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                                                                   Exhibit 10.21

                [TRUMP HOTELS & CASINO RESORTS, INC. LETTERHEAD]

                                                     April 17, 2000

Robert M. Pickus
[ADDRESS]

Dear Mr. Pickus:

     This letter will serve to confirm our understanding and agreement pursuant
to which Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, Inc. ("THCR"), Trump Hotels & Casino
Resorts Holdings, L.P. ("Holdings"), and Trump Atlantic City Associates
("TACA"), (THCR, Holdings and TACA collectively referred to as "Trump") have
agreed to employ you, and you have agreed to be employed by Trump commencing as
of April 17, 2000, and expiring April 16, 2003 ("Expiration Date"), unless
terminated earlier pursuant to Paragraph 12 or 13 hereof:

1.   You shall be employed by Trump in the capacity of Executive Vice President
     and General Counsel, as well as President of Trump Casino Services, LLC, to
     perform such duties as are commonly attendant upon such offices and shall
     report directly to THCR's Chief Executive Officer.

2.   During the term of this Agreement, you shall be paid an annual base salary
     at a rate not less than your current salary, payable periodically in
     accordance with Trump's regular payroll practices.

3.   During each year of your employment with Trump, you shall be eligible to
     receive a bonus in an amount determined in the sole and absolute discretion
     of Trump's Chairman based upon the performance and profitability of Trump.

4.   You shall be afforded coverage under Trump's employee insurance programs in
     such form and at such levels as Trump, in its sole and absolute discretion,
     may hereafter elect to provide for similarly situated executives.

5.   a.   You shall be entitled to participate in Trump's executive benefit
          programs in such form and at such levels as Trump, in its sole and
          absolute discretion, may hereafter elect to provide similarly situated
          executives.

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Robert M. Pickus
April 17, 2000
Page Two

     b.   You shall also have free use of hotel valet and laundry services and
          executive comping privileges at such levels, if any, as Trump in its
          sole and absolute discretion, shall establish from time to time for
          similarly situated executives.

6.   You agree that until the Expiration Date and so long as Trump continues to
     pay your salary as provided herein, you shall not accept employment, either
     as an employee, consultant or independent contractor, with any other casino
     hotel located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. You acknowledge and agree that
     this restrictive covenant is reasonable as to duration, terms and
     geographical area and that the same is necessary to protect the legitimate
     interests of Trump, imposes no undue hardship on you and is not injurious
     to the public.

7.   You hereby agree that throughout the term of this Agreement you shall
     devote your full time, attention and efforts to Trump's business and shall
     not, directly or indirectly, work for, consult with or otherwise engage in
     any other activities of a business nature for any other person or entity,
     without Trump's prior written consent. You will promptly communicate to
     Trump, in writing when requested, and marketing strategies, technical
     designs and concepts, and other ideas pertaining to Trump's business which
     are conceived or developed by you, alone or with others, at any time
     (during or after business hours) while you are employed by Trump. You
     acknowledge that all of those ideas will be Trump's exclusive property. You
     agree to sign any documents which Trump deems necessary to confirm its
     ownership of those ideas, and you agree to otherwise cooperate with Trump
     in order to allow Trump to take full advantage of those ideas.

8.   You acknowledge that you have access to information which is proprietary
     and confidential to Trump. This information includes, but is not limited
     to, (1) the identity of customers and prospects, (2) names, addresses and
     phone numbers of individual contacts, (3) pricing policies, marketing
     strategies, product strategies and methods of operation, and (4) expansion
     plans, management policies and other business strategies and policies. You
     acknowledge and understand that this information must be maintained in
     strict confidence in order for Trump to protect its business and its
     competitive position in the marketplace. Accordingly, both during and after
     termination of your employment, you agree that you will not disclose any of
     this information for any purpose or remove materials containing this
     information from Trump's premises. Upon termination of your employment, you
     will immediately return to Trump all correspondence files, business card
     files, customer and prospect lists, price books, technical data, notes and
     other materials which contain any of this information, and you will not
     retain copies of those materials.

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Robert M. Pickus
April 17, 2000
Page Three

9.   You represent to Trump that there are no restrictions or agreements to
     which you are a party which would be violated by our execution of this
     Agreement and your employment hereunder.

