Apparent plans by former President Donald Trump to reside at his resort in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, may violate a 1993 agreement with the city of Palm Beach, which limits his stay to seven consecutive days and 21 days a year .
After leaving Washington, DC hours before President Joe Biden took office, Trump and his wife Melania moved to the Palm Springs estate. The change of address, which occurred more than a week ago, since the couple left the White House, could pose a long-term problem.
Upon his arrival in Florida, the former president was greeted by a small crowd holding signs like “Pres. Trump Won” and “Welcome Home”. Others, however, were not very enthusiastic about his return.
According to the Associated Press (AP), one of Trump’s neighbors sent a letter to the city last month urging authorities to enforce the deal, fearing that the long-term president of the poor will reduce property values.
The deal appears not to have been strictly enforced during Trump’s presidency. In his first year in office, it was estimated that Trump spent at least 50 days in Mar-a-Lago.
Kirk Blouin, Palm Beach city manager, said Newsweek the matter is “under legal review” by the city attorney, adding that the matter may be discussed at the next city council meeting on February 9.
Disillusionment with Trump’s presidency is supposedly palpable in his own state. Laurence Leamer, author of Mar-a-Lago: Inside the gates of power at Donald Trump’s presidential palace, said MSNBC many of the resort’s members are abandoning him in an effort to cut any ties to Trump.
“It is a very discouraged place,” he said.
After Trump moved his Trump Tower residence in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in 2019, Leamer said residents of the South Florida city were not satisfied: “Even here, people don’t like him.”
Last week, the board of a West Palm Beach condominium called Trump Plaza voted unanimously to change the building’s name after the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Although Trump has not owned the building since 1991, his name has been retained for branding purposes. “Most of us are relieved that the name will finally come out of the buildings,” said a condominium owner. The Palm Beach Post.
Trump bought Mar-a-Lago for $ 10 million in 1985 from the property of General Foods owner Marjorie Merriweather Post. He spent a fortune renovating the property, according to the AP. Finding himself in financial trouble in the early 1990s, the property tycoon struck a deal with the city of Palm Beach to convert his part-time residence into a private club. As part of the deal, Trump would be treated like any other member of Mar-a-Lago.
According to the AP, Trump used to train with his Palm Beach residents before his presidency. The real estate tycoon reportedly displayed a refusal to comply with local regulations. Neighbors reported excessive noise and traffic, as well as a huge US flag placed without proper authorization.
Trump signaled a return to politics this week, when he received minority leader in the House Kevin McCarthy in Mar-a-Lago to discuss the resumption of control of the House in 2022. The visit comes at a tense time for the Republican Party, after 10 Republicans voted to impeach Trump following the Capitol riots.
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