Lizzie Widdicombe Visits Mar-a-Lago

Summary

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Episode: Lizzie Widdicombe Visits Mar-a-Lago

Date: July 3, 2017
Host: Dorothy Wickenden
Featured Reporter: Lizzie Widdicombe
Context: Lizzie Widdicombe travels to Palm Beach, Florida, to explore the unique role of Mar-a-Lago—the private club and "Southern White House"—in President Trump’s administration, and its impact on local culture and politics.

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Episode Overview

This episode offers an inside look at the culture and social dynamics of Palm Beach, Florida, with special attention to President Donald Trump’s private club, Mar-a-Lago. Host Dorothy Wickenden and reporter Lizzie Widdicombe, joined by colleagues and local voices, provide a layered account of how the club blurs the boundaries between political power and high society, and reshapes both the town and perceptions of the presidency.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Palm Beach’s Setting and Mar-a-Lago’s Emerging Role

• Palm Beach is portrayed as an ultra-wealthy, exclusive enclave—a place of “crystal water, pristine sand, and 70 degree temperatures in January.” (01:31)
• Mar-a-Lago, bought by Trump in 1985 and converted into a private club, now functions as both a residence and the site of presidential business, drawing together members, guests, and world leaders.

2. Local Reactions: Protest, Support, and Disruption

• Protesters and supporters gather near Mar-a-Lago when Trump is there, hoping for acknowledgment—sometimes rewarded, but often disappointed. (02:35)
• Quote:
  "He actually got out and called some supporters and brought him over to his home. They had Secret Service pick them up and bring them there. Amazing. Totally amazing." — Dorothy Wickenden (02:57)

3. Social Hierarchies: Old Money vs. New Money

• Palm Beach’s culture is divided between “old guard” and “new money,” with Mar-a-Lago seen as emblematic of the latter. (04:11)
• At traditional events like the Palm Beach Flower Show, established residents gather—showcasing a notable distance from the Mar-a-Lago crowd.
• Quote:
  "This is more...no, this is a very old Palm Beach crowd. These are people whose either they or their families have lived here probably for two generations. The Mar-a-Lago crowd is a much more recent to Palm Beach." — Unnamed Palm Beach Resident (06:47)

4. Political and Social Rift

• Political divisions are subtle within the wealthy community; “quiet money” supports Trump mostly out of desire for change, not awe of his business acumen.
• Quote:
  "Most of them are as successful as he is. So, you know, they just wanted the country on a different path. And Trump’s a different path." — Unnamed Palm Beach Resident (07:55)
• Local inconveniences, such as airport shutdowns and traffic jams when the President is in town, affect everyone, regardless of politics.
  "Pro-Trump or anti-Trump? Everyone in Palm Beach can agree on that. The traffic is a bummer." — Narrator (11:46)

5. Trump’s Historical Tensions with Palm Beach

• Trump’s combative relationship with local authorities is long-standing, exemplified by his legal battles over a non-compliant flagpole.
• Quote:
  "We have a giant teenager in our midst and acclimate yourself to that." — Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator (10:14)

6. The Mar-a-Lago Experience: Inside the Club

• Mar-a-Lago events are described as glamorous, with guests enjoying lavish buffets, gold-and-crystal décor, and the ever-present possibility of Presidential drop-ins.
• Despite increased security, gaining entrance as a guest is described as surprisingly manageable. (12:56)
• Atmosphere: Less exclusive and "snooty" than traditional Palm Beach clubs, if you can pay the high entry fees. (18:48)
• Notable Moment: Tasting “Trump Chardonnay,” compared to the President:
  • "It doesn't have much depth, but it has a little excitement. It's very fresh. So it's somewhat superficial in its character, but absolutely delightful in the drinking." — Dr. Herbert Gould (22:58)
• Inclusivity at Mar-a-Lago:
  "Trump is not interested in what religion you are... He wants you to love luxury... It's a whole different vetting system." — Dorothy Wickenden (18:16)

