Carl Icahn Blasts Trump Taj Mahal Union And Healthcare Plan In New Letter

Carl Icahn in a letter published Thursday blasted Taj Mahal's INITEHERE Health plan and the employees union organization.

Responding to what Icahn said are "grossly inaccurate statements," he said that he is not against healthcare plans for employees nor is he against unions. Rather, he is against unions that "squeeze" profits from the employees and employers.

Icahn added that the employee union leadership is attempting to hold a bankrupt business hostage by threatening labor unrest if they do not receive "exorbitant" payments into their "highly profitable healthcare scheme."

Demanding 'Exorbitant Contributions'

Icahn has committed to lending the Taj Mahal up to $80 million so that it can "be a great hotel once again" but has come under scrutiny by union leaders and employees who have staged demonstrations against such a move.

"Over the last five years, while the Taj Mahal has gone bankrupt not just once, but twice, your UNITEHERE Health plan has made $140 million in net income," Icahn wrote. "Yet even against the backdrop of your employer entering bankruptcy for the second time in five years, your union leadership continues to demand that the Taj make exorbitant contributions to the profitable UNITEHERE Health plan, or else suffer labor unrest. But ask yourself – where has that $140 million in net income even gone? Certainly it did nothing to help the Taj Mahal, which continues to lose millions of dollars every month."

'I Have Done My Part'

Icahn added that he believes all that Taj Mahal employees want is to work for a financially stable enterprise with ownership that is willing to invest in the property.

"By committing to lend up to an additional $80 million to the Taj Mahal, I believe I have done my part to enable it to remain open and emerge from bankruptcy," Icahn concluded. "But one thing should be eminently clear – I committed to lend the Taj Mahal up to $80 million so that it can be great hotel once again, not so that it can enrich these union leaders."