Ordinary people who encounter President Trump wherever he happens to be always gush about how down-to-earth, pleasant, and genuine he is. I have not read or heard a report to the contrary.
Often, President Trump leaves the safety of his armored limo to stop and shake hands with supporters along his motorcade route.
Such was the case on Saturday for “The Trump Squad,” a group of Trump supporters who live near Mar-A-Lago and gather along the route to the resort to greet President Trump when he is in town as he travels to his posh estate which has become known as the Winter White House.
Except, The Trump Squad received more than a handshake. They were invited to visit President Trump at Mar-A-Lago and tour the palatial estate, including hors d’oeuvres in the ballroom with the President.
About 20 minutes after President Trump’s motorcade passed over of the Southern bridge on its way back to Mar-a-Lago after golf on Saturday, a white van stopped near a group of supporters.
A man stepped out with an invitation that stunned the devoted sign-waiving crowd.
The president would like to meet with you at Mar-a-Lago.
“It stunned me,” said Mike Sims, of West Palm Beach. “I didn’t know what to think.”
Sixteen supporters piled into two white vans for a short drive across the bridge to the president’s private club. No one expected the 90-minute visit to the president’s “Winter White House.”
“I was wearing baggy pants,” bemoaned one supporter of the sudden invite — and the photo she had taken with Trump.
The group went through the usual security sweep by the Secret Service and then met with the president, who was still in his golf clothes and shoes.
He shook hands with the group near the pool and posed with each for photos. A White House photographer also shot pictures. The president gave a short history of Mar-a-Lago, built in the 1920’s by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and gave each a magazine about the estate.
Trump bought the dilapidated estate in 1985 and restored it. In 1995 he opened Mar-a-Lago as a private club, which now has about 500 members. Today, Mar-a-Lago has a spa, tennis courts, two pools, putting greens, several dining areas and bedrooms that are available only to members and their guests.
“He couldn’t have been more down to earth,” said Mary Tulko, of Lake Worth. Tulko said she thanked the president for the big stock market gains this year. “He was just really nice.”
After the meet, greet and photo op, Trump asked his aides to show the group into his living room to see the Christmas tree, and outside, to view the helicopter. They were then invited into the ballroom for snacks: meatballs, watermelon, pigs in a blanket, spring rolls, thick chocolate chip cookies, iced tea and water.
Sims especially liked the water.
“It was a regular water bottle except it didn’t say Zephyrhills, it said Trump,” said Sims, who grabbed one as a souvenier. “It was just a fabulous experience. I will never forget it.”
_20171231175823.jpeg)
Donald Tarca Jr., of Boynton Beach, shakes hands with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Trump surprised loyal supporters who greet him near Mar-a-Lago with an invitation to his private club on Dec. 30.
