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How Trump’s ‘Barbie Dream House’ became a nightmare in 2022
Unravel the mystique of the opulent Florida estate.
By lovePROPERTY team · December 31, 2022
Looking back on Donald Trump's turbulent year at Mar-a-Lago
From an FBI raid and the discovery of top-secret government files to a fresh bid for the presidency and a widely criticised dinner with Kanye West, life at Mar-a-Lago has been far from dull for Donald Trump over the past year. Now, in the wake of the release of the former president's tax returns, The Washington Post has revealed fresh details of Trump’s time at his Florida estate since leaving the executive mansion, and it makes for rather illuminating reading. Click or scroll on for more...
Still adjusting to life after the White House
News has emerged that the former US leader has reportedly been hibernating at Mar-a-Lago for almost a month, suggesting Trump is retreating further into his insular Palm Beach bubble. It seems that the 45th president is still struggling to adjust to civilian life after the White House. According to a new exposé by The Washington Post, Trump has tried to emulate the "trappings of the presidency" at Mar-a-Lago. One of their sources added: “It’s like a Barbie Dream House miniature”. At some point in 2021, he reportedly even asked his aides if they could “summon a press pool”—like the media entourage that accompanied him during his presidency—to promote an event at his Florida home. He was told there was “no pool on call because he was no longer president”.
Another taxpayer scandal dodged
When Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago, his aides spent months revamping an office above the estate’s ballroom for his use, decking it out with furnishings, artwork and mementos from his time as president. According to The Washington Post, his staff worried the space wouldn’t be lavish enough for Trump after the Oval Office. The Government Services Administration (GSA) has since confirmed that they were contacted about renting the room for use as Trump’s post-presidential office. Such an agreement would have led to taxpayer money lining the former president’s pockets—something he’s come under fire for in the past when he billed the Secret Service thousands for rooms at Mar-a-Lago. Instead, a spokesperson from the GSA said that they settled on an office lease in West Palm Beach with no connection to Trump.
Trump’s aides print ‘uplifting’ news for him
Since making Florida his official home, the former president has seemingly relied on his staff to rouse his spirits. The Washington Post's exposé detailed how former One America News host Natalie Harp, who is one of Trump’s aides, often accompanies him on the golf course “equipped with a laptop and sometimes a printer to show him uplifting news articles, online posts, or other materials.” On quieter days, when there’s little to occupy Trump, another aide is said to phone up his supporters to ask them to “dial the former president to boost his spirits with positive affirmations”. His allies reportedly “know how restless he gets when nothing is going on”. However, for the most part, we bet the legal turmoil that’s engulfed the Trump Organization—and Mar-a-Lago especially—has kept him busy…
FBI agents broke Trump's sacred bedroom rule
The investigation into Trump's alleged mishandling of government documents culminated in an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022. Returning to the estate following the raid, Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday 19 September 2022, writing: “Arrived in Florida last night and had a long and detailed chance to check out the scene of yet another government ‘crime’, the FBI’s Raid and Break-In of my home, Mar-a-Lago,”. “I guess they don’t think there is a Fourth Amendment anymore, and to them, there isn’t. In any event, after what they have done, the place will never be the same.” Going on to say that it “was ‘ransacked,’ and in far different condition than the way I left it,” he said that FBI agents “didn’t even take off their shoes in my bedroom.”
Mar-a-Lago special master dismissed
The latest legal hurricane to land on Mar-a-Lago was a blow for Team Trump. Following the criminal investigation into the former president’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, Trump requested a third-party special master to review the thousands of records retrieved from the Miami Beach estate. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to her position by Trump during his presidency, granted the request and installed Judge Raymond Dearie. However, a ruling by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday 1 December 2022 has reversed this appointment and it could have catastrophic ramifications for Trump’s case.
