More than 125 firefighters raced to Trump Tower in New York City’s Midtown Manhattan today, where smoke could be seen billowing from the rooftop of Donald Trump’s lavish home.
One firefighter and a civilian were injured, Associated Press reports. The president was in Washington DC at the time.
Eric Trump, the president’s son, said there was a small electrical fire in a cooling tower on the rooftop and that the fire department arrived at the scene within minutes.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Firefighters appeared to have the blaze under control within an hour, NBC News says.
Completed in 1983, the 58-storey tower contains offices, restaurants, a hotel and Trump’s private residence.
First Lady Melania Trump and son Barron lived in the residence for the first few months of Trump’s presidency, before moving to the White House.
Trump commissioned architect Der Scutt to create an imposing, dominating structure that the Trump Tower website describes as “a world-famous testament of Mr Trump’s grand vision”.
The formidably minimalist exterior contrasts with eye-wateringly lavish interiors. A 1984 New York Magazine article described how the peach-tone marble amplifies the “gurgling of a dramatic 80ft waterfall as well as the voices of those who’ve come to gawk at the opulent decor and the six floors of expensive shops”.
-
The world’s most romantic hotelsThe Week Recommends Treetop hideaways, secluded villas and a woodland cabin – perfect settings for Valentine’s Day
-
Democrats push for ICE accountabilityFeature U.S. citizens shot and violently detained by immigration agents testify at Capitol Hill hearing
-
The price of sporting gloryFeature The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics kicked off this week. Will Italy regret playing host?
-
Trump links funding to name on Penn StationSpeed Read Trump “can restart the funding with a snap of his fingers,” a Schumer insider said
-
Trump reclassifies 50,000 federal jobs to ease firingsSpeed Read The rule strips longstanding job protections from federal workers
-
Is the Gaza peace plan destined to fail?Today’s Big Question Since the ceasefire agreement in October, the situation in Gaza is still ‘precarious’, with the path to peace facing ‘many obstacles’
-
Vietnam’s ‘balancing act’ with the US, China and EuropeIn the Spotlight Despite decades of ‘steadily improving relations’, Hanoi is still ‘deeply suspicious’ of the US as it tries to ‘diversify’ its options
-
Trump demands $1B from Harvard, deepening feudSpeed Read Trump has continually gone after the university during his second term
-
Trump’s Kennedy Center closure plan draws ireSpeed Read Trump said he will close the center for two years for ‘renovations’
-
Trump's ‘weaponization czar’ demoted at DOJSpeed Read Ed Martin lost his title as assistant attorney general
-
Gabbard faces questions on vote raid, secret complaintSpeed Read This comes as Trump has pushed Republicans to ‘take over’ voting
