**JUST IN: Trump Tower Sold at Auction for $412M — New Owner Revealed Today | Rachel Maddow ⚡**

In a stunning and symbolic conclusion to one of the most closely watched financial sagas in recent American history, Trump Tower — the iconic Fifth Avenue skyscraper that served as the glittering centerpiece of Donald J. Trump’s personal brand for more than four decades — was sold at public auction this morning for $412 million. The winning bidder, revealed shortly after the gavel fell at 11:14 a.m. ET, is a consortium led by Vornado Realty Trust and a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, marking the end of the Trump family’s direct ownership of the building that once defined their public image.

The sale, overseen by court-appointed receivers under the supervision of New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, satisfies a portion of the $489 million civil-fraud judgment (plus accrued interest) imposed on Trump and the Trump Organization in February 2024. After multiple failed appeals and the exhaustion of all legal avenues, the property was seized in late January 2026 and listed for auction with a minimum bid of $350 million. Bidding opened online at 9:00 a.m. and concluded in just 87 minutes — far shorter than many observers expected — with the final price landing at $412 million after a brief but intense competition among five qualified bidders.

Rachel Maddow, hosting a special segment on MSNBC moments after the sale closed, called it “the single most visible and humiliating financial consequence of Trump’s long legal reckoning.” She continued: “This is not just the sale of a building. This is the sale of a myth. Trump Tower was the physical embodiment of the brand — gold elevators, marble lobbies, the name in giant letters across the top. Today that name came down, and with it a huge piece of the story Donald Trump has told about himself for 40 years.”

The building’s commercial floors (retail, office and hotel-condo units) were sold separately from the residential penthouse, which remains vested solely in Melania Trump under a 2018 post-nuptial amendment. The new owners plan to rebrand the property as “Fifth Avenue Tower” and have already announced renovations that will remove most Trump-branded signage and interior elements over the next 18–24 months. The famous gold escalators and lobby will be preserved as “historic features” but stripped of the Trump name and logo.

Trump responded with characteristic fury on Truth Social at 11:37 a.m. ET:

“They just SOLD my beautiful Trump Tower for PENNIES on the dollar! $412 million? It’s worth BILLIONS! Crooked Letitia James, corrupt Judge Engoron and the radical left STOLE it from me because they can’t beat me politically. This is THEFT! The new owners are globalists who hate America. We will FIGHT BACK and get it BACK — BIGGER and BETTER!!!”

The post has been viewed more than 94 million times but has also drawn widespread mockery. Memes depicting Trump waving goodbye to the tower while holding a tiny model of it quickly went viral, while others photoshopped the iconic gold “T” being replaced with a giant “L” for “loser.”

The financial implications are staggering. Real-estate experts estimate the commercial portions of Trump Tower were valued between $550 million and $750 million before legal troubles eroded market confidence. The $412 million sale price — while above the $350 million reserve — represents a steep discount and leaves a significant shortfall against the full $489 million judgment (now exceeding $510 million with interest). Trump remains personally liable for the balance, and several major creditors have already filed motions to accelerate loans secured by other Trump properties.

Politically, the sale is a devastating visual metaphor at a moment when Trump’s influence is already waning. Impeachment articles are advancing in the House, disqualification proceedings are pending in the Senate, four top lawyers resigned last week, and a federal grand jury in Georgia is hearing new evidence from Mark Meadows. The image of Trump Tower — once a symbol of unassailable wealth and success — now stripped of his name and sold at auction has become a powerful symbol of decline.

Acting President JD Vance, who has struggled to assert independence from Trump’s shadow, issued a brief statement: “Private commercial transactions are outside my purview. My focus remains on governing and restoring stability.” Privately, Vance allies say the sale “further isolates Trump” and allows the administration to move forward without constant distraction.

Public reaction has been polarized but overwhelming. A flash poll from Siena College shows 64% of Americans view the sale as “fair enforcement of the law,” including 42% of Republicans. Pro-Trump rallies in Florida drew thousands chanting “Give Trump back his tower!” while counter-demonstrations in New York carried signs reading “Pay what you owe.”

Late-night hosts wasted no time. Jimmy Kimmel opened his monologue with: “Trump Tower just sold for $412 million — less than it cost to build the gold letters on top. That’s not a sale — that’s a clearance rack.” Stephen Colbert ran a mock auction skit: “Going once… going twice… sold to the highest bidder who isn’t named Trump!”

As the new owners begin rebranding and Trump’s legal team scrambles to challenge the sale, one thing is already clear: the tower that once stood as the ultimate monument to his success has now become the most visible monument to his fall.

Whether Trump can rally his base, negotiate a last-minute settlement, or mount a successful appeal remains uncertain. But today, the gold letters came down — and with them, an era.