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Trump won to change Palm Beach’s security

Harry November 7, 2024

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What’s next for security around President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach?

There is some precedent for understanding what residents can expect in the coming months and years as Trump enters his second term in the White House: The four years Trump was previously president.

Still, sources have previously told the Daily News that while the past is a good indicator of the future, security may be tighter this time around.

More frequent visits possible

During his first two years in the White House, Trump’s permanent residence was in New York.

That changed in 2019, when he and First Lady Melania Trump declared Palm Beach their home by filing a declaration of residence with the Palm Beach County Clerk’s office.

Until last year, Trump spent mostly weekends at Mar-a-Lago during Palm Beach’s social season, coming for longer visits during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays.

While campaigning last year, Trump spent increasingly more time at his home in Palm Beach. While he previously struggled to spend more than a few days per summer at Mar-a-Lago, he opted for Palm Beach over New York and his Bedminster, N.J., golf club, where he usually spends most of his time. in the summer.

Between now and his inauguration in January, a Trump adviser told The Palm Beach Post that he will lead Trump’s transition from Mar-a-Lago.

Trump may spend more time in the White House during the week after his inauguration. But he is expected to visit on weekends and opt for trips to Mar-a-Lago rather than the presidential retreat at Camp David, as he did during his first term as president.

Traffic and road closures

One of the biggest questions being asked by Palm Beach residents, business owners and visitors in recent days is: What happens next on South Ocean Boulevard?

The road has been closed, first completely and then intermittently, since July 20, when the U.S. Secret Service ordered it closed from the Southern Boulevard traffic circle north to the intersection with South County Road. The move follows the July 13 assassination attempt at Trump’s campaign rally, which injured the presidential candidate and two of his supporters and killed one more person.

When initially announced, the Southern Ocean was to be completely closed 24 hours a day, at least until the November 5 general election. The Secret Service, Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced a deal in August to reopen the road if Trump is gone long enough that removing the checkpoints makes logistical and security sense . officials said.

Due to the road closure, residents and people doing business in the area must enter through the north checkpoint on South County Road, and only emergency vehicles can pass through the south checkpoint.

A former Secret Service agent told the Daily News earlier this year that South Ocean Boulevard should be closed as soon as Trump was elected, citing major safety concerns about how close vehicles could get to Mar-a-Lago when crossing South Ocean Boulevard. .

Another security expert told the Daily News that if Trump wins a second term in the White House, officials may have to consider a more permanent option near Mar-a-Lago to provide protection every day even if Trump isn’t there.

Periodic road closures ripped through Palm Beach during Trump’s first term. Business owners decried the lack of traffic to Midtown and people complained of hour-long delays on the Royal Park Bridge. It’s unclear what will happen between now and Inauguration Day, but residents can expect there will be a few spots where Southern Ocean Boulevard could open as Trump conducts his transition from Mar-a-Lago.

Donald Trump supporters react to 2024 Election results near Mar-a-Lago

Palm Beach Trump supporters gathered to celebrate Trump’s victory on the bridge near Mar-a-Lago, where security was increased on election night.

Air traffic from Palm Beach International

During Trump’s first term as president, the Federal Aviation Administration diverted air traffic away from Mar-a-Lago to protect airspace over the Palm Beach property while Trump was there.

The FAA issued temporary flight restrictions barring all but essential air travel in the region, preventing planes from taking off and landing at Palm Beach County’s general aviation airport on Lantana Road. nearly bankrupt that facility. A banner business that has been operating at Lantana airport for ten years went bankrupt in 2017 due to restrictions.

Flight restrictions were put in place at Mar-a-Lago after Trump was there on July 13, but were not as strict as at the White House. It’s unclear how the FAA will enforce these flight restrictions after Trump is elected.

Coast Guard restrictions

Those who regularly cruise through Mar-a-Lago will know that security has been increased in the waters surrounding the property in recent weeks.

During Trump’s first term, the U.S. Coast Guard had its first temporary security zones until 2018; That’s where the agency implemented permanent security zones around Mar-a-Lago that prevent boaters from entering the Intracoastal Waterway closest to the club when Trump is at home. Boats can pass through the Intracoastal further west of Mar-a-Lago and just east of the land in the Atlantic Ocean, but they cannot stop.

The Coast Guard announced in August will re-enforce these security zones temporarily during Trump’s visits to Palm Beach. The safety zones also include changes to the opening schedules of the three bridges connecting West Palm Beach to Palm Beach.

The opening schedules for the Flagler Monument and Southern Boulevard bridges are similar while Trump is home:

Monday to Friday: The bridge will open on a quarter of an hour from 7.30am to 9am; the bridge will open on quarter and three-quarter hours from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.; From 14.15 to 18.00 the bridge will open in a quarter of an hour; and from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. the bridge will open on quarter and three-quarter hours.
Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays: The bridge will open at quarter and three quarter hours.

The Coast Guard said the Southern Boulevard Bridge may also be closed without notice to allow uninterrupted passage of convoys. The Royal Park Bridge’s schedule for when Trump is in town differs from the schedule for the other two bridges, as the bridge’s opening hours are staggered:

Monday to Friday: The bridge will open on half an hour from 7.30am to 9am; The bridge will open every half hour from 9 am to 14:15 pm; From 14.15 to 18.00, the bridge will open in half an hour; The bridge will be opened every half hour from 18.00 to 07.30 in the evening.
Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays: The bridge will open in one and a half hours.

Protection costs

Trump’s first 27 visits to Mar-a-Lago as president cost local governments and law enforcement an estimated $13.7 million. The Palm Beach Post reported in November 2020.

Since July, when security around Trump was stepped up, Palm Beach has spent an estimated $3,600 per day, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has spent an average of another $93,000 per day to protect Trump while he is at Mar-a-Lago. According to a letter local officials sent to members of the US Congress in September Representing Palm Beach County.

Officials told the Daily News that Trump’s second White House term would result in additional costs.

During Trump’s first term, Palm Beach County and New York City officials worked with the federal government to create a grant program (the Presidential Residence Preservation Assistance Grant). This program provided reimbursement to state and local government for increased law enforcement costs as agencies worked to maintain residency. The president frequently visits numerous personal properties, some of which are located in high-traffic areas such as Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach and Trump Tower in New York.

The grant is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Records show The amount budgeted for grants each year has decreased since Trump left office; It dropped from $41 million available each year from 2017-20 to $12.7 million annually in 2021 and $3 million annually in 2022 and 2023.

It is unclear how much budget the government will allocate for the next fiscal year.