{"id":19270,"date":"2017-03-14T14:47:54","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T19:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=19270"},"modified":"2017-03-18T10:12:58","modified_gmt":"2017-03-18T15:12:58","slug":"trumps-panama-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/trumps-panama-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Panama Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ricardo Martinelli, the ex-president of Panama facing extradition on corruption charges, helped him launch his first international property.<\/p>\n

Fast Company posted this article written by Anna Lenzer<\/p>\n

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It was a big moment for Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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On July 6, 2011, the future president was beaming as he celebrated the opening of his first international real-estate deal, the Ocean Club in Panama City, Panama. The flashy hotel-condo complex featured a 72-story tower that transformed the skyline of the city with its sail-shaped design. After a ceremony featuring dancers in traditional Panamanian dress, Trump stood at a podium, flanked by his two oldest sons, Don Jr. and Eric, paused during his remarks, gently leaned over and offered a special thanks to Ricardo Martinelli, the president of Panama.\u201cYou\u2019re my friend. Great honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Standing next to Trump\u2019s children, Martinelli smiled back. The white-haired, stocky president was flattered, proud of the fact that the complex had the potential to transform his small country into a destination for the rich and famous. As they both delivered their remarks that afternoon, the sky broke open and a torrential rain flooded the streets, turning the peninsula on which the complex stood into a \u201cswamp island.\u201d<\/a> Trump and Martinelli had to ride out through the flooded streets in their separate chauffeured SUVs.<\/p>\n