Trump Tower to Rise on Australia’s Gold Coast Amid Public Outcry

Plans to build Australia’s first Trump-branded skyscraper on the Gold Coast have sparked both excitement and controversy. The proposed 91-story Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast will feature a 285-room luxury six-star hotel, Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end retail, and premium residential apartments.

The development, proposed by Altus Property Group, is set to become the tallest building on the Gold Coast, but it has not yet been submitted for council approval. Despite this, the project has already drawn public attention, with petitions for and against the tower circulating online.

A petition opposing the project had amassed over 26,000 signatures by Tuesday, with many residents expressing strong resistance to the Trump brand. “Why would we want anything to do with Trump coming to our country? He is poison and needs to stay out of Australia,” said one signatory.

The opposition stems largely from political and social concerns, including Trump’s polarizing reputation abroad. CK, the petition organizer, said she sought to voice opposition after witnessing “anti-immigrant violence and social division” linked to Trump in the US. “People think I’m against job creation, but I’m just against the Trump brand,” she added.

Supporters, however, highlight the potential economic and tourism benefits. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who recently met Trump at Mar-a-Lago, described him as “very, very likable” and praised the project’s promise of quality. Local business owners, like cafe worker Jordan Nguyen, argue the development could revitalize a site that has been vacant since 2013.

Residential apartments in the tower are expected to sell for 5 million Australian dollars ($3.5 million), offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and Surfers Paradise. Martin Hall of the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce called it a “gold option” for investors, especially ahead of the 2032 Olympics in South East Queensland.

Altus Property Group founder David Young revealed that discussions about a Trump-branded property began in 2007, with a “cold call to Ivanka Trump.” Almost two decades later, a deal was finalized with Eric Trump in February 2026, with design and engineering plans now underway. Young emphasized that “it will be an Australian, not American, project… but it will say ‘Trump.’”

The debate around the Trump Tower highlights the tension between high-profile development and public sentiment, as the Gold Coast balances tourism growth with community concerns.