As Mar-a-Lago (a.k.a. the “Winter White House”) prepares to close for the summer season, Donald Trump is contemplating where he’ll spend the next four to six months since, evidently, the White House isn’t an option.
Politico reports that Mr. Trump has his sights set on the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The private club, located just 40 minutes from Manhattan, sits on 600 acres and bills itself as “one of the most prestigious golf properties in the world” with some of the “finest amenities.” Think of it as Mar-a-Lago’s sexy summer counterpart. (Hopefully it has better food.)
Related: The food at Mar-a-Lago may make you violently ill, according to shocking health inspection reports
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Local residents are already wringing their hands over the thought of Trump and his motorcade constantly traveling in and out of town at their expense.
“We’re kind of apprehensive, I guess you could say,” Nick Strakhov, a longtime resident of the area, says. “It’s nice to be recognized. But on the other hand, if it gets to be tedious, we might start to complain.”
We suspect it will be less a matter of “if” and more a matter of “when.”
“West Palm Beach is a lot bigger than we are,” resident Jane Schumann adds. “Those people are a little more affluent than we are. Has there been any thought to that?”
But it’s not just area locals and angry Democrats who wish Donald would stop wasting taxpayer dollars on weekend getaways. Republicans are starting to get fed up with it, as well.
“I do wish that he would spend more time in Washington, D.C.” Sen. Joni Ernst said at an event in Iowa this week. “That’s what we have the White House for.”
She added that Trump’s bi-weekly jaunts to Florida, which cost taxpayers between $1 and $3 million per trip, have “been bothering not just me, but some other members of our caucus.” Ernst said she plans to talk to Trump about it very soon.
Nobody actually expects Trump to listen, however. Not only because he doesn’t listen to anyone, but because he really, really likes Bedminster. He goes there every summer. It’s also where Ivanka was married. And he was even planning on being buried there after he died. That is, until local officials denied his request to construct a massive 19-foot-tall stone mausoleum in the middle of his golf course.
Still, locals are putting up a fight. They’ve held at least one community meeting over the matter and have discussed possibly staging protests, if needed.
“We’ll do what we need to make our opinions known,” resident Paula Dolan, chair of the Bedminster Democratic Committee, says.
Unfortunately, their efforts will likely be in vain. Last month, the town land use board approved construction for a 500-square-foot, two-story balcony and porch addition to the property that will be exclusively reserved for the president.
Get ready, Bedminster, The Donald’s coming whether you like it or not. And get ready, taxpayers, because you’ll be footing the bill!
Related: Donald and Melania fly in separate “his and hers” taxpayer-funded planes
1EqualityUSA
I bet Lincoln’s ghost appeared to him and he’s spooked.
Jack Meoff
Somebody needs to put a stop to this blatant abuse of power.
1EqualityUSA
Given how Republicans are choosing to leave Washington, D.C., such as Jason Chaffetz, the Crime Boss, and his fam had better fleece the U.S. while they can. I wonder what deals are being made in Mar-A-Pantanosa.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
How is summer in Florida out of season?
Jack Meoff
To hot I guess.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
I guess for rich people. It’s tourist season there for everyone else.
Mo Bro
Our busiest time for long-term tourists here is the winter, because our winters are insanely beautiful. Temps in the 70s, no rain, ocean is swimmable. Summers are plenty busy, but primarily for families.
MacAdvisor
Have you ever been to Florida in the summer? It is so humid, people get into a swimming pool to dry off. People winter in Florida, not summer. I am not sure I would summer in New Jersey, but that does seem very much the President’s style. The Hamptons is really the place to be.
DCguy
Let me guess, Trump’s summer white house will be Cinnabon
natekerchel
Unfortunately there is not a lo that can be done to stop trump’s lavish life-style at tax-payer expense. He blatantly ignores rules and customs, or changes them through to suit his own needs. Trump does what he wants because no one will stand up to him – yet. The republicans are still waiting to see how badly their association with him will hurt them before they make any attempt to stop his excesses. He ignores Democratic complaints because he knows he can with impunity. That leaves ‘the people’. Just a question of how long their patience will last.
1EqualityUSA
The Rust Belt must wonder how it feels to live so lavishly.
Stilinski26
Mean while gay teenager was brutally attacked by a thugs in Orlando because of his sexuality yet the gay media completely ignores it.
Mo Bro
That’s because this is no longer a gay site—it’s become purely a hate-site for Trump bashers.
1EqualityUSA
Don’t try to shame or peer pressure us into silence. We are fighting. We are resisting.
natekerchel
Well that’s because we have to prioritise Mo Bro – the gay guy who was attacked was probably attacked because of the hate stirred up and released by the political and religious right wing and their High Priest – the beast in the White House – or rather the beast anywhere but in the White House. These attacks will continue so long as that vile interloper infests the Oval Office. He is of course aided and abetted in this contamination of society by his supporters and those who defend him. HE is he biggest single danger to lgbt people and other minorities. He has set the tone and his lgbt bashers follow.