NYC To Cancel All Trump Business Contracts

On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said they will cancel all Trump business contracts with the city. De Blasio also charged President Donald Trump with “criminal activity” and “inciting an insurrection against the United State government.” The Trump organizations' contracts with the city will end because of Trump’s actions, which “clearly constitutes criminal activity.”

RELATED: Longtime Lender Deutsche Bank Ditches Trump

Appearing on the MSNBC “Morning Joe” show, de Blasio said: I’m here to announce that the city of New York is severing all contacts with the Trump Organization. Our legal team has done an assessment and the contracts make very clear: if a company, the leadership of that company engage in a criminal activity we have the right to sever the contract. Inciting an insurrection — let’s be clear; I’m going to say these words again — inciting an insurrection against the United States government clearly constitutes criminal activity. So the city of New York will no longer have anything to do with the Trump Organization; they have profited from these contracts; they will profit no longer.

Four Contracts

The Trump organization’s contracts cover the operations for two ice skating rinks at Central Park, the Central Park Carousel, and the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. The rinks, Wollman Rink, and Lasker Rink have contracts set to expire in April. De Blasio said that the Trump Organization earns around $17.9 million a year from these four contracts. 

Termination of the contract for Wollman and Lasker rinks will take effect 30 days after delivery of the notice. Meanwhile, the Carousel, which is currently closed due to the pandemic, will have 25 days to close its operation after delivery of the written notice. However, ending the contract for the Ferry Point golf course in the Bronx is not as easy as the above three. City officials expect the termination and handover to take a number of months to work out.  

Trump Vows To Fight de Blasio

The mayor expects the Trump organization to put up a fight. De Blasio said that “Of course, we know the history of the Trump Organization; they’ll likely challenge us in court, but we’re on strong legal ground. We’re very clear about that.” He added: “They have profited from these contracts. They will profit no longer.” 

In fact, the Trump Organization did announce plans to contest the pre-termination of their contacts. The company issued a statement where it said the action is “Yet another example of Mayor de Blasio's incompetence and blatant disregard for the facts.” The Trump Organization insisted that “The City of New York has no legal right to end our contracts and if they elect to proceed they will owe The Trump Organization over $30 million. This is nothing more than political discrimination and we plan to fight it vigorously.”

Business Partners Distance Themselves from Trump

New York City’s move to cancel Trump's business contracts is the latest in a series of moves where business partners began distancing themselves away from the President. Earlier this week, Trump’s long time lender, Deutsche Bank, announced it will no longer do business with him or his organizations. 

On Wednesday, global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield said it will sever its business ties with the Trump Organization. Previously, Cushman managed several offices and retail properties for the Trump Organization. This includes New York City's Trump Tower, Trump Plaza, the Trump Building at 40 Wall Street, and the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago.

Trump’s Name Will Remain in NYC

As it is, it will take more than canceled contracts to disassociate Donald Trump from New York City. Even if the city successfully cancels the organization’s contracts, removing the Trump brand name from New York City won’t happen just yet. The President will still have the Trump Tower on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. Also, he'll continue enjoying his ownership of the Trump International Hotel on Central Park West.

Watch the NBC New York video reporting that NYC will cancel all its contracts with the Trump Organization:

Do you agree with New York City’s decision to cancel Trump's business contracts? Or, do you find this as another case of trying to humiliate the President? Let us know what you think by leaving your comments below!