New US President Donald Trump once planned to build another Trump Tower at Broadbeach

DONALD Trump is today President of the USA and the world’s most powerful man. But just eight years ago he planned a multi-million dollar hotel on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast almost had its very own Trump Tower.

DONALD Trump is today President of the USA and the world’s most powerful man.

But just a decade ago the billionaire property developer had his eyes on the Gold Coast with plans to open a hotel at Broadbeach.

The year was 2008, Kevin Rudd was in the lodge, Barack Obama was months away from being elected and “The Donald” was preparing to do his Art of the Deal with a pair of local developers.

Donald Trump became US President this morning.

Developers George Raptis and Larry Matthews were planning a new hotel in Broadbeach on the site of the Niecon Plaza and hoped to attract the superstar developer to become a partner in the project.

The project was to be known as Trump Tower, sharing its name with the new President’s home and pride — the famous 68-storey New York high-rise which opened in 1983.

The Gold Coast tower was to be 55-storeys, with 20 operated as a hotel by the Trump Organisation and a further 30 levels of apartments.

Donald Trump in 2008 when he was proposing a new hotel in Dubai, at the same time he was negotiating to build the Gold Coast project.

Mr Matthews reportedly came up with the idea when he played golf at one of Mr Trump’s golf courses in Los Angeles but did not speak with him at the time.

He and his partner later wrote to Mr Trump and met with his son Eric in New York.

After reviewing the idea, the group met with the billionaire developer who was reportedly keen to do the deal.

Trump Tower in New York City.

Mr Trump was even due to fly into the Gold Coast in late 2008 to check out the property market himself ahead of conduction his Think Like a Billionaire seminar.

He was quoted as saying ``If I do something in Australia, I’d want to have a partner in Australia.”

Had the deal gone ahead, the tower would have been managed by the Trump organisation with its branding, similar to Sunland’s Palazzo Versace.

President Donald Trump speaking yesterday at a pre-Inaugural "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

But just two months before his expected visit the global economy went into free fall, scuttling the deal despite negotiations being well advanced and both parties being close to signing a formal deal.

Ultimately, Mr Trump’s visit was cancelled and the project never went ahead.

Experienced developer and former councillor Norm Rix said the Trump saga was just one of several occasions in which big-name investors had looked to operate on the Gold Coast.

“At the time it would have be huge for the Gold Coast because Trump was one of the biggest hotel operators in the world,” he said.

The Trump deal fell over during the global financial crisis.

“Over the years we have had everyone from sultans to Middle Eastern princes wanted to invest here and have not done too badly at all.

“Frankly I believe Mr Trump will be good for the US.”

In recent years Mr Raptis and Mr Matthews have gained approval to build a two-tower project on the site called Albert Avenue which is yet to go ahead.

The two-tower development now planned for the site of the Trump Tower.