President-elect Trump to host NYE bash at Mar-a-Lago, the 'center of the universe'
FILE - Aerial view of Mar-a-Lago, the oceanfront estate of billionaire Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Fla. (John Roca/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - It appears that President-elect Donald Trump is looking to expand the reach, power – and possibly the profit – of his vast Florida estate.
According to a report by the Associated Press, cars were lining up to be screened by Secret Service agents under white tents near the fence that surrounds Mar-a-Lago Tuesday morning.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Friday, Trump said that Mar-a-Lago is "the "Center of the Universe," and claimed that "Bill Gates asked to come" to the New Year's Eve event apparently being hosted at the estate.
It’s not clear what exactly Trump has planned for New Year’s Eve but he has traditionally held a bash at the resort and in his social media post on Friday, he said that, "New Year’s Eve is going to be AMAZING!!!"
The estate has played host to celebrities, dignitaries and politicians for years.
Famous figures such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Tesla and X owner Elon Musk have popped up at breakfasts, luncheons and other social gatherings held daily at the opulent club.
Who will be at the event?
Details on the guest list for Trump's 2024 New Year's Eve event have not been released.
In 2023, the Palm Beach Post reported that attendees included pollster Dick Morris, legal adviser Rudy Giuliani and founder of MyPillow Mike Lindell.
It's expected that some of Trump's political pundits and cabinet picks will be there.
What is Mar-a-Lago?
Mar-a-Lago is Trump's sprawling resort and golf club located in Palm Beach, Fla. It has served as the President-elect's main residence since he left the White House in 2021.
According to its website, the Mar-a-Lago Estate opened in January 1927 after four years of construction. It was built on 17 acres of land and now spans 62,500 square feet.
It was designated as The Mar-a-Lago National Historic Site by the Department of Interior in January 1969.
Trump purchased the property in 1985 and held it as a private residence for about 10 years before converting it to the Mar-a-Lago Club.
The club offers "a magnificent swimming pool, an award winning beauty salon, a world-class spa, five red clay championship tennis courts and a remarkable croquet court."
There are also two retail outlets on the property – tennis pro shop and a boutique.
Why is it significant?
Mar-a-Lago has always been a site where high-profile celebrities who knew and curried favor with Trump could be spotted. And after his 2016 presidential win, lawmakers also joined the list of key playmakers that could be spotted at the high-end resort.
The estate also became the center of attention after Trump left office in 2021 after classified documents were found at the estate.
Trump was indicted in 2023 after prosecutors said hundreds of documents marked classified were found at the Palm Beach property.
They alleged that Trump took roughly 300 classified documents to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House, including some 100 that were seized by the FBI in a search of the home.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that he was entitled to keep the classified documents when he left the White House, and has also claimed without evidence that he had declassified them.
Following his November victory in the presidential election, an appeals court upheld the decision to dismiss the charges against Trump, which were originally dropped in July.