President Trump's Controversial Modeling Agency Set to Close

The fashion modeling agency founded by President Trump, Trump Models, is closing its doors after 18 years of business in the glamorous industry. The President had already resigned control of the day-to-day running of the parent company The Trump Organization which is now handled by his sons, Donald Junior and Eric Trump.

On Friday a spokesperson for the Trump Organization told the New York Post, “On the heels of the recent sale of the Miss Universe Organization, the Trump Organization is choosing to exit the modeling industry. While we enjoyed many years of success, we are focused on our core business in the real estate and golf industries and the rapid expansion of our hospitality division.”

Other sources claim the agency had been struggling with defections of models when a former manager, Gabriel Ruas Santos-Rocha, left to create his own agency taking several former Trump models with him. In February it was reported that various groups in the fashion industry, including casting directors, makeup artists, and hair stylists were calling for a full boycott of Trump Models.

The agency had also been under fire since 2016 when an article in Mother Jones magazine reported that the Trump Models might have skirted immigration laws by bringing in young women who didn’t have visas to work in the U.S. 

According to his most recent financial disclosures, the President owned an 85 percent stake in the company he founded in 1999. The agency helped the careers of top fashion models like Mia Kang, Katie Moore, Hollie May Saker, Tiana Tolstoi, and Zhenya Mygovich. Trump lists celebrated models from the past like Carol Alt, Daniela Pestova, Kim Alexis, and Tatiana Patitz in their Legends division.