In fact, Trump does not own the buildings in Istanbul. As is common in Trump Land, he licenses his brand to the real owner, in this case Turkish businessman Aydin Dogan, who is reported to be a close ally of—wait for it—Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump has collected up to $17 million in royalties from Trump Towers Istanbul since 2012, when the towers opened—with Erdogan in attendance.