A damning ruling
The federal appeals court’s written ruling stated: “The law is clear. We cannot write a rule that allows any subject of a search warrant to block government investigations after the execution of the warrant.” Part of the special master’s role was to filter out privileged information that had been seized during the raid. The Department of Justice (DOJ) was also prevented from examining some of the retrieved records until the conclusion of the special master’s review. Without a special master in place, the DOJ is able to investigate all of the confiscated documents without any obstacles in order to build their case against the former president.
Lawmakers to be briefed on raids
What’s more, the circumstances concerning the Mar-a-Lago search may soon be shared with US lawmakers. According to Representative Mike Turner, the top Republican of the House Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has indicated that there are plans to brief the committee on the risk assessment surrounding the search. Meanwhile, Turner hopes to get answers regarding the perceived threat of the documents seized from Trump’s private residence.
Trump’s committee funding legal bills for witnesses
The Washington Post has also revealed that according to filings, Donald Trump’s committee has funded lawyers for key witnesses called to testify in the Mar-a-Lago investigation. Trump’s Save America PAC has reportedly paid more than $120,000 (£98k) to Brand Woodward Law, the firm representing a number of witnesses. Stan Brand, a leading attorney at the company, told The Washington Post: “There’s no bar against third parties paying for legal fees as long as it’s disclosed to the client. The ethical obligation of the lawyer is to the client”. The witnesses receiving financial support include Walt Nauta, a Mar-a-Lago employee, who told FBI agents that he had moved a number of boxes of records at the estate at Trump's request. Former federal prosecutor Jim Walden expressed concern that covering witnesses’ legal fees could influence testimony.
Save America PAC in the spotlight
However, Stephen Giller of New York University’s law school says the arrangement isn’t necessarily problematic: “The problems arise when the person paying the fee chooses the lawyer and has an interest in how the lawyer represents the client,” he explained. In reply to the payment arrangement, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said: “We don’t comment on any vendor payments, and everything the group spends on is publicly reported and in accordance with the law”. There is no accusation of wrongdoing. Trump’s Save America PAC has reportedly footed legal bills of $9.7 million (£7.9m) since 2021, according to official filings. The committee is currently under federal investigation for its fundraising practices and expenditure.
Trump and Kanye West talk politics in Palm Beach
That's not the only controversy concerning Mar-a-Lago in recent months. Following the launch of Trump's campaign for the presidency, Kanye West announced his own bid for the White House on 20 November 2022. Ye unsuccessfully ran for office in 2020 as an independent candidate. However, in a strange turn of events, it seems West paid a visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago HQ on 23 November to discuss a political alliance, just three days after he entered the race. Revealing the meeting on Twitter, Ye said: "First time at Mar-a-Lago. Rain and traffic. Can't believe I kept President Trump waiting. And I had on jeans. Yikes."
Kanye releases the 'Mar-a-Lago Debrief'
Kanye reportedly arrived at the estate for dinner, accompanied by far-right white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Ye shared his own account of what is said to have happened next in a video posted on Twitter, entitled the 'Mar-a-Lago Debrief'. He revealed: "Trump was most perturbed about me asking him to be my vice president". According to Ye, the property mogul did not take kindly to the unexpected offer and the conversation became heated: "Trump started basically screaming at me at the table telling me I was going to lose", West says.
A fractured relationship?
In the recording, West went on to criticise the president for not helping those prosecuted for their part in the storming of the Capital on 6 January 2021. Kanye has been a long-time supporter of Trump and his MAGA movement—he's seen here at a meeting with the mogul in 2018 in the Oval Office during his presidency, sporting one of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' baseball caps. It's not clear if the latest reported upset at Mar-a-Lago spells the end of their political relationship for good. West was recently dropped by Adidas and several other major companies in October 2022 following a number of antisemitic remarks.
