Trump in Vegas

Chairman,

Trump

University

trump n: 1. a. A suit in card games that outranks all other suits for the duration of a hand. b. A card of such a suit. c. A trump card. 2. A key resource to be used at an opportune moment. 3.

Informal A reliable or admirable person.

On July 12 I will be breaking ground on the Trump International Hotel & Tower. Starting a new building is always a big deal, but this one is particularly special. It represents my first real estate foray into

Las Vegas, and it's the fulfillment of a dream. Also, this event announces to everyone that within two-and-a-half years, on that very spot the tallest hotel in

Las Vegas will stand. It's the beginning of a process that will culminate with my name blazing high atop the neon swirl of the iconic Vegas strip.

Adding to this moment's big-time drama is the fact that it will conjure the image of a soon-to-be Vegas landmark standing right across the road from Wynn Las Vegas. That's the signature property of my one-time nemesis, Steve Wynn. Wynn, of course, is the longtime cock of the walk in Vegas. He reinvented the Strip with such mega resorts as The Mirage,

Treasure Island, and the Bellagio. Wynn Las Vegas, though, is the first building that he has put his name on.

Steve Wynn and I go way back. We squared off over the Hilton properties in

Atlantic City back in the '80s. Both of us have always built big, and we have the egos to match. With us, it used to be like the old western stand-off, "This town's not big enough for the both of us." Now, a lot of years, a lot of buildings (and several wives) later we're good friends. Steve is a great guy and a man after my own heart. He was at my wedding, and I'm no stranger to his social circle. Back in the day, though, the competition was fierce.

I like competition. I think it's healthy. More importantly, it has a lot to do with who I am today. My battles have always fired me up; they push me to expand and extend my efforts beyond what I thought was possible. They force me to outdo myself. Ultimately, they have made me bigger.

Las Vegas has a storied past, and it means a lot of things to a lot of people. For me, it's the western frontier and represents the expansion of my eastern gaming interests. I've already had a huge hand in shaping the landscape of

Atlantic City, so Vegas is a major challenge--the sort of larger-than-life canvas I've always been attracted to. I hesitate to say that my arrival in Vegas was somehow cosmic--"in the stars" so to speak--but given that my name is Trump, it was certainly in the cards.