Real estate brokers are marketing Donald Trump’s Secret Service detail as an exclusive new “amenity” at Trump Tower, Politico reported Tuesday.
In a Nov. 13 email obtained by Politico, Ariel Sassoon and Devin Leahy of the Douglas Elliman real estate agency advertised a $2.1 million one-bedroom apartment on the thirty-first floor to “Fifth Avenue Buyers Interested in Secret Service Protection.” They referred to the tower as “the Most Secure Building in Manhattan,” calling the federal agents assigned to protect the President-elect and his family “The New Aminity [sic].”
The Trumps live at the Fifth Avenue building that serves double-duty as his campaign and transition headquarters. Secret Service will continue to guard the building once the President-elect decamps for Washington, D.C. as his wife Melania intends to remain in New York so that their son Barron can finish school.
As Politico noted, most of the 263 units in Trump Tower are independently owned, though the Trump Corporation, which manages the building, receives a processing fee for unit sales. There are currently 16 active sale listings and 16 active rentals in the building.
Sassoon, Leahy and a Trump spokesperson did not respond to Politico’s request for comment.
The Secret Service may occupy a portion of the building but they are under no obligation – and, indeed, wouldn’t be distracted – to provide any security to other residents. In fact, the building becomes more susceptible because of its occupants.
Had I the resources to buy or rent an upscale apartment in Manhattan, likely the nonstop press and frequent protestors outside my door would have me looking elsewhere. This is Manhattan. It has plenty of options for the monied class.
It is not a perk, it is a pain in the ass, unless you don’t want guests.
I suspect the Secret Service will probably contact the brokers and tell them to knock it off – you cannot use their services to a select few tenants as an advertising gimmick, especially since their services are not available to anyone else except the Trumps, White House staff, Congresscritters and the like.
And this is why voting matters.