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A Trump Tower Apartment Was Up For Grabs On Airbnb

The listing was available from at least September 2016 until last week, according to The New York Times.
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"There are all sorts of unique options like lofts and tree houses," an Airbnb host and guest says in a promotional video. 

Another guest and host adds, "We like to stay on boats or unusual accommodations like hobbit houses."

Or in the same building the President of the United States calls home. According to The New York Times, people could book an apartment in Trump Tower through Airbnb until last week. The listing went down after the paper reached out to corporate for comment.

The ability to rent an apartment in the building has raised a lot of security questions — especially since Trump Tower is still home to first lady Melania Trump and the couple's son, Barron. The Times reports the apartment appeared to have bookings through this coming May before the listing was removed.

Most of the short-term rentals were likely illegal under New York law.

The state recently passed a law making it illegal to rent units like apartments and condos for the short-term on websites like Airbnb.

It was already illegal to rent out most apartments for less than 30 days in the state.

Like other Airbnb listings, the address of the building wasn't displayed — and neither was the name Trump Tower. But there were hints in the description, according to the Times.

The unit had reportedly been listed since September 2016. So how could it go on for so long, especially since Trump Tower residents aren't allowed to rent their units through Airbnb? 

The paper reports the host told guests to say they were a guest of hers, rather than saying they booked through the website. 

According to one guest interviewed by the Times, Secret Service agents just checked his identification and didn't ask any more questions after he said he was staying in the building.