10.  You hereby agree to comply with all of the rules, regulations, policies
     and/or procedures adopted by Trump during the term of this Agreement, as
     well as all applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and
     ordinances.

11.  You hereby represent that you presently hold the New Jersey Casino Control
     Commission ("Commission") license required in connection with your
     employment hereunder and will take appropriate steps to renew said license
     in a timely manner.

12.  Prior to the Expiration Date, Trump may terminate your employment hereunder
     only under the following circumstances (herein referred to as "Cause"):

     (i)       Upon revocation by the Commission of your casino key employee
               license and the exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, or in the
               absence of an appeal, the exhaustion of any appeal period from
               such action;

     (ii)      Your conviction of a crime under the law of any jurisdiction
               which constitutes a disqualifying crime described in N.J.S.A.
               5:12-86;

     (iii)     You shall become permanently disabled and unable to perform the
               essential functions of your position;

     (iv)      You die; or

     (v)       Any breach by you of your duty of trust to Trump, such as theft
               by you from Trump or fraud committed by you upon Trump.

     In the event of a termination pursuant to this paragraph, Trump shall pay
     to you your compensation under Section 2 hereof earned to the date of
     termination and shall have no further liability or obligation to you under
     this Agreement.

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Robert M. Pickus
April 17, 2000
Page Four

13.  You may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Trump at any time
     following a Change of Control, which termination shall be effective on the
     thirtieth day after such notice. For purposes of this Paragraph, a Change
     in Control means (i) the acquisition of Trump or over thirty-five (35%)
     percent of THCR's common stock or equivalent limited partnership interests
     by an unrelated entity, or (ii) the sale or long-term lease of all or
     substantially all of the assets of Trump. In the event of a termination
     pursuant to this Paragraph, you will receive in a lump sum payment the full
     amount of the unpaid compensation payable pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof
     through the Expiration Date and the restrictions contained in Paragraph 6
     hereof shall be null and void.

14.  Trump shall indemnify, defend and hold you harmless, including the payment
     of reasonable attorney fees, if Trump does not directly provide your
     defense, from and against any and all claims made by anyone, including, but
     not limited to, a corporate entity, company, other employee, agent, patron
     or member of the general public with respect to any claim which asserts as
     a basis, any acts, omissions or other circumstances involving the
     performance of your employment duties hereunder unless such claim is based
     upon your gross negligence or any willful and/or wanton act.

15.  You represent that you are a citizen of the United States or that you
     possess the proper visa and/or work permits necessary to perform your
     functions hereunder.

16.  You acknowledge that it would be extremely difficult to measure the damages
     that might result from any breach by you of your promises in Sections 6, 7,
     and 8 of the Employment Contract and that a breach may cause irreparable
     injury to Trump which could not be compensated by money damages.
     Accordingly, Trump will be entitled to enforce this Employment Contract by
     obtaining a court order prohibiting you (and any others involved) from
     breaching this Agreement. If a court decides that any part of this
     Agreement is too broad, the court may limit that part and enforce it as
     limited.

17.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
     laws of the State of New Jersey and in any lawsuit involving this
     Agreement, I consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal
     court located in New Jersey. This Agreement represents the entire agreement
     between the parties, superceding all previous agreements, including the
     January 15, 1998 letter agreement, and may not be modified, amended,
     extended or renewed without the written agreement of both parties.

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Robert M. Pickus
April 17, 2000
Page Five

     If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, kindly sign and
return to me the duplicate copy of this letter enclosed herewith.

Very truly yours,

TRUMP HOTELS & CASINO RESORTS, INC.
TRUMP HOTELS & CASINO RESORTS HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:  Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, Inc.
         General Partner
                  And

TRUMP ATLANTIC CITY ASSOCIATES
By: Trump Atlantic City Holding, Inc.
         General Partner

                                                  Agreed and Consented to:

BY:      /s/ Donald J. Trump                      /s/ Robert M. Pickus
         -------------------                      --------------------
         DONALD J. TRUMP                          ROBERT M. PICKUS
         Chairman

                                                  May 2, 2000
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