Real Estate Agents Advertise Taxpayer-Funded Secret Service as 'New Amenity' at Trump Tower

Real estate agents are using the taxpayer-funded Secret Service—which they describe as a "new amenity"—as a sales gimmick to sell space in Trump Tower.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Living in a place named after Donald Trump can be uncomfortable for many—like the residents who have been working to remove Trump's name from their building. But living in the president-elect's building can have some benefits too, at least according to real estate agents trying to lure customers. The Secret Service will spend millions of taxpayer dollars to rent out space at Trump Tower in order to protect the president-elect, and now real estate agents are using the taxpayer-funded Secret Service—which they describe as a "new amenity"—as a sales gimmick. 

According to Politico, Douglas Elliman, a prominent New York real estate agency, send out an email with the subject line, "Fifth Avenue Buyers Interested in Secret Service Protection?" Distributed on Nov. 13—less than a week after the election—the email boldly advertised the building's addition as "The New Aminity [sic] – The United States Secret Service." 

The email advertised a one-bedroom, 1,052-square-foot condo on the 31st floor of the Trump Tower at 721 Fifth Avenue, and was listed by Douglas Elliman brokers Ariel Sassoon and Devin Leahy. The apartment is advertised as the "the best value in the most secure building in Manhattan" and costs a whopping $2.1 million. (You can see pictures of the condo here.)

Selling living spaces in a building named after Donald Trump can be both a pro and a con for real estate agents. Realtor Debra Stotts, who has previously worked in marketing for the Trump Organization, told Politico, "Honestly, it's 50-50 just like the polls, there are those who flee, there are those who are going to the building and want to be associated with Trump as a winner."

Some people on Twitter aren't happy that their taxpayers are being used as a "new amenity" for multi-million dollar real estate:

Others are more skeptical about the sales pitch:

"Trump was the developer and sponsor of the Trump Tower when it was built 33 years ago, but most of the 263 units are individually owned. Trump Tower does not retain a portion of the sales but since the building is managed by Trump Corporation, they retain a processing fee for unit sales which is about $2,000 per application plus $250 per additional adult dweller, as part of their service as managers of the building."

While Trump isn't involved with these advertisements, he could possibly profit off of them. As Politico explains:

Of course, even without this situation, president-elect Donald Trump has a number of conflicts of interest.

 

Latest in Life