Trump speaks out on Truth Social
Trump addressed the controversial dinner on his platform, Truth Social. He states that Kanye West was seeking advice concerning business difficulties, before the conversation drifted to politics: "I told him he should definitely not run for President... Anyway, we got along great, he expressed no anti-Semitism, & I appreciated all of the nice things he said about me on Tucker Carlson", Trump wrote. Addressing his other controversial guest, he posted: "Also, I didn’t know Nick Fuentes".
Dining with controversial company
Nick Fuentes, a key figure in America's white nationalist 'Groyper Army' movement and a Holocaust denier was also at the dinner as a guest of Kanye West. Fuentes isn't shy about sharing his extreme racist and antisemitic views on his podcast. Republicans have denounced Trump for entertaining the prominent hate-group leader, while a spokesperson for President Biden strongly criticised his dubious choice of dinner guest. According to Trump, he wasn't aware that Fuentes would be in attendance at the meeting. Fuentes has been a vocal supporter of the former president's MAGA campaign. He posted on Friday 25 November: “This past week, Kanye West called me to have dinner at Mar-a-Lago... he unexpectedly showed up with three of his friends, whom I knew nothing about. We had dinner on Tuesday evening with many members present on the back patio. The dinner was quick and uneventful. They then left for the airport."
Trump makes major announcement at Mar-a-Lago
On 15 November 2022, Donald Trump took to the stage of Mar-a-Lago's glittering ballroom to announce his second run for office. “In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” he told the crowd. Trump will once again seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024.
Trump's second run for the executive office
The former president entered the ballroom on the arm of his wife, Melania, who supported him as he declared his campaign. The grandiose venue was filled with Trump's allies and advisers, as well as key movers and shakers from the Republican sphere. Trump's supporters had also gathered outside Mar-a-Lago in support of his 2024 bid. His daughter and former advisor, Ivanka, was notably absent. She released a statement announcing her retirement from the political arena: "This time around, I am choosing to prioritise my young children and the private life we are creating as a family," she wrote.
Read on to discover the fascinating history and secrets of Mar-a-Lago
READ MORE: Unravel the mysteries of the former president's opulent oceanside estate
After leaving the White House in January 2021, Donald Trump moved into his magnificent Mar-a-Lago estate in the ultra-exclusive Florida enclave of Palm Beach. The luxurious property hides many secrets, both historic and contemporary—it's now the new HQ of Trump's political career and his second run for the presidency in 2024. Let's go through the keyhole and discover the little-known features of Florida's most famous private club. Click or scroll on for more...
Mar-a-Lago was nearly demolished
Plus, the property's location directly under a flight path created a security nightmare. President Carter finally made the decision to get rid of Mar-a-Lago and handed the vacant presidential estate back to the Post Foundation in 1981, though it took an Act of Congress to make it happen. The property was put on the market for $20 million (£16.5m)—though some sources say $25 million (£20.7m)—but potential buyers were not to be found and permission was sought to raze it to the ground.
Trump found Mar-a-Lago through a cab driver
According to the City Journal, Trump is said to have first heard about Mar-a-Lago from a taxi cab driver during a drive around Palm Beach, and knew there and then that he just had to have it. To the flashy real estate mogul, Post's winter retreat represented the ultimate trophy property. Trump initially offered the Post family $15 million (£12.4m) for the estate.
Trump played hardball to make the deal
The offer was rejected, so Trump decided to play tough. He purchased a beachfront parcel of land between the estate and the ocean for $2 million (£1.7m). According to The Independent, he revealed plans to put a building up that would block the sea view from Mar-a-Lago, thus depreciating its value and putting off rival buyers.
Trump got the estate for a bargain
Trump's audacious move had the desired effect. In 1985, the Post family agreed to accept just $8 million (£6.6m) for the estate and all its contents. This is a fraction of what Mar-a-Lago cost to build in real terms and what it's estimated to be worth nowadays—Forbes valued the property at $160 million (£132m) in 2018. The property magnate had landed the real estate bargain of the year, if not the decade.
