Trump seeks to turn part of his Palm Beach golf club into official presidential retreat
In short
A lawyer for Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach has asked Palm Beach County to designate part of the course as a permanent official retreat for US presidents and visiting foreign leaders, The Washington Post reported on October 7 local time. Trump would pay for the residence and facilities, and future presidents would get free club membership. Trump said the military and the Secret Service had proposed the idea and that it was "not for me but for all future presidents."
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US President Donald Trump is seeking to turn part of his Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach in Florida into an official retreat for US presidents, The Washington Post reported on October 7 local time. Harvey Oyer, a lawyer representing the club, sent a proposal to Palm Beach County, which owns the course land, asking it to designate part of the site as a permanent, official retreat for future US presidents and foreign leaders. Kyunghyang Shinmun said Reuters also reported the plan. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Under the proposal, part of the land would be provided to the federal government for a residence and facilities where presidents could hold talks with foreign leaders and stay during holidays in Florida. Trump would pay for the construction, and future presidents would receive free membership of the club. Oyer said the work would not be finished before Trump's term ends, making the project a "gift" to his successors, and that the county would benefit from more visits by prominent figures. "Just as Camp David, Windsor Castle and the Elysee Palace are known around the world, so will Palm Beach County's presidential golf course," he wrote, according to Yonhap. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the military and the Secret Service had proposed the idea. According to Kyunghyang Shinmun, he said the site had no tall buildings nearby and no houses along the course, making it easier to secure, and was two minutes from an airport. "They asked, and I said yes. This is not for me, it is for all future presidents," he said, calling it a really great idea that would be used a lot. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Palm Beach County administrator Joseph Abruzzo told the Post that the county is reviewing the proposal seriously and has asked for more information, Yonhap reported. The county is in contact with the General Services Administration, which manages federal property, and plans to select a site. Dong-A Ilbo said the rest of the course would continue to be run by the Trump family business. [ 1 , 4 ]
The course lies directly next to Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. The current presidential retreat, Camp David, is in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains, about 100 km from Washington, but Trump has preferred Mar-a-Lago. The Post said the family business could gain commercially and Trump's influence in Palm Beach could grow; Dong-A Ilbo said conflict-of-interest questions could resurface. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The plan would create a Florida counterpart to Camp David on land next to Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, and Palm Beach County is already discussing a site with the federal General Services Administration. The Washington Post, as cited by Korean outlets, said the Trump family business that runs the course could gain commercially and Trump's influence in Palm Beach could grow, and Dong-A Ilbo said conflict-of-interest questions could resurface.
Key facts
- The Washington Post reported on October 7 local time that Trump wants to make part of his West Palm Beach golf club an official presidential retreat. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Harvey Oyer, a lawyer representing the golf club, sent the proposal to Palm Beach County, which owns the course land. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- The proposal would give part of the land to the federal government as a permanent retreat for US presidents and foreign leaders, for summits and presidential holidays in Florida. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump would pay to build the presidential residence and facilities, and future presidents would receive free club membership. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said the military and the Secret Service proposed the site, citing security, few tall buildings or houses nearby, and a nearby airport. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The golf course is directly next to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Palm Beach County is reviewing the proposal and is in contact with the General Services Administration about choosing a site. [ 1 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A lawyer for the golf club, Harvey Oyer, submitted a proposal to Palm Beach County to designate part of the course as an official presidential retreat. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Future US presidents would be offered free membership of the golf club under the proposal. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump would bear the cost of building the presidential residence and facilities. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said the military and the Secret Service first proposed the idea and that it is for all future presidents, not for himself. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Washington Post said the Trump family business running the course would likely gain commercially if the retreat goes ahead. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Palm Beach County is consulting the General Services Administration on selecting a site. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Palm Beach County will approve the proposal. The county administrator said it is reviewing the plan seriously and has asked for more information; no decision is reported.
- Which part of the course would become the retreat. The county and the General Services Administration have not yet selected a site.
- Who originated the idea. Trump said the military and Secret Service proposed it; the documents carry no statement from either body.
- How the rest of the course would be run. Only Dong-A Ilbo reports that the Trump family business would continue to operate the remainder of the course.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports the Washington Post story on the proposal to make the golf club a presidential retreat. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap updates its report with Trump saying the military and Secret Service proposed the idea. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the plan, highlighting free membership and Trump's remarks to reporters. [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo describes the plan as a 'second Camp David' and notes conflict-of-interest concerns. [ 4 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports Trump's security reasoning, citing the Washington Post and Reuters. [ 5 ]
- Chosun Ilbo links the plan to Trump's remodelling of the White House. [ 6 ]