We think it’s safe to say this week is not a great one for Donald J. Trump. Not only does his second impeachment trail kick off today, but Palm Beach officials are meeting to discuss whether he should be evicted from Mar-a-Lago.
A little backstory: Trump has been fighting with his neighbors over an agreement he signed when he converted the property from a massive private residence into a luxurious members only club. Neighbors say the 1993 usage agreement explicitly states a person can only live at the club for three non-consecutive weeks a year.
Not only that, but they also say a deal Trump made with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to list the property as a historic site explicitly states he “agreed to ‘forever’ relinquish his rights to develop Mar-a-Lago or to use it for ‘any purpose other than club use.’”
Despite all this, Trump has been living at the resort since leaving Washington, D.C. Last month, neighbors wrote to Palm Beach authorities requesting that the town council intervene to inform the ex-president he couldn’t live at the club and would need to find permanent housing elsewhere.
Trump’s lawyers countered by saying the 1993 usage agreement doesn’t specifically state that the “owner” of the property can’t reside there, and that the 21-day limit only applies to “members.” They also insist that, as club President, he’s technically an employee of the club, which also exempts him from the original agreement since local laws state that “a private club may provide living quarters for its bona fide employees only.”
After a month of arguing back and forth, the Palm Beach officials will meet via Zoom today to discuss the matter. Town attorney John C. Randolph will give a presentation before the council arguing in support of Trump’s eviction.
Meanwhile, Trump’s attorneys insist the case has “no merit” and that nobody cared when the ex-president previously lived at Mar-a-Lago for extended periods of time.
Of course, that was before he incited an insurrection on the U.S. Capitol last month, which obviously changes things.
In other Mar-a-Lago news, the club has been bleeding members since January 6. CNN recently reported that several members have “quietly walked out” of the club, calling it a “very dispirited place,” “sad,” and “not what it was.”
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Cam
Nothing will happen to him. His billionaire supporters have most likely already bribed members of the town council.
Liquid Silver
I’m sure they’ll get right on evicting him any day now.
AZ71
Won’t ever happen. These con artists and billionaires always have a way to fight in court till everyone gives up. Thats how his presidency was defined too. When you have money you can do anything you want.
alanh1249
Trump is just another “Teflon Don” in truest criminal sense.
ChappedOp
I think, for me, whether this conman is ultimately evicted or not doesn’t much matter. I am just gratified in knowing he is unwanted (even at places where he has an ownership stake), and that the message keeps getting reinforced to him. Over and over and over. His words may suggest it doesn’t bother him (just as he’d have us believe his ouster from SAG-AFTRA doesn’t affect him). But he’s far too small, too fragile, too narcissistic, for his ego to not take a beating… (The world is laughing at you, little man.)
SPEEDOSWIMMER
Putin-russian STOOGE racist-in-chief Grifter-in-chief donald-DelusionalMoron-trump is a SQUATTER.
WAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
?????????
rand503
If Trump is evicted, I know of several dozen militia camps that will be very happy to host Trump at no charge at all. He and Melania can go on long hikes near the lake, cook meal rations over a romantic campfire, and practice shooting at a log 100 feet away
Gadfeal
Kim Jong Un (or whatever his name) may graciously extend residence to him in N. Korea that has no extradition treaty with the US, I suspect. They were best buddies, after all.
JB
“His second impeachment trail”??? Seriously, Queerty…get a proofreader!
Bob
It does kinda feel like we’re on a LONG trail in the woods, though.
Bricklayer
We in europe cannot understand why the americans, the cia and other, alow this Putin spy and puppit is not in jail. He made America small and showed the world how many stupid people there exist in the USA
Cam
Easy answer, Because in America the wealthy and powerful are never prosecuted or punished for their crimes. So even when obvious ties to Russia, or financial crimes were exposed nothing happened.
When the Bush administration lied and got us into a war with Iraq and no bid contracts were handed to supporters, Pelosi then said voters didn’t want them to go after the criminals, just wanted them to get on with running the country. (She was wrong, Dems lost the House and Senate 2 years later after she wouldn’t go after the Bush criminals).
Because of that, it showed Republicans that there was no consequences for them committing financial crimes, taking money from other countries, etc.