Donald Trump, an uncomfortable neighbor for many Palm Beach, Florida residents

Donald Trump landed as president Wednesday at the West Palm Beach airport in Florida and, like Cinderella at 12 noon, his powers magically vanished when President Joe Biden took office in Washington.

It was a very hard time for the tycoon, who sought refuge in his favorite place to spend one of the saddest days of his life. Florida is today the place where you can try to feel among friends and relaunch his political profile with his family, although some neighbors do not want to see it there.

Trump locked himself with his family in his club mansion Mar-a-Lago, considered in his mandate as a second White House, where he went to rest on long weekends or escape the winter. It was not revealed what he did in the first hours as a common man, although he was seen playing golf, his favorite sport. Many imagine him brooding anger against friends who abandoned him. But they believe that at some point it will pass and he will go into the ring.

Meanwhile, he was warmly welcomed by his supporters. When a group of Trumpists got off the plane, they experienced the passage of the armored truck that was moving along the main avenue of Palm Beach, an island full of luxurious mansions and linked to the mainland by several bridges.

The procession did not stop at any point on the route, which takes about 13 minutes, and Trump only greeted his followers from inside the vehicle. “We love you!” Shouted some of the followers with the classic red beanie. “Welcome home!”.

A “friendly” state

Despite having lost the November 3 elections, Trump won in Florida and had also won there four years earlier. It’s friendly terrain. Here they organized spectacular boat parades and private gatherings to raise funds.

Bertica Carrera, director of “Latinos for Trump”, an organization based in Florida, tells Clarion who is happy that the outgoing president has settled in the Sunshine State. “Many in the United States are moving here,” she points out and points out that it is because it is a Republican enclave, led by a governor, Ron De Santis, that the state has not closed due to the coronavirus.

In Palm Beach, a neighborhood of millionaires, Trump will be surrounded by powerful friends who could help him revive politically. Among them is ultra-conservative radio host Ruth Limbaugh. Additionally, Newsmax, a new outlet that has become a Trump favorite, is based in nearby Boca Raton.

Also during Trump’s presidency, Florida became something of a haven for Republican gatherings. Groups like Turning Point USA and the Conservative Political Action Conference have located their conferences in the state, and the Republican National Committee just held its winter conference on Amelia Island in northeast Florida.

But not only Trump is comfortable in this state. His family also plants roots there. Ivanka, the eldest daughter, bought with her husband Jared Kushner a piece of land on Miami’s exclusive Indian Creek Island, raising speculation that she could launch a candidacy for governor or some other position in the state from there. Donald Trump Jr. is also looking for housing in South Florida and Tiffany Trump, who just got engaged, is targeting Miami.

Uncomfortable neighbors

But some residents of Mar-a-Lago are not so happy with his arrival in the area. A lawyer representing several of them has demanded that Palm Beach declare that the outgoing president cannot live there permanently, citing an agreement he made with the city in the early 1990s when he converted the property from a private residence to a club. private, according to The Washington Post. In that agreement it was established that the owners then could not occupy it for more than 21 days a year.

This is sure to bring a headache to Trump, who was seeking to settle there as a legal and formal residence. In Florida, taxes are lower than in New York, where he lived before becoming president, and there he also feels more comfortable to face his possible political projects for himself or for one of his relatives, as is speculated these days.

Cabrera points to Clarion that she is sure that the tycoon will continue his political career, but does not believe that he will run for president again. “I wouldn’t do it if I were him, because I think they have suffered enough, they have suffered a smear campaign for four years.” But he clarifies: “I believe that her daughter Ivanka or her children may one day apply, they have a lot of potential.”

When his officials and legislators in Washington move away from him, in the Sunshine State he now has his best allies. “We want to let you know that you have family and friends here in the Palm Beach County Republican Party who supported you through your presidency and two presidential campaigns,” said Michael Barnett, chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party. “We prefer to have him in Washington, but we are very happy to have him at home, too.”

Washington, correspondent

CB