Trump Unauthorized

Real estate developer Fred Trump talks on the phone while his son, Donald, stacks building blocks on a window sill overlooking Manhattan. The scene establishes the family dynamic and foreshadows the ambitious urban projects to come. It frames Donald's drive to enter a competitive real estate world from an early age.

Against his father's advice, Donald travels to Manhattan to launch his own real estate career during a recession. He faces skepticism but remains determined to prove himself in a tough market. This move sets the stage for his later, larger-scale ambitions.

Donald proposes redeveloping the Penn Central railyard into a convention center. He gains the support of New York City Mayor Beame, but struggles to attract financiers for such a massive project. The funding hurdle becomes a recurring obstacle in his early ambitions.

Donald hires lawyer Peter Wennik to guide him through complex deals and negotiations. Wennik becomes a key adviser as Donald pursues increasingly ambitious ventures. This hiring signals a shift toward more calculated, high-stakes business strategies.

Donald meets Ivana Zelníčková and they marry, despite her initial reluctance to sign a prenuptial agreement. The marriage introduces a new dimension to his public image and business dealings. Their partnership becomes intertwined with his branding and development efforts.

Donald purchases the aging Commodore Hotel with plans to renovate it and attract financiers for larger ventures. Fred criticizes Ivana taking charge of the interior design, arguing she is not a professional designer. The hotel project marks a turning point toward high-profile urban redevelopment.

Ivana is put in charge of the Commodore's interior design, a decision that meets Fred's critique due to her lack of professional credentials. The tension between family roles and business decisions surfaces in the design choices. The hotel's style becomes a talking point in Donald's broader branding efforts.

Donald buys the Bonwit Teller building to demolish it for Trump Tower and seeks air rights from an adjacent Tiffany store. Architect Der Scutt designs two options: an attractive version and an unflattering one that Donald threatens to approve if air rights aren’t sold. The maneuvering marks a decisive escalation in his development strategy.

Air rights are secured and construction on Trump Tower begins. Donald is frustrated when the completed building is officially 58 stories, but he insists on branding it as a 68-story structure. The height dispute becomes a symbol of his willingness to push boundaries for the project.

Fred Trump Jr., Donald’s brother who struggles with alcoholism, dies of a massive heart attack. The loss weighs heavily on Donald and adds a personal tragedy to the high-pressure business environment. His brother's death casts a shadow over the early successes of his tower and branding efforts.

Trump Tower opens two years after construction began, signaling a major milestone in Donald's real estate ascent. He remains unsettled by his brother’s death, feeling his absence at the moment of success. The opening reinforces the importance of branding and visibility in his plans.

Donald shifts some focus to Atlantic City, planning the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino. He enlists his brother Robert to oversee casino plans and convinces Harrah's to join as a partner after staging site activity to imply progress. The partnership expands his branding into a new revenue stream.

Donald discovers that the world’s tallest building is not in New York and unveils Television City on the Penn Central site, but Mayor Ed Koch rejects the plan. He later completes the Wollman Rink renovation after earlier failures, though Koch still blocks approval for Television City. The arc shows a clash between ambitious development and political limits.

Peter Wennik, Donald's lawyer and adviser, is killed in a helicopter crash, a tragedy used to generate publicity as Donald claims he would have been on the flight. The event sharpens the media narrative around his business and life. It underscores the dangers and dramatic storytelling surrounding his empire.

Donald brings Marla Maples to the grand opening of the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, following a publicized Aspen feud with Ivana about Marla. On opening night, half the slot machines are shut down, and Robert resigns from overseeing the casino projects. With billions in debt, he seeks additional financing to sustain his brand, navigating a precarious path toward recovery.