Australia and the World Past and Present

Donald Trump’s first mention in the Australian press came in 1986.

At the time, he was hoping that the New South Wales state government would grant him a license to build and operate a casino at Darling Harbour.

Trump already owned casinos in Atlantic City.

The article described Trump as “the largest individual property owner in New York City.” It reported his fortune as being $US 2 billion and noted his landmark properties including Trump Tower and the Grand Hyatt.

The article continues “Mr Trump is famous in New York for a style called “Trump-speak”, which involves cramming superlatives into every sentence. He describes each new project as “the biggest”, “the most beautiful”, “the most expensive” anyone has ever undertaken.”

Trump’s proposal for a casino in Sydney was only one of more than twelve put forward to the state government.

This early article captures some of the characteristics that have remained constant throughout his career – his ambition to go big, to begin project after project, his strong sense of self-belief and his propensity to communicate in “Trump-speak”.

Forty years on, some things haven’t changed much.

Source: David Dale and Dennis Shanahan, Trump bid for Sydney Casino, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 November 1986, p. 1