7. Palm Beach Life and Absurdities

• Quirky aspects include a “pet set” culture, with socialites walking elaborately groomed dogs in prams; even a Trumpette with a dog named “Trump.” (24:01)
• Irony: Trump himself is “famously not an animal lover.” (25:03)
• "My favorite protest sign is somebody had a big sign that said 'He doesn't even have a dog.' And I thought that was wonderful." — Paulette Cooper Noble (25:07)

8. Politics Amid the Party: The Syria Strike

• The episode climaxes as news breaks that Trump, from Mar-a-Lago, ordered Tomahawk missile strikes on Syria.
• Quote:
  "Just before dinner, he had his NSC meeting right here, and they attacked Syria. Fifty Tomahawk missiles..." — Lizzie Widdicombe (26:52)
• The juxtaposition of international crisis with socialite revelry underscores the surreal nature of a presidency lived from a “private palace.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We have a giant teenager in our midst and acclimate yourself to that.”
  – Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator, on Trump’s longstanding behavior (10:14)

• “He doesn't have much depth, but it has a little excitement. It's very fresh. So it's somewhat superficial in its character, but absolutely delightful in the drinking.”
  – Dr. Herbert Gould, on Trump Chardonnay mirroring Trump’s persona (22:58)

• “Trump is a man of the people. As long as the people can cough up $200,000 plus annual dues...”
  – Narrator, wryly highlighting the exclusive inclusivity of Mar-a-Lago (18:54)

• "My favorite protest sign is somebody had a big sign that said 'He doesn't even have a dog.' And I thought that was wonderful."
  – Paulette Cooper Noble (25:07)

• "Just before dinner, he had his NSC meeting right here, and they attacked Syria. Fifty Tomahawk missiles..."
  – Lizzie Widdicombe, on the overlap of social scene and statecraft (26:52)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Palm Beach landscape & Mar-a-Lago introduction: 01:31–02:35
• Local protest/support scene: 02:35–03:15
• Old money vs. new money, Flower Show: 04:11–07:17
• Political divisions & local inconvenience: 07:28–11:46
• Trump's historical tensions with Palm Beach: 08:46–10:44
• Inside Mar-a-Lago; describing décor and guests: 13:43–16:55
• Inclusivity, exclusivity, and club culture: 17:00–19:00
• Syria missile strike news breaks at Mar-a-Lago: 26:44–27:54

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Tone & Style

The episode mixes wry observation, social satire, and grounded reporting. Voices alternate between bemused locals, socialites, and critical observers, all painting a rich picture of a community both charmed and disrupted by having the “Southern White House” in their midst.

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Summary

Lizzie Widdicombe Visits Mar-a-Lago is a sharp, revealing exploration of how Donald Trump’s presidency transformed Mar-a-Lago into a center of American political and social life, with ripple effects across Palm Beach’s old guard and nouveau riche. Blending humorous anecdotes, pointed commentary, and on-the-ground impressions, the episode encapsulates the bizarre, sometimes unsettling mix of power, privilege, and spectacle that defines this singular moment in American politics.

Transcript

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[Dorothy Wickenden]

I'm Dorothy Wickenden. On today's Politics and More podcast, the New Yorker's Lizzie Whitakem travels to Palm Beach, Florida to visit Mar A Lago, President Trump's so called Southern White House.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

Palm beach is on a long skinny island, a barrier island about 70 miles up the coast from Miami. It's one of the wealthiest places in the country, a billionaire's paradise with crystal water, pristine sand and 70 degree temperatures right in the middle of January. And for much of this past winter and spring, Palm beach was the home of President Donald Trump. A unique aspect of this presidency, among many unique aspects, is the fact that the President owns a private club called Mar a Lago and he lives there much of the time and he conducts presidential business while mingling with members and dinner guests. And today were going in. A couple of months ago, the New Yorker's Lizzie Whitacomb traveled to Palm beach along with Steven Valentino from the Radio Hour.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Here comes a Bentley with the driver and passenger filming on their iPhones as.