Trump claimed a restoration tax break
When the Trump empire ran into financial difficulties in the early 1990s, Donald Trump worked out a way of turning his money-pit estate into a money-making juggernaut—by transforming it into a member's club. To win over the Palm Beach town council and gain permission for his venture, Trump promised to carry out a sensitive restoration of Mar-a-Lago, according to the Palm Beach Post. This would also allow him to claim a massive tax break in the form of a conservation easement.
The club has an inclusive membership policy
Trump billed the club as open to all who could afford to sign up, unlike the two most established private members' clubs in Palm Beach, which, shockingly, barred African American, Jewish and LGBTQ+ people from joining. While Trump has been rightly applauded for this inclusive policy, some commentators say his motives were more about making as much money as possible and further ingratiating himself with the town council than anything benevolent. The town eventually granted permission for the club, though with some strings attached, which we will come to later.
Trump spent $7 million on a gold ballroom
Trump shelled out millions on the expensive restoration, which was given a big thumbs up by conservationists, and splurged on a number of additions to the property, including two swimming pools, a beauty salon and a spa, with the lion's share of the money going on a new 20,000-square-foot ballroom in the Louis XIV style. Trump is said to have spent $7 million (£5.8m) gilding the palatial space and $100,000 (£82.6k) a piece on the gold basins in the bathrooms.
The Baby House was Ivanka's childhood bedroom
Interestingly, Post had iron bars installed on the windows and placed guards at the door of the Baby House following the Lindbergh kidnapping of 1932 and wouldn't allow her daughter to go anywhere without bodyguards in tow, up until her 18th birthday. In later years, guests including 'Lady Bird' Johnson stayed in the suite, and when Trump acquired the property, his daughter Ivanka got dibs on it, though these days she prefers staying in the Banyan Bungalow on the grounds.
Trump sold some of the antiques
Although the mega-mansion itself, which had gone from 118 to 126 rooms, was restored, some of its contents were sold off at auction and replaced with reproductions. Among the items that Trump offloaded were the jewel-encrusted marble dining table, antique Spanish rug, Louis XIV chests and Venetian glasses worth a thousand dollars each.
Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley honeymooned at the club
The club has welcomed a long list of celebrities over the years, including Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, who spent their honeymoon at Mar-a-Lago. Other stars who visited the club whether for pleasure or to perform at a function include Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Tiger Woods, Billy Joel, Vanessa Williams, Liza Minnelli and Sylvester Stallone.
Celine Dion took on the chef
Laurence Leamer, author of Mar-a-Lago: Inside the Gates of Power at Donald Trump's Presidential Palace, recounts a story in his definitive book on the estate. In 2000, Trump hired top French chef Bernard Goupy, who wowed Celine Dion when she threw a baby shower at the club. Trump wasn't quite so impressed and fired Goupy not long after, having launched an expletive-packed tirade against his signature dish, a Ceasar salad. The chef went on to work for Dion who renamed the dish 'Trump Salad'.
Trump doubled the joining fee after winning the election
Trump doubled the joining fee from $100,000 (£82.6k) to $200,000 (£165k) after he became president, prompting CNBC to report allegations that he was seeking to profit from his position. Some reports suggest the fee, which was $50,000 (£41k) back when the club opened in the 1990s, is now $250,000 (£207k). Members are also required to stump up yearly membership dues of $14,000 (£11.6k) and spend a minimum of $2,000 (£1.7k) per annum on food.
Trump is classed as a 'club employee'
The council's attorney reviewed Trump's residency in February 2021, coming to an agreement that he could stay. At the council meeting, a lawyer for the former president explained that Trump is a club employee, which means that he is within the decades-long agreement that states that no one can live at Mar-a-Lago unless they work there.
Trump lost the only helipad in Palm Beach
It's not only his security that has had to be downsized since his exit as president. A helipad, which was installed for the president on the lawn of Mar-a-Lago was removed when he lost the title of president. The helipad was the only one of its kind in Palm Beach, where there is a strict 'no helicopter' rule for its residents, granted as a special privilege to Trump during his term in the White House.
