Australian developer says ‘toxic’ Trump hotel plan scrapped

Plans for a US$1.1 billion (S$1.4 billion), 91-storey Trump hotel and apartment tower in Australia have been scrapped because the American brand has become "toxic", the developer says.



The Trump Organization announced in February the project for a soaring tower on eastern Australia's Gold Coast, saying it would "redefine beachfront sophistication".



Mr David Young, chief executive of Australian developer Altus Property Group, said the project was scrapped because the Trump brand had become "toxic to Australians". Mr Young said he still aimed to complete the development with another brand.



"The writing was on the wall when the (Iran) war started and I have been in discussions with many high-end luxury brands," he said in a post on May 12 on LinkedIn.



The Trump Organization is run by US President Donald Trump's adult sons, not by the American leader himself, Mr Young said, describing the brand's deteriorated reputation as "grossly unfair".