[Narrator/Commentator]

They go got a helicopter circling.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

They started on this tiny island in the Lake Worth Lagoon, a bird sanctuary that's about as close as the public can get to Mar a Lago. That island became a gathering point for protesters and supporters, hoping that the president would just take a little notice of them.

[Polly Reid]

Guess they're not stopping today.

[Narrator/Commentator]

So has he stopped before?

[Dorothy Wickenden]

He has stopped before several times, and apparently I wasn't here. But the last time he stopped, he actually got out and called some supporters and brought him over to his home. They had Secret Service pick them up and bring them there. Amazing. Totally amazing.

[Narrator/Commentator]

So was part of you hoping for that today?

[Dorothy Wickenden]

We were, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. But we ended up. I understand he's got another president with him. It's probably much too dangerous to stop. Wow, look at this.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Look at this sight.

[Polly Reid]

Oh, my.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So we were down there while Trump was hosting the Chinese president Xi Jinping. And here's the thing. Although some of the most powerful people in the world live for part of the year in Palm beach, they're not always thrilled about being the center of the universe every time the president is.

[Narrator/Commentator]

In town, unless you're a member at.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Mar a Lago, Talk about bikers for Trump. These are the police bikers.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Donald Trump bought the estate in 1985 and eventually turned it into a private club. And it has a unique position in Palm beach culture. There have been lawsuits and letters to the editor over the club, but it's also been the site of a lot of social and charity functions. And basically everyone in the island has been there at some point. And there seems to be a lot of tension about where exactly it fits in.

[Narrator/Commentator]

We don't really think about class Dynamics within the 1%, but Palm beach is one of these places that preserves the distinction between old guard and new money. And Mar A Lago is definitely new money. But if you want to meet the old guard, the Palm Beach Flower show is the place to be.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Hey, Gazy.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How are you?

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Hi, daughter.

[Narrator/Commentator]

We met Mary Chapman Webster, the lady to know, at the Palm Beach Flower show, and her husband Joe, who owns a golf course.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Anyway, every year for a flower show, we always do a centerpiece. And last time we did a Volkswagen covered in moss that was sort of regurgitating flowers, which is really quite fabulous. I'll send you a picture.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

When you get dressed up for an event in Palm beach, one thing to keep in mind is you should not be afraid of color.

[Narrator/Commentator]

There's a lot of pastel dresses, silk jackets, and diamond encrusted brooches.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So it Looks like a gazebo and it's covered in beautiful bright orange lilies. Now I understand why I'm seeing so much orange tonight.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

Okay.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

It's all making sense.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Hey, here comes my husband.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Come on in.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

Interviewing the lady.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

We're interviewing the, the, the lady of the hour.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

Yeah.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

You know what he says? Every time I win anything, he goes, you know, she never thanks the little people.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

And every year at this time, she turns our apartment into a botanical Hiroshima.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Wow.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

A lot of sacrifices have to be made for an event like this.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Anyway.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How would you describe Palm beach in the age of Trump now? It's kind of, now people are talking about it a lot more. It's kind of become the center of the world. I mean, how would you.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

I don't think for the people that live here, it changes because there's really, you know, a lot of people that are very much under the radar that are here all the time that you're never going to see in the paper or anywhere. And then there are people that love to have their pictures taken and Trump works for them and. Right, but I don't think, other than the kind of a two edged sword, I would say. But the, the burden of him being here is tough on the airports because everybody has to shut down.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Right. And how would you describe the people at this party? Is it the Mar a Lago crowd?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

Not at all.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How are they different?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

Well, I don't, I just. She said in Palm Beach, I said, probably zero.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

You want me to be real blunt? This is more. No, this is a very old Palm beach crowd. These are people whose either they or their families have lived here probably for two generations. The Mar a Lago crowd is a much more recent to Palm Beach.

[Narrator/Commentator]

They are, at that point she puts her hand over the microphone and says, it's newer money.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

This is old gone. Right. And so what about, would you say politically was this kind of a Trump?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

A Trump train would be 50, 50.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

And how would you describe the tenor of the support among the pro Trump group? Are they passionate Trump train fans?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

It was a lot of very powerful quiet money.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How does quiet money feel about Trump?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

They backed him.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

And are they worshipful about his business skills? I mean, are they really impressed by him?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

They're worshipful about anything. Most of them are as successful as he is. So, you know, they just wanted the country on a different path. And Trump's a different path.

