Trump set to make Bedminster his 'political base' after flying to NJ, residents say 'we don't want him back'
It seems like Donald Trump is done with Mar-a-Lago. The former President was spotted boarding a flight, with multiple file boxes on Sunday, May 9. The destination? His golf course and resort at Bedminster, New Jersey. The presence of the boxes indicates that this isn't one of Trump's usual vacations, instead, it seems like he plans to shift bases.
While Trump has declined to comment on a run in 2024 until the 2022 mid-terms, it seems like he is making all the necessary preparations. According to reports, the 45th President will make Bedminster his new center of operations, from where he will run all his political and fundraising activities, reported the Daily Mail. It is unclear if Melania and Barron will be joining him. At the time, Trump was spotted boarding the flight alone.
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The Cessna plane is registered to the Trump corporation, and the Daily Mail was able to obtain photos of Trump boarding the private jet. A source told the publication, "The main house (Mar-a-Lago) will close till the fall and the Trumps will depart to spend the summer at their club in Bedminster." The course recently came under immense pressure after the PGA announced it would not host its 2022 championship at the facility. It's unclear what the financial implications of that are, but they are likely to be severe.
The switch is not something new for Trump. According to Florida Republican operative Larry Casey, it's something he does frequently. "It's what he has done for 20 years – spend the winter in Florida and then go back north," Casey told the Mail. Apart from being a habit, the move is also likely to benefit Trump, since it puts him closer to the financial capital of New York. That would make it easier for him to host fundraisers, rather than having donors and allies fly all the way down to Florida. "And you'll get the big financial wizards from New York City who can visit for the day instead of having to stay overnight in Florida," Casey added.
Trump also confirmed the move at an event to endorse Missouri Rep. Billy Long last week. "This is sort of a close-out. Now we go through the summer. We'll be back here in October, maybe a little bit sooner," he reportedly told attendees. News of Trump's move has caught the eye of social media, with many using at a good opportunity to once again troll Trump, and Bedminster.
'We don't want him back'
"Thoughts and prayers to Bedminster", joked one user. Another said, "Perhaps he will never return to FL. Bedminster may just be the place where the cuffs go on!" One Bedminster resident tweeted, "Oh god no. We don’t want him back. I ride my bike past his Bedminster club regularly and I make sure to spit in its direction every time." Another resident said, "Heaven help us! I don’t live far from there. We don’t want or need him here!"
Perhaps he will never return to FL. Bedminster may just be the place where the cuffs go on!
— Ellie (@yulebecool) May 10, 2021
Oh god no. We don’t want him back. I ride my bike past his Bedminster club regularly and I make sure to spit in its direction every time.
— christoph (@Amonhohohotep) May 10, 2021
Heaven help us! I don’t live far from there. We don’t want or need him here!
— Louis Weinstein (@LouisWein) May 3, 2021
Whether Melania and Barron will join Trump in Bedminster reportedly depends on Barron's school schedule. The move is also likely to see more Republican allies make the trip to the resort, as the party still sees Trump as its figurehead. Recently, Ted Cruz was spotted with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, and others like Kevin McCarthy have made the pilgrimage to the resort to meet the former President.