"He came to the country, and he had to make a deal with me because he needed a place to stay. […] He paid me a fortune," the billionaire said in an interview with CBS’ "Face the Nation" show.
Trump was talking about an incident in 2009 when Gaddafi arrived in New York for a speech at the 64th UN General Assembly. His assistants were searching desperately for a place to install Gaddafi’s Bedouin-style tent.
After failed attempts to secure space in Central Park and some other New York locations the Libyan government turned to Trump who owned an estate in suburban Bedford.
A tent used by Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi is photographed Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 in Bedford, N.Y.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Despite protests from local authorities the tent was finally pitched. However, Gaddafi never stayed at the property.
"Never got to stay there. And it became sort of a big joke," Trump added.
He also admitted that at the time he had no idea that it was the former Libyan leader who rented his suburban estate.