[Polly Reid]

Now.

[Narrator/Commentator]

You can find a lot of quiet conservative money among the residents of Palm beach, but you can also find, were.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

You at the Garden Flower show last night.

[Polly Reid]

Oh, God. No, I didn't. I boycotted.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Boycotted.

[Polly Reid]

No, I didn't boycott. I just had lots of house guests, and I didn't need.

[Narrator/Commentator]

We connected with democratic activists Bruce McAllister and Pauly Reid poolside.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So can you describe. Can you. Trump and Palm beach have a long history?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Yes.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

And of course, many people in the world have. Are just finding out about Palm beach now. I mean, you know, it's well known to some people, but it's a funny thing.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Palm Beach's attitude towards Donald Trump was formed in many ways many years ago when he was first here and bought Mar a Lago and erected a huge flagpole like the ones you see outside. Used car, lots of. And on the grounds, in violation of zoning code, and defied the town council to do anything about it.

[Polly Reid]

Among many other things, he was in constant litigation with the town of Palm Beach.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

This was one of them.

[Polly Reid]

One of them, One of them.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

And so they sued and they settled. Donald Trump moved the flagpole back and shortened it.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

And.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

It just so happens I wrote a letter to the Shiny Sheet, which they published.

[Narrator/Commentator]

The Shiny Sheet is what they call the local paper, the Palm Beach Daily.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

News, about Please Don't Eat the Daisies. It's a book by.

[Polly Reid]

Right.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

What's her name?

[Polly Reid]

Well, it was Walter Kerr's wife, wasn't it?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Deborah Kerr?

[Polly Reid]

No, it was Walter Kerr, the columnist's wife. I think it.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Deborah.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I think.

[Polly Reid]

No, Deborah Kerr is the movie star.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Yeah, yeah.

[Polly Reid]

Anyway, it doesn't matter, Dolores.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Anyway, so it's. The theme was, what do you do with teenagers? You know, you can't think of every single thing to tell them not to do because they'll go out. Who would think? Don't eat the daisies. I mean, who would think? But that's what they do.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Oh, I got to get this.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

So I said, look, it's like you can't tell Donald Trump to abide by every single rule that he might break because he'll think of rules to break that you can't imagine. Just realize that we have a giant teenager in our midst and acclimate yourself to that.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So his antics or actions as president are for you on a continuum with the flagpole and all that.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Yes. I mean, he is a continuum, an erratic one, a volatile one, but a continual.

[Jean Kerr]

Jean Kerr.

[Polly Reid]

And she was the wife of Walter Kerr, the theater critic for the Times or the Herald Tribune. Maybe it was back then.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Yeah. Right.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Can you kind of elaborate about who. Who was he as a character in. In the imagination of people In Palm Beach. Like who?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

We sort of averted our eyes, but.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Now you can't ignore him anymore.

[Polly Reid]

Now you can't ignore him because you can't. You know, the North Bridge has two lanes. The middle bridge is crowded forever, and the south bridge is. Southern bridge is about to be redone and has Mar a Lago. So, I mean, you know, you have to choose. I never, ever chose when I was leaving this place. Now I'm thinking, oh, my God, it's Thursday and he's coming tomorrow. I'm not going to be able to go to the vegetable store down on Dixie because I always go down to the Spanish vegetable store. I can't go down there until I better go down there early this morning because I will never get back.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

That's probably the biggest impact. Traffic.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Pro Trump or anti Trump? Everyone in Palm beach can agree on that. The traffic is a bummer.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Traffic is safe to talk about.

[Polly Reid]

Traffic and weather.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Yeah.

