Palm Beach officials are considering temporarily closing former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club to members amid heightened security concerns. The discussion comes in the wake of a recent assassination attempt on Trump and subsequent road closures near the resort.
According to The Dispatch, the Palm Beach City Council met on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of closing Mar-a-Lago to club members until Election Day on November 5.
This potential closure aligns with the current closure of part of South Ocean Boulevard by the Secret Service, which is set to remain in effect through the same date.
The primary motivation behind the potential club closure is to enhance security around the property. With the partial road closure already in place, city officials are questioning the feasibility and safety of allowing hundreds of club members to access the premises.
Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore expressed her concerns during the council meeting, stating that it would be "completely illogical" to allow 350 strangers into the club while the road is closed. The presence of numerous resort guests could complicate security efforts in the area.
It's important to note that when Trump was president, the road near Mar-a-Lago was only closed during his stays at the resort. The current situation represents a more extended closure period, prompting officials to reassess the club's operations.
Despite some claims circulating on social media, the potential closure of Mar-a-Lago to club members would not affect Trump's ability to reside there. Contrary to reports suggesting that Palm Beach officials are seeking to evict Trump from his Florida home, there is no evidence to support such claims.
While Mar-a-Lago is zoned as a private club and not for residential living, Palm Beach zoning codes allow exceptions for clubs to provide living quarters for a "bona fide employee." This provision enables Trump to maintain his residence at the property, regardless of whether the club is open to members or not.
The distinction between club operations and Trump's personal residence is crucial in understanding the scope of the potential closure. Even if Palm Beach officials decide to temporarily shut down the resort, the former president would still be permitted to stay in his living quarters on the premises.
Some social media posts have mischaracterized the situation, suggesting that Palm Beach's mayor is actively seeking to shut down Mar-a-Lago and force Trump out of his home. These claims have been partially debunked by fact-checkers.
One such post by right-wing blogger Pamela Geller shared with her 1.1 million Facebook followers, accused Palm Beach officials of fascism and claimed they were trying to kick Trump out of his own house.
These fascists will stop at nothing. The Mayor of Palm Beach is considering shutting down Mar-a-Lago and kicking Trump out of his own house.
In conclusion, Palm Beach officials are indeed considering temporarily closing Trump's Mar-a-Lago club to members due to security concerns and road closures. However, this potential closure would not affect Trump's ability to reside at the property. The discussions are primarily focused on managing the influx of club members during a period of heightened security measures. Claims suggesting that officials are attempting to evict Trump from his Florida home are unfounded based on the available information.
