Inside Donald Trump’s New Jersey home — his safe haven
On Thursday afternoon, former President Donald Trump departed his longtime Bedminster, New Jersey estate for Washington DC — where he was scheduled to appear for a 4 p.m. arraignment.
On Tuesday, President Biden’s US special counsel Jack Smith filed a second indictment against Trump alleging conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
Trump appeared in court where he pled not guilty.
In the last year, Trump, 77, has used his New Jersey estate as one of his main residences while navigating his indictments, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. charging him with felony counts of falsifying business records over allegedly failing to disclose a $130,000 “hush money” payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels.
Throughout his presidency from 2016 to 2020, Trump also used his Bedminster Trump National Golf Club as his vacation spot and his second home, dubbed his safe haven.
In 2002, Trump purchased the 506-acre estate known as Lamington Farm where he then transformed the property into a golf course and country club.
“Yes, I’ve bought it as of today,” Trump, who had already owned golf courses in Florida and Westchester County, previously told New Jersey Hills. “It’s a wonderful piece of property and it will be absolutely a world class golf course.”
Trump bought the property from National Fairways — a Connecticut-based golf course developer that had acquired it from automaker DeLorean at a bankruptcy auction in early 2000.
“I have no problem getting members. They know what kind of work I do,” Trump also said at the time. “What’s been proven in Florida and Westchester County is if you build a great course, the people will come.”
When Trump first purchased the property, which he said he paid “substantially less than” the $35 million it was listed for, there was a Georgian-style red brick manor house and 14 single-family building lots.
It’s located about 40 miles west of Trump’s namesake Manhattan tower.
He opened the club two years later in 2004. It was the site of his elder daughter Ivanka’s 2009 wedding to Jared Kushner, who have a 2,000-plus-square-foot cottage at the club.
Also on site are 11 studio suites, one three-bedroom cottage, one two-bedroom cottage, and one four-bedroom cottage available for members and guests.
In 2014, Trump National Golf Club received approval to build a family cemetery at the club. It’s where his ex-wife, and longtime supporter, Ivana Trump was laid to rest.
“Wouldn’t you want to be buried here?” Trump said in a 2015 interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Trump has since expanded the estate to include a bevy of amenities and accommodations.
Members have access to two 18-hole courses designed by the renowned golf architect Tom Fazio, a large heated pool, tennis courts and a private helipad, among other features.
But membership in the club comes a cost — around $300,000 annually.
That fee affords members reciprocal privileges at 15 of Trump’s other clubs, including Trump International Golf Links in Scotland and his golf club in Dubai — but not Mar-a-Lago.
Trump is expected to head back to Bedminster after his arraignment in Washington is finished.
During his presidential term, Trump had to redesign his living quarters on the property. According to Alan Shipnuck of Sports Illustrated, he stays at a cottage right next to the club’s pool. The cottage was expanded by 500 square feet after getting approval from local government to add a second-floor balcony and a porch.
Previously, the Lamington Farm estate for 19 years had been the country retreat of automaker John DeLorean.
DeLorean and his former wife, the model/actress Cristina Ferrare, bought the property in 1981, just as the former General Motors wunderkind was launching the manufacturing of his distinctive stainless steel sports car with gull-wing doors.
Meanwhile, Trump, who leads the 2024 GOP presidential primary field, has also already pleaded not guilty to 37 counts related to his alleged improper retention of classified records from his presidency, which is being handled in Florida.