Not all club members are Republicans
The number of members is estimated at almost 500 and, contrary to what you might think, the list isn't completely dominated by MAGA Republicans. They do make up a significant proportion, though, including several who were nominated by Trump for ambassador posts. The most notable left-leaning member, Democratic Party power broker George Norcross, even gave up his membership.
A ghost is said to roam the corridors
In an interview promoting his book Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago and the Rise of America's Xanadu, writer Les Standiford mentioned that some people insist the ghost of Marjorie Merriweather-Post roams Mar-a-Lago's corridors. What Post would have thought of Trump is anyone's guess and although her daughter wasn't a fan, the scion's granddaughter Marjorie Post Dye praised him for preserving the property.
The club has broken health codes
An Associated Press investigation conducted in 2017 found that Mar-a-Lago had been cited for 78 health code violations in the previous three years, with inspectors flagging up a range of issues that included chefs failing to wash their hands, dirty cutting boards, mould growing on the ice machine, as well as serving unsafe seafood and meat that had been improperly refrigerated.
Melania Trump revamped the owner's suite
Pictured here from the outside, the owner's suite contains the aforementioned Versailles Master Bedroom, an additional bedroom, the Pine Hall and the Louis XV hall, living rooms, bathrooms and offices. As well as searching for a school for Barron Trump and setting up an office at Mar-a-Lago to continue her 'Be Best' campaign, Melania Trump prepared for the family's move by overseeing the suite's expansion and revamp, opting for copious dark wood and white marble.
Trump allegedly hated the makeover
Working with her favourite interior designer, Tham Kannalikham, Melania updated some of the private quarters in her own modern aesthetic. According to a report by CNN, Donald Trump is said to have hit the roof when he saw the makeover. He reportedly ordered the immediate removal of the wood and marble. Here's how the master bedroom looked in the 1990s.
Trump returns to a mixed reaction
While some held rallies in support of the former president's return to Palm Beach, not everyone was pleased to see him according to CBS Miami. Some affluent neighbours opposed Trump's permanent move to Mar-a-Lago. A letter was sent to the town council in December 2020 requesting that a 1993 agreement prohibiting any club member—including Trump—from staying at the property for more than three weeks a year be duly enforced.
Trump charges taxpayers for his security detail
Since returning to his Palm Beach estate, Donald Trump has been the subject of much controversy, and his spending in particular has made headlines. According to reports from The Guardian, Trump has billed the Secret Service more than $40,000 (£33k) of taxpayers' money for accommodation for his own security team detail. Former presidents are provided with Secret Service protection for life, but not one to play by the books, there are no other examples of past presidents billing the Secret Service such a large amount.
The bill to stay at Mar-a-Lago
When he left the White House to live at Mar-a-Lago on 20 January, public records show that Trump charged the Secret Service $396.15 (£327) every night until 30 April. The charges are rumoured to be for a single room at the resort that was used as a workspace for the Secret Service, which has been reduced from four or five rooms when he was president. However, costs for the single room have sky-rocketed, as Trump has spent much more time in Florida, rather than previously just visiting at weekends.
Trump's presidential visits cost US taxpayers millions
Trump visited the property 32 times during his presidency, spending a total of 142 days there. Mar-a-Lago was used for important government business and hosted meetings with world leaders, including China's Xi Jinping and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. But these trips didn't come cheap with four sojourns costing a whopping $13.6 million (£11.2m) or an average of $3.4 million (£2.8m) each.
Trump and Melania 'are treated like zoo animals'
Once the couple had settled back into their plush Florida property, reports from Palm Beach shone an expected light on Donald and Melania's curious dinner customs at the estate. Author Michael Wolff claims that the couple are "treated like zoo animals" because they eat alone at a roped-off table in the Mar-a-Lago club, under the watchful gaze of 50 or 60 tables of diners. Wolff also says that guests "rise from their seats to applaud the arrival of the former first couple to the dining area" each evening.
