Trump Tower Tel Aviv? US president’s holding company said eyeing large Israeli hotel

US President Donald Trump’s privately owned investment company held preliminary talks this spring with an Israeli real estate developer about branding and managing a new hotel being built in Tel Aviv, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

According to the report, Eric Trump, the president’s son, met with the heads of the Nitsba Holdings about investing in the under-construction Sarona Hotel, expected to become Israel’s tallest hotel when it opens. Such a deal would likely emblaze the Trump name along the top of the Tel Aviv skyline.

The talks took place several weeks before Israel launched its preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear program, which joined by the United States when Trump ordered strikes on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities.

Trump is under fire for using his presidency to mix national and personal interests to an extent that is unprecedented in US history. The report said that a Trump property in Israel could impact American diplomatic decisions, while also serving as a target for anti-American terror groups.

Since Trump took office in January, the Trump Organization has already struck property branding deals in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, the report noted.

In a statement to the New York Times, Eric Trump confirmed that talks had occurred, but said a deal was a long way off.

“Israel has always been a market we would love to explore, but we have no plans at this time, and any discussions have been strictly preliminary,” the statement said.

Calls made by The Times of Israel to Nitsba were not answered.

Other potential deals are also in the pipeline, and Eric Trump has indicated he plans to sign at least one deal in Israel by the end of the year, according to the report.

According to the report, Eric Trump said the building had “the feel of a Trump property.” The 47-story hotel is being designed with “Trumpian extravagance,” with 800 rooms and suites, more than any other Israeli hotel, as well as luxurious restaurants, spas, pools, and lounges.

Construction on the hotel, designed by MYS Architects, was stalled for several years, but just restarted several months ago, the Globes business daily reported earlier this year. No target date has been given for the building’s completion.

The head of Nitsba, Haim Tsuff, told the New York Times that adding Trump’s name to the tower might help his case to get approval to add an additional 12 stories to the building, which could be used for luxury residential units. However, that could require a change to zoning laws, as the building lies along a flight path to Ben Gurion Airport.

In October, before Donald Trump was reelected, the Times reported that Eric Trump was eyeing the Haleom Hotel under construction in Jerusalem, in addition to the Sarona Hotel. He had also toured the Princess Hotel in Eilat, but passed on it, that report said.