Donald Trump wants to build the next Camp David, and he’s picked a very familiar location. The president’s plan would turn one of his own properties into a permanent retreat for future commanders-in-chief.
Donald Trump wants a presidential retreat built at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach
President Donald Trump wants to transform his West Palm Beach golf club into a presidential retreat modeled after Camp David, The Washington Post reported. The plan would designate part of the private Trump International Golf Club as a permanent sanctuary for foreign leaders and future U.S. presidents. It would host international summits and house presidents vacationing in Florida.
Harvey Oyer, a lawyer representing the Trump course, wrote to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners last month. “Just as Camp David, Windsor Castle, or the Elysee Palace are known worldwide, so too will the Presidential Golf Course in Palm Beach County,” Oyer stated. He asked the county to provide a piece of its land to the federal government for the project.
Trump would fund construction of a presidential residence and facilities on the designated land. The county is seriously considering the proposal and seeking more information, according to County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo. Trump representatives assured county officials his company would continue making lease payments for the golf course.
The presidential retreat would sit on a connected parcel with a separate entrance from the private club. “My understanding is that President Trump views this as a lasting contribution to the presidency and to those who will hold the office after him,” Abruzzo said. A White House official added that the facilities would provide amenities of a “world-class property.”
Construction would not finish before Trump leaves office, making the project what Oyer called “a gift” to Trump’s successors. Future presidents would also receive complimentary memberships to the Trump club. The county is already in contact with the General Services Administration regarding the proposal. Trump reported an income of nearly $37 million last year from the golf course in his latest financial disclosure.
