When Trump turned his private residence into a social club, he agreed with the city to limit his stays at Mar-a-Lago, and now some Palm Beach residents say he is violating that agreement.
Trump bought the old Marjorie Merriweather Post property in 1985 and subsequently turned it into a member-only club in 1993. The plan was – as with most Trump deals – to make a profit. However, in order to turn private residency into a revenue-generating business, Trump had to agree to certain limitations, based on the guidelines presented as business breakers in Palm Beach.
For example, there could be no more than 500 members, there were rules on parking and traffic, and club members – Trump included – could not spend more than seven consecutive days in Mar-a-Lago, or no more than three weeks total. one year.
At the time, after several appearances at city council meetings by Trump and his lawyers to plead his case for approval of the property’s evolution, Trump agreed to comply with the 21-day rule. Your signature is in the agreement.
Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago on January 20, skipping President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
“This matter is under legal review by our municipal attorney, John ‘Skip’ Randolph,” Palm Beach city manager Krik Blouin told CNN by email, adding that “Mr. Randolph is reviewing the Declaration Agreement of Use and our Ordinance Code to determine whether former President Trump can live in Mar-a-Lago. ”
CNN contacted Randolph directly, but he did not respond to a request for additional information. It was unclear when the review would take place, but Blouin said the issue could be on the agenda for the next city council meeting scheduled for February 9. An agenda for the meeting has not yet been published publicly.
The Trump Organization insisted on a statement to CNN in December: “There is no document or agreement in place that prohibits President Trump from using Mar-A-Lago as his residence.”
“It is a very discouraged place,” said Laurence Leamer, historian and author of “Mar-a-Lago: Inside the Gates of Power at Donald Trump’s Presidential Palace,” he told MSNBC. He said members “are not concerned about politics and said the food is not good”.
Leamer said he spoke to several former members who “left quietly” after Trump left office.
Kate Bennett, Katelyn Polantz and Alexis Benveniste from CNN contributed to this report.