United States: many members flee Mar-a-Lago since the arrival of Donald Trump
Many members have left the luxury club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, owned by Donald Trump, for several days. Several reasons explain this exodus.
The Mar-a-Lago residence, located in Palm Beach, Florida, is experiencing some setbacks. This luxurious and "very select" private club, owned by Donald Trump, has been deserted by many members in recent days, reports American journalist Laurence Leamer, author of a book on the scene, to the American television station MSNBC. 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, 2 swimming pools, 5 tennis courts and a golf course ... Yet the facilities on this site make you dream. Several reasons explain this exodus.
The return on site of the former leader has undermined a valuable asset for the followers of the "upscale" club: discretion. In fact, Donald Trump has relocated to Mar-a-Lago since the inauguration of his successor Joe Biden on January 20, causing an influx of supporters as the procession passed which brought him from the airport to Mar- a-Lago.
In addition, the billionaire often visited the club during his mandate: he even received the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. What to give "a certain prestige" to the place, specifies the CNN channel. Then the departure of Donald Trump from the White House would have caused the site to lose interest. And to top it off, some members would be disappointed with the quality of services offered on site.
Finally, the loss of popularity of Donald Trump has also played an important role for some followers of the club, details the magazine Business Insider: "Some members do not want anything to do with Donald Trump. Many of them do not go. very often because it's a very disheartening place. It's a sad place where Donald Trump hangs out. It's not what it used to be. They get away from him. Even here people don't like him not, "says Laurence Leamer on the MSNBC channel.
Does Trump have the right to live in this residence?
An exodus that could cost Donald Trump dearly. Several members went so far as to pay 164,000 euros to have the right to access the club (which had 500 registered in 2017) at the time when he still chaired the world's leading power. In addition, the annual charges are colossal to maintain the luxurious property.
Finally, legal questions are added to the controversy. The neighbors have already taken legal action to try "to prevent its permanent establishment". The latter sent a secret letter to the authorities in Palm Beach and to the American Secret Service: they explain that Donald Trump has no legal right to live in Mar-a-Lago full time.
According to an agreement between the municipality and the businessman in 1993, club members cannot spend more than 21 days per year on the property. Donald Trump, owner of the premises, is he also subject to these rules? According to the Washington Post, authorities should inform him that he is not permitted to reside permanently in Mar-a-Lago. Objective: to avoid an "embarrassing situation" which would lead to his expulsion.
