Palm Beach County has directed its staff to explore an offer from President Donald Trump to build a Camp David-like retreat at Trump International Golf Club.
The details of the offer, first disclosed by The Palm Beach Post, remain sparse, but the concept has generally received a favorable reaction from county officials. County Administrator Joe Abruzzo told The Post this month the proposal is a “remarkable and historic opportunity.”
Commissioner Maria Sachs has also expressed initial interest in Trump's offer.
“It should have a very positive impact on the region’s economy,” Sachs said. “It will bring global leaders to our county, which will be very positive.”
The proposal was first outlined in a Sept. 3 letter from Harvey Oyer, the attorney who
is representing Trump in the offer, to the county commission. In the notice, Trump offered to "designate" the club as a "U.S. Presidential Golf Course" to be used by presidents and visiting heads of state as a place of statesmanship.
Under the plan, as stated in the letter, Trump International would "provide access to all" club facilities at "no cost to the federal government" and cooperate with the General Services Administration and U.S. Secret Service to "design an appropriate Presidential lodging" at the property.
Trump International also would bear the cost of constructing the facility, the letter stated, as a "gift" to "the people of America, and his fellow Palm Beach County residents."
In a subsequent interview with The Post, Oyer said he is looking forward to beginning discussions with the county.
"It would make Palm Beach County a focal point for future presidents and visiting heads of state," he said. "So it seems like a win-win for everyone.
Details, Oyer said, remain sletchy in large part because various federal agencies would have to be consulted. There is no cost estimate yet, for example, and the actual location for the lodging area has not been determined, Oyer said.
It is unlikely the facility would be completed before Trump leaves office, and Trump International as an entity would remain in the control of the president's business, The Trump Organization.
The Trump family owns Trump International, but it sits on land leased from the county, per the terms of the settlement of a lawsuit Trump filed against the airport formerly known as Palm Beach International. The state renamed the airport for Trump in July.
One county commissioner, Joel Flores, said he needs answers to several questions before supporting the project. He also noted that the commission will decide whether the project can move forward.
“The devil is in the details,” Flores said. “We need to make sure there is no cost to the county. And one of my concerns is what impact this could have on flight patterns since this retreat would be permanent."
Commissioner Gregg Weiss echoed that sentiment in a prepared statement to The Post.
"On the surface, the proposal is worth exploring, but we need more information about the lease extension and other details before moving forward," he stated.
Commissioner Maria Marino conceded there are "lots of details to work out" and the discussions are only about to begin. But she, too, was receptive.
"Having a winter White House in Palm Beach County would be a good thing," she said. "Everyone else comes here to play and relax. Why not the presidents?"
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: County staff to start talks on Trump's 'Camp David' golf retreat plan
