Trump Model Management

Trump Model Management
Company typePrivate
IndustryFashion
Founded1999
FounderDonald Trump
Defunct2017
HeadquartersNew York City, New York, U.S.
OwnerDonald Trump
Websitetrumpmodels.com (archived)

Trump Model Management, later shortened to T Management, was a New York City-based modeling agency founded by Donald Trump as T Models in 1999. It was closed by Trump in April 2017, shortly after he became U.S. president.[1][2]

While the agency had a respectable "legends" division, its new talent division never launched the career of a new model,[3] and was considered to be an inconsequential agency when it folded.[4]

History

In October 2014, Trump Model Management was sued by model Alexia Palmer. Palmer alleged that 80% of her wages were taken away from her as "expenses" and that she had been paid less than $4000 over a two-year period. The lawsuit was dismissed in March 2016.[5]

In July 2015, it was reported that Trump Model Management and Trump Management Group LLC combined had requested US visas for almost 250 international fashion models.[6]

In August 2016, former Trump models alleged that they had worked for the agency without the company having obtained proper work visas on their behalf.[7][8][9]

In September 2016, Senator Barbara Boxer called on United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to investigate the allegations.[10]

In 2016 and early 2017, the company saw senior staff departing to start new agencies, and models announcing departures from the company, with some citing concerns about Trump’s politics. [3]

In April 2017, after Trump was inaugurated as U.S president, it was announced that the agency would be closed down.[11][12]

Represented models (past)

See also

References

  1. ^ Kranish, Michael; Fisher, Marc (2016). Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781508226758. His new agency, originally conceived as Trump Models Inc., ended up with the name T Models...
  2. ^ The New Revolutionaries: An Inside Look at the Rebels and Reformers Running for the White House. Time Inc. Books. 2016. ISBN 9781618934543. 1999: Founded Trump Model Management, extending a brand eventually attached to...
  3. ^ a b Givhan, Robin (April 3, 2017). "Trump Models might be running out of models". Washington Post. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Saner, Emine (April 11, 2017). "The end of Trump Models: an 'inconsequential agency' mired by boycotts". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Cam, Deniz (2016-03-23). "Trump Model Management Lawsuit Dismissed By Federal Judge". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  6. ^ "Exclusive: Donald Trump's companies have sought visas to import at..." Reuters. 1 August 2015 – via www.reuters.com.
  7. ^ James West (2016-08-30). "Former Models for Donald Trump's Agency Say They Violated Immigration Rules and Worked Illegally". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  8. ^ Deena Zaru (31 August 2016). "Former model: Trump agency skirted visa laws". CNN. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  9. ^ Garcia, Feliks (August 30, 2016). "Donald Trump modeling agency 'encouraged models to work in US illegally'". The Independent. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  10. ^ Nelson, Louis (2016-09-07). "Sen. Boxer calls for probe into Trump Model Management". Politico. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  11. ^ Sommerfeldt, Chris (April 11, 2017). "President Trump's embattled modeling agency will reportedly shut down amid immigration controversy". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Jacobs, Sarah (April 10, 2017). "Trump's Controversial Modeling Agency Is Shutting Down". Time. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
  13. ^ "Melania Knauss - Fashion Model - Models - Photos, Editorials & Latest News". www.fashionmodeldirectory.com.
  14. ^ a b c Helmire, Edward (February 13, 2017). "'The Trump name is becoming toxic': model agency faces rumored boycott". The Guardian. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  15. ^ Edelman, Adam (August 30, 2016). "Models for Donald Trump's 'crooked' modeling agency say they worked in U.S. illegally under conditions that resembled 'modern-day slavery'". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2023.

Media related to Trump Model Management at Wikimedia Commons