Mar-a-lago? Many people had never heard of Trump’s “winter whitehouse” Mar-a-lago Resort before Donald Trump took president. But everyone has heard of Maralago Resort now!
The Mar-a-lago- luxury resorts brings in private club membership of up to $250,000, the price of membership doubling since the election.
Every weekend for seven consecutive weekends Donald Trump has taken off to his Palm Beach Luxury Resort Mar-a-Lago where annual resort memberships sell for as much as $250,000. Brilliant Marketing!
But did President Donald Trump and the state department go to giving a glowing promotion of Mar-a-lago on the on the state department blog?
The renown king of free advertising President Donald Trump and his state department are drawing fire from after articles appeared under the heading “A Dream Deferred” and it said the original socialite owner wanted Mar-a-Lago to be a retreat for American presidents but notes it didn’t happen until Trump won the election.
The text appeared on the website for Share America, a State Department platform intended to “spark discussion and debate on important topics;” the website for the U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Facebook page for the U.S. Embassy in Albania.
House Democrats and Ethics watchdogs were quick to express outrage and media outlets were quick to report it. The articles were later removed with an apology.
The State Department initially declined to comment on the posts, but later unpublished them and said, “The intention of the article was to inform the public about where the President has been hosting world leaders. We regret any misperception and have removed the post.”
Three ethics watchdogs who reviewed the posts before they were taken down told NBC News they were troubling.
“They represent violations of a federal ethics regulation which prohibits the use of public office to endorse a product or enterprise,” said Kathleen Clark, a professor at Washington University Law.
“Calling it the ‘winter White House’ appears to suggest that Mar-a-Lago has an official governmental role, which would appear to provide a governmental endorsement.”
Jordan Libowitz of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said the post “reads almost like an ad for Mar-a-Lago.”
“If they weren’t trying to drive business there, you have to wonder what they were doing,” said Libowitz, who has previously sued Trump over other alleged ethics violations.
John Wonderlich of the Sunlight Foundation said it didn’t matter that the context for the posts was Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping.
“Publishing promotional materials for the President’s private business is clearly inappropriate, whether he is using it for official business or not,” he said. “There is only one White House. If you’re telling the story of Mar-a-Lago, it’s the president’s private business.”
Mar-a-Lago has been a lightning rod for those accusing the Trump administration of conflicts of interest.
While Trump has turned over control of his businesses to his sons, critics have pointed out that initiation fees were doubled to $200,000 after his election and that the president’s frequent appearances there could provide unique access to him for those who can pay.
Regardless of the intent of the state department publishing the article, there is no doubt Mar-a-lago Resorts and Trump Resorts are in the major spotlight and will continue to be so for years to come.
We can watch as the famous talk show hosts like Ellen make video spoofs of Mar-a-Lago like this one she aired on a recent show all the while the price of entry to Mar-a-lago is on the rise!
In the meantime- For other Luxury Vacation for any budget and anyone can afford Please contact Travelution to assist you in all your travel needs at 904-999-1290 or email us at support@yourtravelution.com
