PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Cars began lining up early in the morning to be inspected by Secret Service agents under a white tent near the fence surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s South Florida estate.
Celebrities such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Tesla and
Over the weekend, Mike Love, one of the Beach Boys’ original members, played the band’s biggest hits under an outdoor tent, while Trump, accompanied by Secret Service agents, moved through the crowd pumping his fists to the music. Video posted online. In the evening, he stood next to his wife Melania near the pool, bobbing his head to the music.
“This resort is the center of the universe,” Trump said on social media Friday, adding, “Bill Gates asked me to come tonight.” Representatives for Trump and Gates did not clarify whether the Microsoft co-founder actually joined the parade of celebrities visiting Mar-a-Lago.
But the president-elect’s position reflects how his retreat, where he has been largely isolated since the election, has become a salon and celebration site for his movement.
For the people he has chosen for his administration, and for those looking to get a job or curry favor with the next president, this is the place to be.
Typically, photos posted online or occasional sightings of people at public events provide a glimpse into Trump’s incoming White House duties and how he sets his priorities for public office.
They are also reigniting concerns about transparency as the meetings are largely shrouded in secrecy, raising questions about how Trump benefits financially by having club members stay and dine there as they seek to influence the new administration. there is.
“It’s a little surreal,” said investor James Fishback, who recently raised an investment fund in the club’s tea room and dined on the patio. “This is the center of power.”
He recalled standing next to the pasta table and chatting with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for Surgeon General.
The winter break was another occasion for Trump’s celebrations and visits from celebrities.
Zuckerberg’s spokesperson confirmed that he had dinner with Trump the night before Thanksgiving. The Christmas Eve video showed President Trump dancing to one of his favorite songs, the Village People’s “YMCA,” in a resort ballroom filled with guests, while his daughter Ivanka sat nearby in a gold-plated chair. was sitting on
It’s unclear what President Trump has planned for New Year’s Eve. He traditionally held parties at the resort. But in a social media post on Friday, he boasted: “New Year’s Eve is going to be amazing!!!”
During dinner with friends and family, Trump uses his Spotify account on his tablet to play much of the same music seen ubiquitously at campaign rallies. His guest one night was Sarah Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Another night, that honor went to Akie Abe, the widow of slain Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. And yes, that was Argentine President Javier Millais doing Trump’s “YMCA” dance between the gala dinner tables.
During the day, Trump often golfs at a nearby golf course with friends, relatives and allies such as Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
The overall vibe is a mix of South Florida’s lucrative social scene and the powerful dynamics of an executive job fair.
“He’s surrounded by old friends,” Graham said. “Everyone I know wants a job.”
Musk has been such a constant presence at the club that Trump’s granddaughter Kai wrote in X that he is “earning uncle status.” Trump tasked Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy with the Department of Government Efficiency, a non-governmental task force formed to find ways to lay off federal employees, cut programs, and eliminate federal regulations. instructed to lead.
Kevin Roberts, chairman of the Project 2025 think tank, spoke at a December event with the club’s investors. One of the guests at the small event was Dr. Peter Lamelas, a medical executive later appointed U.S. ambassador to Argentina by President Trump.
Sometimes Trump relaxes for dinner with club members and guests under a yellow and white awning on the patio. Other times, he will be in the ballroom speaking to large groups for large events. At a recent gala for a nonprofit led by Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s favorite song, “God Bless the USA,” announced the president-elect’s position.
“We’re off to a really good start,” President Trump told those gathered at the event. He then asked about the whereabouts of Tom Homan, whom he had appointed as border czar, and joked that Homan was from ‘Central Casting.’
“Just calm down, Tom. “I want you to relax and prepare for great pressure,” Trump said.
Trump told party guests that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who had threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all imports unless more was done to stop illegal border crossings and drug flows, had “made progress.”
At another recent event at Mar-a-Lago (hosted by the America First Policy Institute), the ballroom was filled with prominent Trump figures such as Kellyanne Conway, a former adviser to the president, and conservative Charlie Kirk. Activist and founder of Turning Point Action. As guests arrived dressed in gowns and tuxedos, the president-elect’s latest book was placed on a chair.
As he entered the ballroom, which was filled with guests including Kash Patel, who President Trump later chose to lead the FBI, Musk took a seat at the center table of the ballroom. Musk was later joined by Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
“This is a place worth going and seeing,” said Damian Merlo, a political strategist who advises El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Merlo attended that event as well as another event hosted by the Conservative Political Action Committee.
At a recent press conference held at Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Trump mentioned a different atmosphere from his first term, saying, “Everyone wants to be friends with me.”
In addition to Zuckerberg, President Trump invited other Silicon Valley executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
“The chief executives, the top bankers are all calling,” Trump said. “I think it’s the complete opposite.”
Actor Russell Brand visited the club to speak at this month’s event, where he sat alongside actor Mel Gibson, former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson and others. Late in the evening, he stood by a palm tree on the lawn, wearing a kilt and listening to the bagpipes.
Brand later posted a video of his experience on X.
“It’s pretty amazing,” he said. “Is this reality or am I in a dream?”
Associated Press writer Mary Claire Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
