Navigating Palm Beach: How Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Revolutionizes Local Traffic and Lifestyle

The Southern Bridge, linking the posh Palm Beach Island to the mainland city of West Palm Beach, was formerly a peaceful overpass where individuals walked alongside Bentleys over the Intracoastal Waterway. However, following Donald Trump’s triumph in November’s presidential election, news teams have gathered on the West Palm side, while visitors cluster on a small isle near the bridge, with their iPhones fully zoomed and pointed at Mar-a-Lago, which is merely yards away. 

Everyone is hoping for a glimpse of the lively happenings at the president-elect’s beach club residence and club, which Trump referred to as the “Winter White House” during his initial term. Alongside a steady stream of global leaders, tech titans once critical of Trump—including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg—along with Hollywood heavyweights such as David Zaslav and Ari Emanuel, all have made the pilgrimage recently. According to Trump’s social media, Bill Gates is anticipated shortly. Mar-a-Lago, where memberships now fetch a cool million, has also been the venue for many events and parties embellished with conservative celebrities, such as a nonprofit gala attended by Russell Brand and Mel Gibson, a performance by Beach Boy Mike Love, and a New Year’s Eve celebration where Lara Trump took to the stage to sing Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” while Musk and Trump awkwardly fist-pumped to “Y.M.C.A.”

The locals have long valued Palm Beach for its subdued tranquility. However, this sense of peace was disrupted during the pandemic due to an influx of affluent New Yorkers and West Coasters attracted by Florida’s relaxed COVID measures and lower taxes. This year, affluent crowds have surged to previously unmatched levels, with Trump dubbing Palm Beach “the center of the universe,” and developer Steve Ross labeling it “the new Silicon Valley.” Residents are significantly split over its altered character, and the issue is less about Trump’s political stance and more about traffic. 

Since the election, A1A, the picturesque and slender road that winds along the ocean into town, has been shut off to ensure Trump’s security. The incessant stream of high-profile visitors and foreign dignitaries has only intensified the challenges. Anyone heading north into town, or south towards hotels and private clubs, now must cross a bridge to West Palm and then navigate back again. Occasionally, one or two of the bridges are even closed.

“My short commute into town that used to only take 20 minutes can now extend to an hour and a half,” laments hair expert Paul Labrecque, who has salons in New York and on Palm Beach Island and resides on the southern stretch. “I can’t afford to be late for my clients, so I have to depart an hour earlier daily.”

Jewelry creator Ilene Joy, who resides in L.A. but maintains homes in Palm Beach and New York, perceives the influx of Trump entourage and additional security protocols as having significantly altered the town’s ambiance. “It’s absurd that you leave the island just to re-enter it,” she states. “This is complicating everyone’s daily routine.” 

Others are invigorated by the atmosphere. “Palm Beach is ablaze. You have billionaires and just plain millionaires. It’s livelier than ever,” asserts socialite and PR consultant R. Couri Hay, who attended Mar-a-Lago in December. “The power is tangible.”

“Interest in The Palm Beaches has continuously climbed over the prior few years due to a mix of elements including what experts term the ‘Trump Bump’ effect particularly in the last year,” mentioned Milton Segarra, president & CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County’s official tourism promotion entity. “ Live reports from journalists have highlighted our warm climate, tropical palm trees, and stunning cityscapes, offering invaluable exposure for our destination.”

In the fortnight following the election, there was a 90% rise in inquiries from prospective buyers at the new Ritz-Carlton Residences Palm Beach Gardens, compared to the prior month, as noted by Chris Cox, sales director at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Palm Beach Gardens and broker associate with Douglas Elliman.

Meanwhile, real estate prices have hit unprecedented highs. “Trump has attracted a multitude of high-profile individuals who are purchasing extremely pricey homes, and that market is flourishing,” states Cappy Abraham, a leading agent on the island. It’s hardly surprising that those considering Palm Beach property are among the wealthiest people on the planet. Musk, designated by Trump as the federal budget slasher, is rumored to be acquiring beauty mogul Sydell Miller’s penthouse atop The Bristol in West Palm Beach for $100 million, and the former Apple CEO John…

Sculley has recently revealed the enlargement of his Palm Beach estate, and there are whispers that Bezos is considering a condominium in West Palm.

“But some individuals are losing their patience because Trump’s golf course is situated in West Palm, which requires him to cross the bridge when he [plays], and it’s common to be stuck on the road for over thirty minutes as you wait for the motorcade to go by,” remarks Abraham. “Everyone prioritizes his security, yet the island wasn’t designed for such a volume of traffic.”

Relatives and personnel of those with lavish properties along A1A are now subject to extensive searches. “Security will inspect your vehicle, open the hood, and have the bomb-sniffing dogs check before they grant you entry,” states Adam McPherson, a luxury real estate agent at Douglas Elliman who grew up in Palm Beach. “Rod Stewart [who resides close to Mar-a-Lago] can’t even enjoy lunch on Worth Avenue without venturing off the island to reach it.”

Following Trump’s initial term, the incredibly exclusive Bath and Tennis Club adjacent to Mar-a-Lago was mandated by the Secret Service to permit Mar-a-Lago members to utilize its parking lot — a challenging adjustment for the historically exclusive elite enclave. Recently, they’ve been compelled to share their beach space with visitors such as Benjamin Netanyahu and Don King.

The attention-seekers flocking to Mar-a-Lago habitually encroach onto the neighboring premises. “Just last week, someone ran by unclothed and ended up at the B&T, and daily people must have escorts off their land,” states Hay. “They’ve been compelled to hire private security to keep these individuals at bay.”

Palm Beach Island possesses only one grocery store, one gas station, and does not even permit the filming of movies or television. That’s partly why all media congregate across the water in West Palm. “It’s amusing for us to witness a news network reporting from what they claim is Mar-a-Lago, while it’s actually the park located outside West Palm Beach,” comments McPherson.

Shannon Donnelly, a prominent figure chronicling Palm Beach society, mentions that while New Yorkers are already adapting and starting to grasp the regional customs, the recent influx of tech arrivals remains inexperienced and clings to their Californian habits.

“These people from California will insist on a Whole Foods on the island or plead with the Breakers to provide organic chicken,” she sighs. However, she is confident that they will eventually attune to the cultural nuances.

And despite the thriving housing market, those who already possess residences are experiencing the drawbacks. “Real estate agents are reaping profits — they’re making a living, but the residents here are facing hardships,” says Donnelly. “Palm Beach prefers to remain out of the limelight. Individuals struggle to find parking at Publix and secure school placements for their kids.” It might soon become even more challenging. “We are observing a surge of new purchasers ranging from locals in Miami to individuals from the Middle East. The entire globe is taking notice,” mentions McPherson.

“Everyone desires a slice of Palm Beach,” remarks Doug Evans, president and CEO of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. “This represents a unique moment in our history that is unlikely to be replicated. It’s beneficial for the economy, advantageous for hotels, and introduces new diversity.”

Christine Pressman, who relocated to the upscale enclave a decade ago with her spouse, Gene Pressman, former CEO of Barneys, adds: “Palm Beach will never revert to the charming town it once was. Some residents are discontent, but if you reside here and seek to engage in business, there’s no better time.”

This article appeared in the Jan. 9 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

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