Mar-a-Lago membership fee raised to $1M: Is Trump selling influence?
What's the story
Former US President Donald Trump has increased the membership fee for new members at his Mar-a-Lago resort, to a staggering $1 million.
This move, effective from October, marks a significant rise from the previous fee of $700,000.
The timing of this rise, just a month before the presidential election, has raised eyebrows among ethics observers who suspect that Trump may be monetizing access and influence.
Defense
Mar-a-Lago's manager defends fee hike
Bernd Lembcke, the longstanding manager of Mar-a-Lago, has defended the fee increase.
He stated that the team was not seeking new members.
This statement comes despite Trump's known habit of socializing with guests at Mar-a-Lago during his first term and even considering their policy suggestions.
Critics argue that this could be a strategy to attract affluent donors willing to pay for access.
Influence concerns
Critics link membership fee hike to political influence
Robert Weissman from Public Citizen highlighted instances where Mar-a-Lago members were appointed to government positions during Trump's presidency.
Notable examples include Lana Marks, Adrian Zuckerman, and David Cornstein who served as US ambassadors to South Africa, Romania, and Hungary respectively.
In 2019, USA Today reported that eight club members had roles in Trump's administration.
The membership fee at Mar-a-Lago was approximately $200,000 at the start of Trump's presidency.
Past scandals
Mar-a-Lago's history of controversies
Since Trump's acquisition in 1985, Mar-a-Lago has been at the center of several controversies.
One such incident involved a lawsuit over confidential documents being removed from the White House, and discovered in the mansion.
The Trump Organization has not yet responded to queries about the new membership costs.
This silence adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing debate surrounding ethics and influence at Mar-a-Lago.