Explosive exposé
The revelations emerged in an excerpt of Michael Wolff's new book, Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency, which was released in July 2021. The political writer's third exposé on the former president, Wolff also claims that Donald Trump had been asking visitors at his Mar-a-Lago resort for recommendations for lawyers, in the wake of charges brought against the Trump Organization for tax crimes.
Are members leaving Mar-a-Lago?
Since Trump stepped down as president, the mood at the club is rumoured to have become decidedly 'sad' and sombre. Author Laurence Leamer told MSNBC host Alex Witt that "It's a very dispirited place". Having been acquitted from his impeachment in February 2021, Trump spent summer at his New Jersey golf club to avoid hurricane season at Mar-a-Lago.
Mar-a-Lago members had ‘improper influence’ over Trump government
A joint investigation by the House committees on Oversight and Veterans’ Affairs found that three members of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort improperly influenced decisions at the Department of Veterans Affairs. ProPublica reported that associates from his private club pursued a plan for the Department of Veterans Affairs to monetise patient data, according to documents newly released by congressional investigators. Those accused included Ike Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment, attorney Marc Sherman, and Dr Bruce Moskowitz. Oversight Committee chairwoman Rep Carolyn Maloney and Veterans’ Affairs chair Rep Mark Takano alleged that the three men “violated the law and sought to exert improper influence over government officials to further their own personal interests”.
The future of the 'Mar-a-Lago three'?
According to The Independent, emails obtained by the committee between Dr Moskowitz and then-Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin revealed that the group was taking efforts to cover up their activities, a move that would prove problematic after the Government Accountability Office found that the group constituted an official federal advisory committee under law and was therefore subject to records and transparency requirements. The results of the investigation could be the basis for the launch of an investigation at the Justice Department regarding potential breaches of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
‘Secret’ Secret Service meeting
The Palm Beach Post reported that the US Secret Service called a meeting on 26 October 2021 with local law enforcement officials at Mar-a-Lago to discuss security arrangements for Trump's rumoured 2024 presidential run, which he has since confirmed, according to a source who attended the meeting. It was believed to be the second gathering to discuss the subject. However, when asked for details about the meeting, public information officers for the Palm Beach Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said they “had no knowledge any such meeting took place".
The Democratic National Committee troll Trump
On 16 October 2021, Mar-a-Lago was the scene of a trolling incident against the former president. The Democratic National Committee flew a plane near the members' club carrying a banner that read: "why won’t Youngkin let Trump campaign in VA?" They also erected a billboard in Florida to highlight Trump’s endorsement of Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate for governor in Virginia, believing that associating him with Trump will damage Youngkin's chances in the 2 November election. The Hill reported that Youngkin has tried to maintain his distance from Trump and when further pressed on the issue, the candidate said, “Anybody who calls me a good man, I so appreciate it, including President Trump.” Youngkin went on to win the race for Virginia governor.
Trump launches Truth Social
After social media posts about the Capitol riots in January 2021, Trump was permanently banned from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, though since Elon Musk's 2022 Twitter takeover, he's been allowed back on the platform. In response to the initial ban in 2021, Trump launched his own media network, Trump Media & Technology Group, amid a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. in order to “stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech.” The new company lists Mar-a-Lago as its address and Truth Social claims to be "America’s “Big Tent” social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating against political ideology". Whether it will be a success or not, only time will tell.
Trump charged forum guests up to $250k
In February 2022, it was revealed that Trump was asking guests to stump up a pretty penny to attend his 'Take Back Congress Candidate Forum', hosted at Mar-a-Lago. According to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, Trump charged attendees to the event, which was aimed at the midterm elections in November 2022, up to $250,000 (£207k) for entry to the forum. For that hefty price tag, top-paying guests received a photo and a private dinner for two with Trump, plus VIP seating and a two-night stay at the resort during the event.
