Between 2008 and 2011, 1 in every 8 murders in Atlantic City took place at Trump's Taj Mahal casino


For a period between 2008 and 2011, one in every eight murders in Atlantic City took place at Donald Trump's Taj Mahal casino. During that same period of time, there was not a single slaying at any other casino in the city, The Daily Beast reports.
The staggering number of homicides apparently stems from slashes to the Taj's security budget, which left one guard to patrol the casino's 11-story garage as well as the "entire perimeter of the property, two surface parking lots, valet parking areas, porte cochere entrance, and the bus lobby." Four people were killed at the Taj Mahal over the course of those three years, during which the average number of homicides in the city was only 11.
Though Trump owned a portion of the casino at the time, he wasn't managing daily operations — a member of New Jersey's Gaming Control Commission assured The Daily Beast that the security cuts and homicide spike "wasn't the fault of Mr. Trump." But while Trump didn't have day-to-day control of the building, he was still the chairman of the company's board, boasting 10 days before the 2008 stabbing death of Arthur Prince outside the casino that, "We're really happy with what's happened with the Taj Mahal."
Subscribe to 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.
Yet even following the 2010 kidnapping and murder of a man from the Taj Mahal's parking garage, criminal complaints arising from the car garage continued to increase 86 percent over the next two years. In fact, only 16 months after the 2010 murder, a couple was shot and killed in a carjacking in the garage.
Somewhat ironically, Trump has vowed that if he becomes president, national security will be a priority. However, his opponents have argued that America will actually be less safe with him at the helm. And indeed, if Trump were to run the country anything like he oversaw at the Taj, they might just be on to something.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county