The former part of Trump’s empire of gambling – the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey – will be blown up in late January. And the city council of the city decided to “make money” on this event, putting up for auction the right to press a button that activates a system of interconnected explosive charges. City Mayor Marty Small said the proceeds from the auction – presumably up to a million dollars – will go to charity.
Trump Plaza Casino was opened in 1984. The casino building, now owned by billionaire Carl Icahn, has been empty since the casino closed in 2014. Its façade has begun to deteriorate, and city officials fear falling debris could pose a danger to people.
In 2014, Trump sued the city to remove his name from the casino’s name, arguing in a lawsuit that “the dire condition of the building is damaging its brand, which has become synonymous with the highest levels of quality, luxury, prestige and success.”
Newspaper headline:
A million at the push of a button