For the last twenty years, President Donald Trump has held an extravagant New Year’s Eve party at his private club, Mar-a-Lago.
However, now he is President, this evening will be much different from any other New Year’s Eve Trump’s party guests have previously experienced.
And this is signified through the steep price-rise of the exclusive tickets to the Palm Beach resort. Last year, tickets sold for ‘just’ $525 for members and $575 for guests.
Now members can expect to pay $600, with guests shelling out $750. Really puts that twenty quid club entrance fee into perspective.
Although Donald Trump does not now run his real estate and hotel business, he still owns Mar-a-Lago as well as various other properties.
After he became president, the number of Mar-a-Lago membership applications soared, resulting in the initiation fee being doubled to an eye-watering $200,000.
Some experts are now criticising Trump for apparently profiting from his presidency, while using his powerful position to promote the Trump brand.
Critics have noted how – as well as this price boost – Trump has made frequent trips to Trump Organisation properties; including ten trips to Mar-a-Lago.
Government ethics expert from the Washington University School of Law in St Louis, Kathleen Clark, has made the following statement to The Washington Post:
The President continues to find ways to profit from public office, by exploiting the fact that there are people who will pay to spend time with him and to be seen with him.
A law known as the STOCK Act was introduced back in 2012 and states:
No executive branch employee may use nonpublic information derived from [or acquired through] their position as an executive branch employee as a means for making a private profit.
By breaking this law, the President could land himself in serious trouble.
Ethics lawyer Richard Painter told The Huffington Post:
Those who do not follow such advice do so at their own risk. This could also factor into a decision by the House to impeach an official who is subject to impeachment.
However, some Mar-a-Lago club members believe the price hike – and additional security – will be worth it.
Club member and co-founder of ‘Trumpettes USA’, Toni Holt Kramer, told The Washington Post:
It’s a very glam night. I think everyone is even more excited this year than last year, because then he was president-elect, he hadn’t been sworn in,
Now he’s president, and he’s accomplished so much already.
The glamorous annual event usually kicks off with guests being served cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, before a lavish four-course meal begins.
In the past, entertainment has included crooner Rod Stewart, and a Tiger Woods Impersonator.
The theme for this year’s luxury bash is ‘modern fantasy garden’, with Jose Graterol Designs of Miami arranging the decor for the fourth time in a row.
Previous themes have included Las Vegas showgirls and Moulin Rouge, however now Trump is President there will be reportedly be amore sophisticated approach.
Co-owner of Jose Graterol Designs of Miami, Steve Levine, told The Washington Post: ‘There’s a more modern vibe than in the past’.
It is believed 500 to 600 guests went to last year’s party, with even greater numbers expected this New Year’s Eve.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.