Trump Golf Course Exposed In Widespread Financial Misconduct By Miami Herald

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Donald Trump may have won the presidency, but his name will forever be linked with racism, misogyny, and xenophobia, which is why so many people have tried to distance themselves from the Trump name. Ivanka Trump’s clothing line is now defunct, plans to build hotel chains are being abandoned after partners backed out, and his name has been pried off the sides of businesses that no longer wish to associate themselves with him because he’s losing them customers.

Some members of his golf resorts have also withdrawn their support and asked for a refund on their money. Five of those members have spoken to reporters to say that new memberships must reach a certain level before they can be given refunds, but those new memberships don’t seem to be coming at the same rate they once did. In fact, these five members have waited years for their money with no luck.

The Miami-Herald reports that:

‘Two long-time golf members who resigned weeks after Trump won the 2016 presidential election said they were no longer willing to write him checks. Another quit last December after he said the club became too political. They spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonymity, saying they fear retaliation. These former members are now on a waiting list to get their deposits back – ranging from $10,500 to $19,000 – that stretches more than 265 people-long.

‘To move up the list by one spot, four new golf members need to join the club, according to the membership terms. Deposit amounts vary depending on when members joined.’

Trump’s divisive rhetoric against immigrants, Muslims, women, Democrats, transgender military members, Gold Star families, the press, Baltimore, Jewish voters, Puerto Rico, the intelligence community, and a whole host of other people and organizations seems to have finally put a few people off. When contacted by The Miami-Herald, the Trump Organization had no comment about the expected rapid decline in membership.

‘The Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment via call, email and in-person visit to the club about the number of members who have joined and left the club each year under Trump’s ownership, nor how the total number of members has changed over time. The director of membership at Trump Doral, Willy Ruiz, said he could not comment on the membership program.’

Of course, it’s unlikely that the Trump Organization would be anymore willing to admit that the current president is business poison than he himself would, although that appears to be the case. The organization reported previously that they refunded the fees of 24 lost members prior to Trump’s presidency, but the five who have waited in line ever since show that membership since January 2017 is quickly dropping.

‘In December 2017, Trump Organization lawyer Jill Martin told a lawyer for five former golf members – three of whom left after the election – that the club had refunded 24 memberships since Trump bought the property out of bankruptcy in 2012. That means around 96 people joined the club in those six years, or an average of 16 per year.

‘But in the period from December 2017 to January 2019, one of those former members said he only advanced by one spot, another said he advanced by two, meaning at most eight new members joined in that time period, far fewer than the years prior, suggesting Trump’s new job may be hurting membership. Former members do not have access to the list in its entirety, but can ask the membership office for an update on their spot in line.’

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