# Inside the Communist Party's Manhattan headquarters > Trump warns of communism as America's greatest threat, but the Communist Party USA is more landlord than revolutionary. - Title: Inside the Communist Party's Manhattan headquarters | Shortify - Summary: Trump warns of communism as America's greatest threat, but the Communist Party USA is more landlord than revolutionary. The Communist Party USA survives not… - Keywords: communist party usa, donald trump, red scare, manhattan real estate, gus hall, joe sims, chelsea hotel, 235 west 23rd street, marco rubio, markwayne mullin, democratic socialists of america, new york city - Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/09/donald-trump-republicans-communism-new-york.html?via=rss - Author: Alexander Sammon - Published: 2026-09-18T09:40:00+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: communist party usa, donald trump, red scare, manhattan real estate, gus hall, joe sims, chelsea hotel, 235 west 23rd street, marco rubio, markwayne mullin, democratic socialists of america, new york city ## Trump's communist obsession On July Fourth weekend 2026, Trump declared communism a greater threat than World War II or 9/11. He mentioned communism 15 times in a Georgia speech, launching a new Red Scare. > Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. ## Red Scare politics return Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened global officials to combat communism as a transnational threat. Homeland Security Chief Markwayne Mullin claimed the Communist Party sponsored a No Kings rally. ## The Communist Party's actual location The Communist Party USA operates from the seventh floor of a nondescript gray building at 235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, right out in the open. ## Inside the party headquarters Co-chair Joe Sims and office assistant Brooklyn Crawford were the only two people in the office on a late August morning. The walls displayed Lenin cartoons, Che Guevara posters, and gifts from Cuba and Vietnam. > It's not a crime to be a Communist in this country. ## No government action yet Despite Trump's rhetoric, Sims said the party has received no Justice Department demands, congressional subpoenas, or right-wing agitators. The party pays taxes and utilities without incident. ## The office design philosophy The Communist Party's office features glass-walled conference rooms and sustainable materials like bamboo and recycled carpeting. The design reflects an environmentally aligned approach. ## A century of survival The Communist Party has endured the 1950s Red Scare, the Cold War, and the Soviet collapse. It's now over 100 years old but remains a minor player in American politics. ## The party's real asset The Communist Party owns the entire building at 235 West 23rd Street, valued at nearly $10 million. Its primary function now is collecting rent from commercial tenants on the other floors. ## Gus Hall's shrewd moves Party leader Gus Hall purchased the building in the 1970s with a $150,000 mortgage. He also invested party capital in the stock market, building wealth while membership declined. > The struggle between those who own the wealth and those whose labor produces the wealth is one flaw in capitalism that will lead to socialism. ## From occupant to landlord By 2007, the party had renovated the building for $1 million and began leasing four floors to commercial tenants. By 2026, they occupied only one floor while collecting rent. ## The building's financial burden A 2001 party report noted the building had five-digit annual operating expenses and a shabby appearance. The party decided to lease floors to offset costs and maintain the property. ## Membership growth since 2016 The party claims 20,000 membership applications since 2016, with about 4,000 joining since 2022. Only about a third pay dues, making actual membership modest. ## DSA outpaces the Communists The Democratic Socialists of America grew from 6,000 to 120,000 members in a decade. The DSA has elected officials in New York and soon in Congress, while the Communist Party has none. ## Communist Party's electoral ambitions The party stopped running candidates in the 1980s but wants to resume. Sims said a Communist winning a major city election would make front-page news. ## Disagreements with the DSA The Communist Party and DSA sometimes work together but differ on housing policy. The party supports public housing while the DSA backs a privatization-leaning scheme. ## Property ownership hypocrisy While the DSA faced criticism over co-chair Gustavo Gordillo's Brooklyn home, the Communist Party shows no concern about owning a $10 million building. Crawford said they live in capitalism. > We all live in a society where we're trying to live and survive and participate. ## Supporting Democrats to stop fascism The party sees Republicans moving toward fascism and prioritizes helping Democrats win elections. A Democratic House majority would end Republican investigations into communist funding. ## The building's commercial potential Real estate brokers market the 55,362-square-foot building as ideal for AI tech headquarters or fashion agencies. The asking price is $39 per square foot annually. ## Selective about tenants The Communist Party would rent to most organizations but drew the line at Turning Point USA. One tenant, a private equity firm, was unaware the Communist Party owned the building. ## Key takeaway The Communist Party USA survives not through political power but by owning a $10 million Manhattan building and collecting rent from commercial tenants.