Latest news with #MarALago
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump's self-funded $100K on White House update
By President Donald Trump saluted the quality and detail of a pair of 88-foot flagpoles he is having installed at the White House – lauding their size, shape and even the sand that will encase them. For Trump, the flagpole is more than just a flagpole: it is a dream deferred. Trump showed one of them to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. One of them asked him how long he has dreamed of having one. 'I've had it for a long time. In the first term I had it but you know you guys were after me … I was the hunted, and now I'm the hunter. There's a big difference,' Trump said. He compared the quality of the pole to the flagpoles at his Florida clubs Doral and Mar-a-Lago, even vouching for the sand around the nine-foot hole that is meant to secure it. 'It goes nine feet down. There's nothing in there, just the tube goes nine feet down.' 'And when they fill it with sand – absolutely pure sand,' Trump said. 'The White House opened about 1800, little before that,' Trump said outside the historic building. 'I've always said why doesn't it have a flagpole from the grass – they call it a flagpole from the grass.' One thing is for certain: the flagpoles Trump is having installed are big. He said they were 'about 100 feet,' although White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gave the more exact figure of 88-feet. 'This is about the largest you'll ever see, and it's tapered. It's a quality that you guys rarely get to even put up,' Trump said. 'We have one going there, identical,' the president said, referencing another flagpole being installed on the North Lawn. Trump described it as a major improvement over existing flagpoles, or the flag that flies atop the historic Georgian executive mansion. 'There's a little flagpole that's like 15 feet high – little tiny flag up top. This is the real deal. This is the best you can get. Nothing like this. You know most of them are 20 feet, 25 feet, this is close to 100 feet. And I think it's a great location. You know you put it out there, people don't appreciate it,' the former real estate developer said. He said it would be surrounded by a 'beautiful flower bed.' Crucially, the poles have the flag-raising rope installed on the inside. 'At Mar-a-Lago I have a similar pole, not quite as tall. The rope's on the outside. And you hear that rope banging,' Trump allowed. It's an annoyance that Trump is not keen to endure while in Washington. 'You know when they're outside, they're very noisy. They snap in the wind,' Trump said. 'I'm paying for it,' Trump said of the costs. 'I'd say each poll is like $50,000,' he said, providing a cost estimate. There was just one word Trump wasn't inclined to use when speaking of erecting the poll. 'Anyway, let's have a good — they call it a lifting. They also use another word, but I'm not going to use that word. It starts with an E. You know what the word is? If I ever used it, l'd be run out of town.' The flagpoles are just one in a series of updates he is making to the campus. Trump also spoke about a ballroom he said will go near the east wing. The Rose Garden is torn up for new pavers. Trump started generating buzz for the project weeks ago when he toured a potential site on the North Lawn. Then he fired off an online post early Wednesday, even as Israel and Iran exchanged fire and the potential the U.S. could join the bombing campaign. 'It is my Great Honor to announce that I will be putting up two beautiful Flag Poles on both sides of the White House, North and South Lawns,' Trump posted. 'It is a gift from me of something which was always missing from this magnificent place. The digging and placement of the poles will begin at 7:30 A.M. EST, tomorrow morning. Flags will be raised at approximately 11 A.M. EST. These are the most magnificent poles made – They are tall, tapered, rust proof, rope inside the pole, and of the highest quality. Hopefully, they will proudly stand at both sides of the White House for many years to come!' Not everything without a hitch. Trump had said there would also be a viewing of the second pole. But DC's skies turned grey around the time a work crew erected it. By the afternoon there was pouring rain and weather warnings about thunderstorms.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump remakes the White House with new flagpoles
WASHINGTON (AP) — The American flag has long flown from a pole on the White House roof, but that's always been too small for President Donald Trump, who wants everything to be bigger and more beautiful. On Wednesday, massive new flagpoles were erected on the North and South Lawns of the White House. 'It's such a beautiful pole,' Trump said as workers used a crane to install the latest addition to the South Lawn. He returned to the same spot later in the day, saluting as the stars and stripes were hoisted for the first time. The second pole, on the North Lawn, is close to Pennsylvania Avenue. The two poles are the most notable exterior modification to the White House since Trump returned to the presidency with grand ideas for remaking the building. He's already updated the Oval Office, adding gold accents, more portraits and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Workers have begun paving over the grass in the Rose Garden, and there are plans to construct a new ballroom somewhere on the White House grounds. The changes bring the iconic building more in line with Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Florida. The president made time to watch one of the flagpole installations despite the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, plus questions of whether the U.S. would become directly involved. 'I love construction,' said Trump, who made his mark as a New York real estate developer. 'I know it better than anybody.' He talked about how the pole went down nine feet deep for stability, and the rope would be contained inside the cylinder, unlike the one at Mar-a-Lago. When the wind blows, 'you hear that rope, banging.' 'This is the real deal,' he said. 'This is the best you can get. There's nothing like this.' ____