More funds for Trump's $122m war chest
The cheapest ticket for the forum came in at $5,000 (£4.1k) per couple, and was said to cover "dinner with endorsed candidates and comments from President Trump". However, The Guardian reported that the earnings from the forum went towards Trump's own Super Pac, as opposed to those Republican candidates who were working to reclaim Congress. The former president is said to have accumulated a staggering $122 million (£101m) in his campaign war chest ahead of the midterm elections.
DJ Donald Trump makes his debut
In more light-hearted news, guests at Mar-a-Lago reportedly got more than they bargained for on 4 and 5 February 2022. The Florida club's members were sent a memo announcing that Donald Trump himself would be taking to the decks. The notice read: "Great music will be played during dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, with President Trump playing the role of disc jockey".
Mar-a-Lago guests treated to a night of 'great music'
It's not clear what songs Mar-a-Lago's club members were treated to when Trump took over the reins. However, the former president is said to be a fan of Elton John, while in the past, he's played songs ranging from Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' to the Village People's 'YMCA' during political appearances. We wonder what tracks made the former president's playlist...
'Sensitive' White House documents taken to Florida
In early 2022, two unnamed sources confirmed that former president Donald Trump brought extremely sensitive presidential documents to his Florida resort, according to reports by The Washington Post. The records taken from the White House were reportedly clearly labelled as “classified” and “top secret”, sparking questions over whether Trump has broken the law through his handling of sensitive government documents. Officials from the National Archives and Records Administration removed 15 boxes of White House records from Mar-a-Lago in January 2022 and a subpoena was served in May 2022 for the return of any remaining records.
FBI raids Mar-a-Lago
On Monday 8 August 2022, the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago. The search was part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents, including classified ones, that may have been brought there, CNN reported. The former president confirmed that FBI agents were at Mar-a-Lago and said "they even broke into my safe." He was reportedly at Trump Tower in New York when the search warrant was executed. FBI agents are said to have found top-secret documents describing a foreign government’s defenses, including its nuclear capabilities.
Over 100 classified documents retrieved
The Independent gave a full breakdown of what was taken in the FBI raid, and it included "over 100 classified" and, astonishingly, "nearly 11,179 government-owned documents". According to The Washington Post, anonymous sources "familiar with the matter" have revealed that at least one of the classified documents recovered from Trump's Florida property includes details of Iran's missile program. Other classified documents uncovered at Mar-a-Lago are said to describe covert US intelligence work "aimed at China".
Top-secret files discovered
The scope of the documents regarding China and Iran is unclear, however, if these highly sensitive papers got into the wrong hands, the fallout could be catastrophic. Not only could any diplomatic efforts be derailed, but in some cases, agents could be placed at risk and sources compromised. In the wake of the discoveries, Taylor Budowich, the former president’s communications director, took to Twitter saying that The Washington Post: "Continues to serve as the propaganda arm of the Biden administration, and instead of operating openly and honestly, they collude in never-ending leaks and lies at the expense of the integrity of the FBI and DOJ.”
Staff reportedly told to move boxes of records
However, not all the missing documents may be accounted for. An employee at the exclusive Florida estate, which is Trump's primary residence since leaving the White House, reportedly revealed to FBI agents that Donald Trump had asked for boxes of records on the property to be moved, both before and after he was served with a subpoena to return them in May 2022. The employee denied moving sensitive information, before admitting to relocating a number of boxes from a storage room at Trump's request after proof of the removals was caught by surveillance cameras, according to The Washington Post.
Trump watched the raid on CCTV
The Epoch Times reported that while the agents searched his home, Trump and family members watched them via CCTV cameras from New York. Thanking his supporters, Trump also wrote: “Thank you to all of the many people who greeted me last night on my way from the Airport to Mar-a-Lago. I will never forget the great people of this Country. MAGA!!!” During the raid, the former president has also claimed the FBI took his medical records, tax documents, and even passports.
