Report: Trump Organization planned to give Putin $50 million penthouse in Trump Tower Moscow

During the 2016 campaign, the Trump Organization wanted to give Russian President Vladimir Putin a $50 million penthouse in Trump Tower Moscow, four people with knowledge of the matter told BuzzFeed News.
Two law enforcement officials said Michael Cohen, President Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, met with a representative of Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, to discuss the plan. Real estate promoter Felix Sater told BuzzFeed News he worked on the plan with Cohen, and they thought if Putin was in Trump Tower Moscow, wealthy movers and shakers would follow. "In Russia, the oligarchs would bend over backwards to live in the same building as Vladimir Putin," he said. Trump Tower Moscow was never built.
On Thursday, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to the Senate about Trump's business dealings in Russia. Cohen had testified the Trump Tower Moscow deal collapsed in January 2016, but court documents state he later admitted the deal moved forward beyond that. It's not clear if Trump knew about the plan to give the penthouse to Putin, BuzzFeed News reports; in court documents, Cohen said he regularly briefed Trump and his family on the negotiations in Moscow.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein