

The Trump Organization rejected that account, arguing instead that the developer had failed to meet key financial commitments tied to the agreement. Kimberly Benza, director of executive operations for the Trump Organisation, said the project collapsed due to “empty promise after empty promise".

“After months of negotiations and empty promise after empty promise, on a supposed A$1.5bn project, Altus Property Group was unable to meet the most basic financial obligation due upon the execution of the agreement," she said. The organisation also said it remained open to future developments in Australia.

What Was Proposed Trump Tower?

The project, announced in February, envisioned a 91-storey luxury hotel and residential tower rising 335 metres above Surfers Paradise. It was expected to include hotel rooms, luxury apartments, retail space, restaurants and an exclusive beach club. Construction had been tentatively scheduled to begin in August and promotional material about the project has since been removed from the Trump Organisation’s website. The development was divisive from the start, attracting more than 120,000 signatures in opposition petitions compared with around 3,500 in support.

News world ‘He Has Become Increasingly Toxic’: Trump Tower Project In Australia Scrapped Amid Iran War

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