Mar-a-Lago named in civil lawsuit
In another blow, Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump and three of his adult children on Wednesday 21 September 2022. As the BBC reports, “on claims they engaged in years of financial fraud to secure favorable loans, tax benefits and other economic advantages.” The civil lawsuit implicates Mar-a-Lago, which was converted to a members-only social club in 1994. The court filing states that Trump made the change because he worried the property was too expensive to use, preserve or sell for residential use. Yet his valuations treated the land as "an unrestricted home to 'be sold to an individual', rather than the heavily encumbered historical landmark restricted to club usage that it was", the suit claims.
Palm Beach club's value allegedly inflated
Despite being Trump’s main residence post-presidency, the BBC reports, Trump signed deeds that gave up residential development rights and restricted changes to the estate. The lawsuit claims that Attorney General Letitia James' (pictured) office found that this false premise backed up valuations from 2011 through to 2021, with the property's value peaking at an incredible $739 million (£611m). "In reality, the club generated annual revenues of less than $25 million and should have been valued at closer to $75 million," the plaintiffs claim.
Mar-a-Lago “a magnet for foreign spies”?
In another twist, The Guardian reports that former intelligence officials have warned that Trump’s Florida residence is “a magnet for foreign spies”. Amongst the documents found in the raid were details of US intelligence operations in enemy countries. Trump denies any wrongdoing, arguing that as president he had declassified the documents, and that they were kept securely at his Mar-a-Lago home. Commenting on the FBI's findings, John Brennan, former CIA director, told MSNBC: "I’m sure Mar-a-Lago was being targeted by Russian intelligence and other intelligence services over the course of the last 18 or 20 months, and if they were able to get individuals into that facility, and access those rooms where those documents were and made copies of those documents, that’s what they would do."
Infiltrating Trump's inner circle
In August 2022, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project alleged that Ukraine-born Inna Yashchyshyn was able to mingle with Trump’s family and friends at Mar-a-Lago, posing as banking dynasty heiress Anna de Rothschild to gain access to the club. The "self-confessed grifter" even met and had a photo taken with the former president. While there is purportedly no evidence that Yashchyshyn was a spy, the incident highlighted how easy it is to enter the inner circle at Trump’s Florida estate.
Woman caught trespassing with 'malware'
The Guardian also reported that during Trump’s presidency, two Chinese women were caught trespassing on the estate on separate occasions. One of them, Yujing Zhang, was reportedly: "in possession of four mobile phones, a laptop, an external hard drive, and a thumb drive carrying malware. Investigators reportedly found nine USB drives, five SIM cards and a “signal detector” device for spotting hidden microphones or cameras in her hotel room". She was found guilty of unlawfully entering a restricted building as well as making false statements to a federal officer and deported to China in 2021. Seen here is CNN reporter Kaylee Hartung outside the courthouse in 2019.
Tiffany Trump weds at Mar-a-Lago
On 12 November 2022, three days before Trump announced his second run for office, his daughter, Tiffany Trump, got married to her billionaire husband Michael Boulos at Mar-a-Lago. The ceremony took place in the estate's grounds, which were decorated with arches of pastel flowers and a flower-adorned gazebo. Tiffany walked down the aisle on the arm of her father, who was said to have been heavily involved in planning the extravagant event.
Trump family celebrates nuptials
Tiffany and her sister Ivana, who took on the role of maid of honour, are pictured here in Mar-a-Lago's Italianate-inspired grounds posing for photos following the nuptials. Event planner extraordinaire Toni Breiss orchestrated the big day, which saw around 500 guests in attendance. After the ceremony, the estate's palatial 20,000-square-foot ballroom hosted the wedding reception, which extended late into the night.
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