[Polly Reid]

I walked through the Garden Club thing the other day because I was working all day on the setup, and they're arguing over, oh, can't. Well, whatever. They're talking about the putting burlap on the tables or something they couldn't find. And I'm thinking. I said 7,000 Syrian children have just been wounded and were worried about this. And this person said, we just can't worry about all those Syrians. They just don't want it to come up. They just doesn't want it to come up. I mean, I keep thinking of the bigger picture in life, and the bigger picture in life is my little problems are just nothing compared to what is going on in the rest of the world.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So Polly is going around town speaking truth.

[Jean Kerr]

Yeah, well, probably.

[Polly Reid]

And they don't want to hear it?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

No.

[Polly Reid]

Just as then I'm just a nutcase, you know.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I wanted to get into Mar A Lago, the center of the action. So I got us an invite to a charity event in the grand ballroom.

[Narrator/Commentator]

And we were told that President Trump himself was going to show up.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

This is not an uncommon thing. At Mar A Lago, Trump roams the halls and pops in on events. You may remember a few months ago when North Korea tested a missile and Trump dealt with the crisis on the club's dining terrace, surrounded by guests. Impressive. So we'd heard a lot about the heightened security when Trump is in town. But getting into Mar A Lago wasn't really that difficult. After going through a metal detector and being checked out by the Secret Service to make sure we were on the list, we walked up A very long red carpet that had been laying across a plush putting green.

[Narrator/Commentator]

There's a pool and water features and oversized stone parrots. And of course, the bulletproof presidential limos were on display.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

Red wines, good for you.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I'm okay for now. Thank you.

[Narrator/Commentator]

I'm okay for right now. Thank you.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Some well dressed waiters were passing around Mar A Lago's beloved lollipop lamb chops with some very bright green jelly.

[Narrator/Commentator]

The first guest we met was Hayden Hosford, a chic blonde in a flapper style dress with metallic fringe. And her husband, Dr. Herbert Gould, with a plate full of lobster.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Now, Herbert came down from New York.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

We were going to speak with you. Herbert.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Okay, well, here's a doctor and Herbert.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So, Herbert, a pinstripe ungaro soup.

[Jean Kerr]

I know.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

I bought it for him.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

She knows exactly what it is. And a very dapper pocket square. And he is very elegant. Kind of white horse tie. A horsey tie.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

We're both horsemen.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Hermes. Hermes horse tie.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Hermes horsey tie. Horse tie.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

We're both fox hunters.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

We're here.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Fox hunters.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

Yeah.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Well, we don't ride anymore because the bones aren't mending so quickly at our age.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Herbert is an ophthalmologist. Hayden is the heiress to a dynamite fortune. They've been coming to Donald Trump's private club for a long time.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How was Mar A Lago? What was the reputation of Mar A Lago when it became a club versus the other ones? Like how? What was it?

[Dorothy Wickenden]

I thought it was so elegant and so beautiful. I loved it. There were people, old people, Palm Beachers that raised eyebrows.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Old Palm Beachers, but you know, that crowd, obviously.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

But I think it's fantastic. And Trump built this. This ballroom was not part of the original Mar A Lago. And I was here opening night and the chandeliers were supposed to come down and go back up for effect. And they didn't work and the kitchen didn't. The food was all cold. This was opening night for the first ball here, which I think was leukemia. And we were all excited and there were some glitches. I loved it. Anyway.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So you were a believer.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

I knew that it would get straightened out very quickly because Mr. Trump is a perfectionist.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So that I had, I mean, the old Palm Beachers who were initially kind of snooty about when he bought Mar Lago and so forth when he. To him in Palm Beach.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Some have come around. Some have come around and some are still raising the eyebrows.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Really, I don't care.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

I love it here. I think it's the most elegant place. And I've been to palaces all over. I've had dinner with Princess Anne of Buckingham Palace. I've been in the palace in Monaco. I've been in a lot of palaces. And to me, this is my favorite palace, but the best.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Now, we should point out that Mar A Lago doesn't, in fact look like a palace. This is full Louis XIV repro opulence. Gold is everywhere, in the chairs, in the rococo ceiling, around the mirrors, in the drapes. And even though it's just one ballroom, there are enough crystal chandeliers for three ballrooms. And of course, the marble floors are inlaid with the Trump crest.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What can you say about Mar A Lago with Trump as president in the Trump presidential area?