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Legendary rocker Rod Stewart reveals why he won't go to Trump's Mar-a-Lago Christmas parties anymore
Legendary rocker Rod Stewart has revealed why he won't go to Donald Trump 's Christmas parties anymore. The iconic singer said he no longer attends the lavish parties at Mar-a-Lago, citing a firm stance taken by his wife, Penny Lancaster. The model reportedly put a stop to her husband's friendship with Trump, claiming he 'doesn't treat women very well', according to her rocker husband. 'I used to go to his Christmas party and the balls he held, but my wife said no,' Stewart, 80, said. 'There was stuff he was coming out with, what he was saying about women he had known in the past, and Penny said, "You're not going. He's a disgrace."' While Stewart and Trump, 79, were once friendly, the singer even performing at Trump's casinos, his view of the former president has changed significantly. In a 2018 interview, Stewart addressed his personal history with Trump, admitting to knowing the billionaire president 'for a long time.' 'Let me just clear up the situation. I've known Trump for a long time. I've done concerts for him in his casinos. I live probably three-quarters of a mile down the road from him on the beach in Florida,' the Maggie May singer said. 'He's always been extremely nice to me. He's let my friends use his golf course for nothing, and I've had no problems with him at all. 'Is he a great president? Nah. I think his moral compass is way off. But on the other hand, the country's doing extremely well - although I believe part of that was down to President Obama. The country was starting to do great anyway; he's just carrying it on. 'But we'll see with the mid-term elections. It does seem like the walls are closing in on my dear friend,' he added. Stewart also said in an interview with Radio Times magazine that his former friend has changed since being elected into office. 'I'm not a great fan of Trump. I knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house,' the I Don't Want to Talk About It singer told the Daily Star. 'I live literally half a mile away. We're both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. He's always been a bit of a man's man. I liked him for that,' he said, adding, 'but he didn't, as far as I'm concerned, treat women very well. Since he became President, he became another guy. Somebody I didn't know.' The 80-year-old rockstar said he no longer counts Trump as a friend anymore citing his policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 'No, I can't any more. As long as he's selling arms to the Israelis – and he still is. How's that war ever gonna stop?'
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
More of Wall Street Is Following Ken Griffin South
In the years since billionaire Ken Griffin pulled up stakes and led Citadel and his market-making firm Citadel Securities to South Florida, more hedge fund managers have followed in his wake. Maybe it's the sunny weather. Maybe it's the allure of lower taxes and lighter regulation. Or more recently, maybe it's simply proximity to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago compound, where the president's adjutants and hangers-on mix with hedge fund kingpins and financiers, striking deals in darkened private clubs and on verdant golf courses. In the premiere episode of the new Bloomberg Originals series Bullish with Sonali Basak, we pull back the curtain on this momentous shift in financial power from Wall Street to South Florida, showing how it happened and whether it has legs.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
From San Fran to Mar-a-Lago: Anger with Trump leads thousands to march for ‘No Kings' as cops descend on marches
In cities and small towns across the United States, tens of thousands of people marched to send President Donald Trump a message: They don't tolerate 'kings, tyrants or dictators.' 'No Kings' demonstrations spanned 2,000 locations across the country, marking the largest demonstrations against the Trump administration since the start of his second term. The protests were organized in defiance of Trump's military parade for the Army's 250th anniversary which, coincidentally, marked the president's 79th birthday. Some 1,000 protesters marched toward Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach with 'No Kings' banners, while Los Angeles saw more than 20,000 demonstrators march on the city following a week of unrest over the Trump administration's anti-immigration agenda. Protests were largely peaceful with few arrests nationwide and rallies were winding down by late afternoon, but there were reported clashes with police in pockets of the country and several acts of violence apparently targeting demonstrators. Tensions escalated in downtown LA late afternoon as police sought to disperse demonstrators by using flash bangs and canisters of tear gas. Protesters responded with loud fireworks and calls to 'hold the line.' In San Francisco, a driver struck four protesters in what police are investigating as 'a possible act of intent.' Another driver in Culpeper, Virginia 'intentionally' drove