The New York City business mogul arrived with scores to settle in Chicago. He has sparred with architecture critics and local politicians over the controversial “Trump” sign on his Downtown skyscraper at Wabash Avenue and the Chicago River, insisting, “everybody loves it,” even after Mayor Rahm Emanuel said it left the building “scarred,” and Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) called it “extremely tasteless.”
He defended it Monday as well.
“I’m very proud of the building we have in Chicago,” he said. “The sign, people love it. I said that it would be the ‘Hollywood’ sign of Chicago. That’s what it is.”
He said he saw people lining up along the river to take photos in front of it when he got into town.
Trump has also had to defend himself against charges of bait-and-switch sales tactics at Trump Tower.
More recently, Trump has bridled over being depicted as a clown by the New York Daily News when he announced his candidacy for president earlier this month.
He said he is out to revive American prestige, adding, “Today, we’re a laughingstock, a joke. We’re all a bunch of clowns.”
State Republican Party Chairman and Cook County Commissioner Timothy Schneider (Bartlett) said he was keeping an open mind on whether Trump would emerge as a serious candidate or a distraction on the campaign trail. “I think he’s a remarkable entrepreneur,” Schneider said, adding, “I’m gonna let the voters decide that.”
Article Appeared @http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150629/river-north/donald-trump-tells-chicago-crowd-i-love-mexican-people