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Well, it's a little more difficult to get here. There's a little more security.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

It's kind of like the center of the world, though, in some ways.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Nobody expected when he became president that he would consider this because it's a club, that this would become the Winter White House. We assumed he would be going to Camp David and Trump would have none of that. Too rustic for him. He wants his luxury and his gold at his glitz.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So do you know people who are trying to be here on nights when he's around so that they can rub shoulders with the president?

[Dorothy Wickenden]

I have thousands of pictures that people have taken with me talking to him at events over the years and since he's become president. I got the pictures and put them in frames. I told him a long time ago when he first announced he was going to run, I said to him, you got my vote. And he said, I better.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I'm sure you've been to all the other clubs. How does the atmosphere here compare to other places?

[Dorothy Wickenden]

It's so much better. It's so much better. He likes people that are smart and bright and interesting. Some of the old Palm beach clubs are really obnoxious.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What would the atmosphere be when you walk in there? You feel like people are judging you.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Not name the club, but my girlfriend married a Jewish and they told her, don't worry, you can still come to the club. Just don't bring your husband. A lot of that goes on in Palm Beach. This club. Trump is not interested in what religion you are. That doesn't matter. He wants you to love golf. He wants you to love luxury. He wants you to have class, intelligence, charm. It's a whole different vetting system.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

He's able to pay the fees.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

You have to have a little.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

That's the weird thing about Mar a Lago, it's actually less exclusive and snooty than the other clubs.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Trump is a man of the people. As long as the people can cough up $200,000 plus annual dues of 14.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Grand, that gets you the use of the dining areas. Pool, spa, beach, club, tennis courts, croquet lawn.

[Narrator/Commentator]

And these days, it also gets you a chance to rub shoulders with the President of the United States.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

But we were just at a party in the ballroom, so we hit the buffet table.

[Narrator/Commentator]

So can you just describe what just happened?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

A chef in a white chef's hat just expertly pulled a lobster out of a pot and dismembered it and took it all out of the shell. And we got a little pots of hot drawn butter from a silver tank of some kind. This is like clearly a secret service guy there. He's got the earpiece. Oh, my gosh, look at these ladies. Holy crap.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Can you describe what they're wearing?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I would say it's all kind of variations on Donatella versus Versace.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Isn't that Donatella Versace?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Is that actually Donatella Versace?

[Narrator/Commentator]

That's either Donatella Versace or a very good impression of Donatella Versace.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

Wow.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah, you might be right.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

I'm gonna.

[Narrator/Commentator]

It wasn't Donatello Versace.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So it's a nice fancy party, but somewhere in the building, the most powerful man in the free world was attending to affairs of state.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Or maybe he's still in the sauna. We just didn't know.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

While we were hoping for him to show, a waiter came around with bottles of Trump wine.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Do you mind if I record you tasting the Tromme Chardonnay?

[Unnamed Palm Beach Historian/Commentator]

Very good idea.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

Now, let me first, before I taste, I will give you my credentials. I am the founder of the Physicians Wine Appreciation Society. I'm a grand officier of the Chevalier du Taste Vin, which is a Burgundian society. I am a commander of the Commanderie de Bordeaux, which is a Bordeaux society. And I have a wine cellar that I've been collecting ever since I got out of my residency in White Plains. So I think I know a little bit about wine. Therefore, I am about to taste Trump's Chardonnay, the great wine grape of Burgundy. Actually, the greatest white wines in the world, I think, are Burgundy and Chardonnays. And they're also the most expensive. Here we go. Are you waiting? Hold your breath. First, the bouquet. Very pleasant, very flowery. Most acceptable. Now we're going to look for. For the taste, and that's Much more complicated. Here it goes. Remarkably well balanced.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Do you feel like this Chardonnay reflects the President?

