美国国家公共电台 NPR Mar-A-Lago Offers Trump And Abe A Spectacular Place To Get Acquainted

KELLY MCEVERS, HOST:

The White House says Prime Minister Abe will be the president's guest at Mar-a-Lago this weekend. That word guest helps avoid a possible violation 1 of the Emoluments 2 Clause in the Constitution, which forbids U.S. officials from taking payments from foreign governments. This hasn't been the only tricky 3 situation around Mar-a-Lago since Trump 4 was elected. And it's not just the president's winter home, it's a fully 5 functioning private club with nearly 500 members. NPR's Greg Allen has this report from just outside the South Florida estate.

GREG ALLEN, BYLINE 6: This is as close as most people ever get to Mar-a-Lago. From the bridge to Palm Beach, the estate built by serial 7 heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post is a few hundred yards over the Intracoastal Waterway. Today, it's a private club, usually open only to members like Robin 8 Bernstein.

ROBIN BERNSTEIN: It's exquisite 9. I mean, everything is done to perfection from the imported stones from Europe. I don't think Marjorie Merriweather Post spared any expense when she designed and had it built.

ALLEN: The magnificent home was built in the 1920s as a showstopper with its red-tiled roof, arched doorways 10 and soaring tower. It's been described as a Moorish 11 fantasy. When she died in 1973, Post left her home to the federal government for use as a winter White House. Several years later, the high expense of maintaining the property led the government to return it to Post's foundation, and it was put up for sale.

In 1985, Donald Trump became the buyer, picking up the estate and an adjacent beach property for some $10 million. Darryl Huffines, who covers real estate for the island's paper, the Palm Beach Daily News, says Trump got a deal.

DARRELL HOFHEINZ: If you can imagine 17 acres that has been really beautifully maintained, the house itself - the estimates ranged 124 rooms. The rooms have soaring ceilings. The stonework from the exterior's amazing, plus it has a tower.

ALLEN: In 1995, Trump converted the residence into a private club with tennis courts, its own beach, a dining room and guest rooms for members. Recently, the club doubled the price of memberships to $200,000. Trump also put in a ballroom 12, helping 13 make the club a prime venue 14 for Palm Beach society. Bernstein has been to many charity events there.

BERNSTEIN: I've been to concerts there - Bocelli, Beach Boys, Kenny G, Jay Leno. Throughout the years it's just been really fun.

ALLEN: Trump's organization earns income from all those events. Hofheinz of the Palm Beach Daily News says the charities pay a hefty fee to hold their events at Mar-a-Lago.

HOFHEINZ: I think sometimes people forget that private clubs are open to make money, and that's what President Trump opened the club to do.

ALLEN: For groups that hold fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's presidency 15 has created problems. The American Red Cross had to defend its decision to hold its event last week at the club. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is going ahead with its fundraiser later this month, but it's promising 16 to avoid controversial venues 17 in the future.

For Palm Beach residents, Trump's decision to make Mar-a-Lago his winter White House is turning out to be a headache. Trump's visit last weekend shut down the island's main thoroughfare, paralyzing traffic and hurting businesses during the tony enclave's peak season. The town's former mayor, Jack 18 McDonald, says locals are starting to understand what hosting a president means.

JACK MCDONALD: I've actually seen some comments from members of the club who are very upset about what this has come, and it's going to get worse.

ALLEN: Palm Beach officials say they're working to improve traffic when Trump is in town. And he's doing his part. He's putting in a helipad to get him from the airport to his estate without a motorcade. Greg Allen, NPR News, Palm Beach.