into a crowd of protesters, according to police. Law enforcement officials in Texas evacuated the state capitol in Austin after 'credible threat' to lawmakers who planned to attend today's protests. The protests followed early morning news of what officials are calling a 'politically motivated assassination' in Minnesota, where police have launched a manhunt for Vance Boelter, who is suspected of gunning down State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. More than 1,000 people marched towards Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach but were blocked off by police with riot shields. Protesters were stopped roughly 300 yards from Trump's Florida home and met by dozens of state and local police who formed a line to block the group from getting too close to the property. A 'handful' of Trump supporters were also there but the march was reportedly peaceful. Protesters turned back to West Palm Beach after being stopped by police. In Ocala, three people were arrested after a dispute broke out between a protester and a counter-protester. In DeKalb County, Georgia, at least eight people were arrested as officers fired tear gas on demonstrators at a nearby protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Police in riot gear were seen using tear gas on anti-ICE protesters who ran away and climbed over shrubs to escape. DeKalb County Police reportedly gave the crowd 15 minutes to disperse. Protest organizers urged people back onto the sidewalk. At least eight people were taken into custody. 'The right to protest is fundamental and respected in DeKalb County,' the county's CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said in a statement. 'But when a protest shifts from peaceful and law-abiding to one that threatens public safety and disregards lawful orders, I trust our officers to respond appropriately. Our duty is to protect both the rights of individuals and the wellbeing of the broader community.' At the 'No Kings' flagship protest, the Philadelphia Police Department police said 80,000 people descended on the city. There were no arrests. Marchers shouted 'Whose streets? Our streets!' as they approached the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they listened to speakers on the steps made famous in the movie Rocky. 'So what do you say, Philly?' Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland shouted to the crowd. 'Are you ready to fight back? Do you want a gangster state or do you want free speech in America?' The whole crowd joined in a chant of 'No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here' in response to speaker Lorella Praeli, co-president of the Community Change organization. Raskin addressed Trump and said: 'You are not our king and we are not your subjects.' Martin Luther King Jr's eldest son also spoke at the rally. 'We still believe in a nation without kings, without tyrants, without rulers who place themselves above the law,' Martin Luther King III told the crowd. 'We are here to say this land belongs to the people, not to the monarchs, not to the autocrats, not to strong men, but to the people. You.' There were worrying scenes in San Francisco when a motorist reportedly hit four protesters and fled, law enforcement officials told The Independent. The driver was detained and police are investigating the incident 'as a possible intentional act.' One man was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. 'It's unfortunate that it happened. We definitely put a lot of safety methods for our marches in place,' said Adam Sheehan of Indivisible SF. 'We're very happy that the person is OK and that the law is talking to the person driving.' And after a week of unrest in Los Angeles following last weekend's protests against ICE raids and ramped-up immigration arrests, Mayor Karen Bass urged protesters to keep the peace at Saturday's demo. More than 20,000 people marched through the city, where demonstrators deployed a giant Constitution, and protests were largely peaceful. But scenes turned angrier later in the day as police appeared to deploy riot-control weapons, including rubber bullets and tear gas, against a large crowd of protesters. A dispersal order was issued for a crowd outside a federal building complex as photos from the scene showed protesters fleeing officers. A curfew was in effect from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. local time in large parts of the city following the unrest. New Yorkers showed up by the tens of thousands despite persistent drizzle, packing Fifth Avenue from 42nd Street to Madison Square Park, and then spilling into side streets and neighboring Broadway. Organizers estimated 75,000 were in attendance. A diverse crowd ranged in age from children in strollers to seniors, and the mood was upbeat. Signs, placards and even costumes covered a multitude of frustrations, complaints and anger toward the Trump administration, including furious denouncements of ICE, the president's parade in Washington, D.C., and the work of the Department of Government Efficiency. Others focused on the trampling of checks and balances in government, fears over a rise of authoritarianism, and — the central focus of the day — that America was founded through a revolution against the rule of a king. Police stood back along the route, many sheltering from the rain in doorways and storefronts. Volunteers marshaled demonstrators off Fifth Avenue at 26th Street, the official end of the march, and small groups assembled nearby to continue the protest, waving wet placards and flags and chanting: 'Donald Trump must go!' Additional reporting by Io Dodds in San Francisco and Oliver O'Connell in New York
