For two years, a shelter for victims of domestic violence called Safe+Sound Somerset held its fundraiser golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.
They loved it.
Then they quit it.
Beautiful golf course. Beautiful facilities. We were treated well. But we couldnt go back, said Debbie Haroldsen, the charitys acting executive director. President Trumps campaign-trail comments about women and Mexicans had offended staff and clients. They found another course.
In Florida this year, the presidents politics attracted a new client for one of his businesses. Steven M. Alembik, a conservative activist, is planning a $600-per-seat gala at the Mar-a-Lago Club.
His logic: Trump helped Israel. So Alembik will help Trump in return.
Hes got Israels back, Alembik said. Weve got his back.
Trumps divisive political career is reshaping a key and previously apolitical part of his business empire.
Trump-owned hotels and clubs have long made money by holding galas and other special events. Now, their clientele is changing. Trumps properties are attracting new customers who want something from him or his government.
But theyre losing the kind of customers the business was originally built on: nonpolitical groups who just wanted to rent a room.
This summer, 19 charities canceled upcoming events at Mar-a-Lago a major blow to that clubs business after the president said there were fine people among white supremacists, neo-Nazis and members of the alt-right protesting to preserve a Confederate statue in Charlottesville. Dozens of other clients have left since Trump entered the 2016 presidential race.