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

Well, let me taste it again. You put me on another course of discovery.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So Dr. Herbert Gould reflected on how Trump wine is like Trump the Man.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

It's a well made wine. There's thought behind it. It's. It doesn't have much depth, but it has a little excitement. It's very fresh. So it's somewhat superficial in its character, but absolutely delightful in the drinking. Will that do it?

[Narrator/Commentator]

So will you be getting another glass?

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

If they give it to me, I'll gladly accept. I will not refuse a glass of Trump Chardonnay, but I think with time.

[Narrator/Commentator]

It will improve like any good wine.

[Dr. Herbert Gould]

And like any good man.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So we're still waiting for Trump. At this point, we get pulled outside to talk to Paulette Cooper Noble, author of the weekly column Pet Set People.

[Jean Kerr]

Let me tell you about dogs in Palm Beach. First of all, I have a column called Pet Set People. What I do is I interview the famous, the rich, the high society people in Palm beach. If they have a dog or a cat. This is a town of little white, fluffy dogs and people who dress them and people who say that their dog is an emotional support dog and take them every place in carriages, in carts. They walk them down Worth Avenue.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Were you. Are you a member at Mar a Lago? But you've been quite a lot.

[Jean Kerr]

Oh, yes. This year I went to six balls. Oh, this. I shouldn't. This is funny. Okay, let us put it this way. My husband and I are not fans of Donald Trump. I don't know if I should have that in public because it's dangerous.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

He is famously not an animal lover. And I think Louis Pope tried to change that.

[Jean Kerr]

He did, and Paul will give you a comment on that. But I'll just tell you that my favorite protest sign is somebody had a big sign that said he doesn't even have a dog. And I thought that was wonderful.

[Unnamed Palm Beach Resident]

It's arranged for a wonderful, wonderful.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

What kind of a doodle is it? A labradoodle. A beautiful dog named Patton for him. And he turned it down because he just thinks he's too busy and his household's too busy for it. So she kept the dog for herself. And she's in love with this labradoodle. His name is Patton and he is a glorious animal.

[Jean Kerr]

Remember, honey, we interviewed. You heard about the trumpets. She had a dog named Trump because they're very close. And I did a story on her, and I wrote about the head of The Trumpettes. It was Tony Holt and her dog was named Trump. So recently I realized that this would be really good for my column. I get a photo of a dog named Trump and the Holt. This is before Lois. And it turned out that Trump had died. So Trump has died with my story.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

When did he die?

[Jean Kerr]

I think she was a year or so ago. She didn't tell me. So there was. There was. That story was gone. It would have been so cute.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

It was the best column ever.

[Jean Kerr]

It would have been a dog named Trump. And I could have been. But I try not to get controversial.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So Donald Trump never dropped by, as he promised the hostess that he would.

[Narrator/Commentator]

But we learned later that he had been a little busy.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

We've attacked Syria.

[Narrator/Commentator]

You know, I'm sorry?

[Lizzie Whitaker]

We have attacked Syria.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

We have, yes.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

Just before dinner, he had his NSC meeting right here, and they attacked Syria. 50 Tomahawk missiles to take out the places where the they are. Suspected chemical.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

NSC meeting in this building.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

Right. While you're going out, while this is going on.

[Narrator/Commentator]

And how does that. How do you feel about being.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

I'm stunned.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Wow. Holy crap.

[Narrator/Commentator]

It's kind of. Yeah.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

While we were talking about the human.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Cost of living war, he was ordering 50 Tomahawk missiles to strike Syria.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

That. There you are.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

942.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Right.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Do you support that or how do you feel about it?

[Lizzie Whitaker]

No, I don't. I don't talk politics.

[Dorothy Wickenden]

That was Lizzie Whitakem. We'll be back next week with another episode of Politics and More. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

Right now, we are living through some of the most tumultuous political times our country has ever known.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

David.

[Lizzie Whitaker]

I'm David Remnick, and each week on the New Yorker Radio Hour, I'll try to make sense of what's happening alongside politicians and thinkers like Cory Booker, Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, Tim Waltz, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Newt Gingrich, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Charlamagne, tha God, and so many more. That's all in the New Yorker Radio Hour. Wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

From prx.