Sept 10, 2010
The more this plays out the more Americans see the proposed mosque for what it is – bogus.
The man behind the mosque has been outed by himself and now the money behind the mosque. All that’s left is for them to show how not interested they are in making peace anywhere – in Manhattan, in the US or throughout the Muslim world, which will be the final proof that the location is all that matters.
Mr Trump spoke with Anderson Cooper via telephone (transcript follows) and was disgusted that the mosque investor he wrote a letter to Hisham Elzanaty is just after money and that they will eventually sell after but only after they hear the right price. Mr Trump had offered them the price they paid +25%, a 24 hr closing, and help finding a new location with the stipulation that the new mosque not be built within a 5 block radius.
The offer was dismissed with personal and professional insult.
AC quoted Elzanaty as saying that he found Mr Trump’s letter “laughable” and that it “looked like it was written by a publicist” and that he was insulted by it.
Elzanaty’s lawyer, Wyolodymyr Starosolsky, called Mr Trump’s bid:
just a cheap attempt to get publicity and get in the limelight.
And with that he invited the the investigation of the 8 investors behind the mosque. Nobody says the word “cheap” about Mr Trump – especially in NYC – and gets away unscathed.
And this is going to result in the lawyer being investigated:
STAROSOLSKY: He knows what the value of the building is. If he were really interested in buying the building, he would have come forward with at least $20 million.
He said he has gotten offers as high as $20M for a property that they paid $4.8M last year, which Trump found ridiculous. The investor also called the people he made a deal with stupid – people of course Mr Trump knows.
Think of the absolute evil if they never intended on building the mosque there – that they bought the property knowing it would inflame people so they could hold out until they get the number they wanted.
Whatever the case, this refusal is going to turn even more people away from the mosquites. Even the most rabid supporter knows the very last person you want against you in NYC is Mr Trump.
MR TRUMP:
I believe that he is using this building as a way to sell it for a lot of money, and he’s using religion as a way to get the price. And I don’t like it.
Stay tuned. Monday, Mr Trump will be on Larry King.
Transcript of AC – Mr Trump phone call FOLLOWS.
COOPER: So, Mr. Trump, what exactly did you hope to achieve by putting an offer on this property?
TRUMP: Well, Anderson, if you had been in New York — and maybe you are in New York, and you see what’s going on in terms of what is happening with people, the hatred. The — the whole situation is just ready to blow up. And it’s only going to get worse. And I read an article in one of the newspapers yesterday that they were putting a price tag of $18 million or $19 million on this building that they want to convert to a mosque. And I said, what’s this all about? I thought they wanted to build a mosque.
Now, I found out this man that has it, the developer, he’s a low- level real estate guess, without very much money and not enough money to build the mosque, as we understand it. And I called him. And I offered him the money that he paid for the facility, which is $4.8 million, plus a 25 percent profit, plus costs and lots of other things. And this would solve a very, very nasty problem. And he could go take the money and build it someplace else, but a little bit further away than this particular site.
And he was telling me what a great deal he made. He was telling me that the people were stupid that sold it to him for that low amount, and that it’s worth $18 million or $20 million, or that he had offers for $18 million or $20 million. And I said, how is that possible? You bought it less than a year ago. How do you have offers for $18 million or $20 million, when you bought it for $4.8 million?
He said, well, they were stupid. They made a mistake. Well, I know a lot of real estate people. And I also actually happen to know the people that owned the building. They’re not stupid people. So, I believe that he is using this building as a way to sell it for a lot of money, and he’s using religion as a way to get the price. And I don’t like it.
COOPER: You think he is basically holding out, hoping that maybe, what, the city or somebody will pay him a huge amount of money, more than the property is worth, just to — to move away?
TRUMP: Well, Anderson, you see how poorly the state of New York is run. And we happen to have a great mayor. But, if you look at the state of New York, he’s probably hoping somebody from the state, like the governor, gives him a check for $20 million. And, boy, that’s a nice little profit, when you can quadruple your money in a very short period of time.
So, the people that sold it got $4.8 million, and he thinks it’s worth $20 million. And, you know, if he were saying, look, I want the mosque because I’m a big believer in freedom of religion, Anderson, but I want the mosque, it has to be — it has nothing to do with money, he’s not talking about values and a great deal he made — and he talked about that to me — that would be one thing.
But he was telling me about, you know, how it’s such a great deal and how he did this and that. And then I read stories about him. He’s a low-level real estate guy who, in my opinion, is using religion and the whole thing of a mosque in order to go out and make a big, fat profit.
And I will be willing to bet that, at some point, this will be sold, possibly not to me, probably not to me, but sold.
COOPER: You don’t think they will — a mosque will actually be built at this site?
TRUMP: I don’t think so, no. And I see the — I have major buildings in downtown Manhattan. And I was there yesterday, and I see the level of animosity and all of the problems going on down there. It’s unbelievable. I have never seen anything like it.
And, you know, I actually told him, I said, if you would agree to do this, you would create such goodwill, because, right now, it’s nothing but ill will. You would create such goodwill, you would be a hero. You would be great.
COOPER: Yes.
TRUMP: It would be great for everybody. But I don’t think he’s going to, because I don’t think that’s the kind of guy he is.
COOPER: “The New York Post” quotes a lawyer for Hisham Elzanaty, who I assume is the guy you talked, the man that you made the offer to. He says that he found your letter, that there was a letter that — that was out in the press, that he found your letter that was addressed to him — quote — “somewhat laughable” and that it looks like it was written by a publicist. And he goes on to say that he actually sees — the lawyer says that Elzanaty saw it as an insult.
TRUMP: Well, I actually wrote the letter myself, and I sent the letter to him. But I spoke to him probably even prior to getting the letter — not him, but one of their representatives. He is one of the investors, the man that you just mentioned.
And I thought it was a great idea. I thought — now, had I not seen the articles in the newspaper, Anderson, about, you know, how valuable, what a great deal he made, and, actually, that man, Elzanaty, said, give me $18 million or $20 million and I’m gone, or something to that effect.
So, I see this, and I’m saying to myself, well, wait a minute, the people that owned the building are smart. They sold it for $4.8 million. They are not people that would sell it for $4.8 million if it’s worth $18 million.
So, I figured I would give him a 25 percent profit, which is pretty good in less than a year — I mean, it’s with a flat real estate market — and other things and get this burden off the country, off the city, and let everybody go back to normal and everybody be happy.
I just don’t see him, the man I spoke to, as that kind of a guy. I have watched him. I have seen him interviewed, I believe. And I don’t see — he’s a hard-line guy. And I don’t see that happening.
COOPER: You think this controversy is going to go on for a long time, or do you think this thing will get resolved some way?
TRUMP: Oh, I don’t think you — I don’t think you have seen the worst of it. It’s going to get worse and worse. And I really think it’s going to be very hard to get it built. I think construction workers are going to stop it. I think a lot of people are going to try and stop it.
And I thought my idea could be a way that, in every way, everybody benefits, except me, because I don’t even like the location. You want to know the truth, I don’t like — it’s probably the worst location I would have. So, I’m not a fan. I put it in my letter. I said, I’m making you this offer despite the fact I don’t even like the building or the location, but I’m doing it in order to create peace.
So, frankly, I think it’s going to get worse, and maybe far worse, before it gets better, Anderson.
COOPER: He has rejected, but is your offer still on the table?
TRUMP: Absolutely.
COOPER: Donald Trump…
TRUMP: And I told him, 24-hour closing, immediate, immediate closing.
COOPER: You got the cash?
TRUMP (chuckles): I definitely do.
COOPER: Donald Trump, appreciate your time. Thanks.
TRUMP: Thank you, Anderson.
COOPER: He definitely has the cash.
You can see a lot more of Donald Trump Monday night, when he sits down with Larry King. That’s “LARRY KING LIVE” Monday 9:00 Eastern time.
