In a rather seismic turn of events, the New York tri-state area on Friday felt the tremors of its most significant earthquake since 1884, shaking the region with a magnitude of 4.8 and surprising many locals in the process.
But what’s even more surprising? The epicenter’s proximity to Donald Trump’s National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The ground-shaking event struck at 10:23 a.m., originating just a stone’s throw away from the luxury golf retreat.
At Trump’s Bedminster establishment, witnesses recounted the startling experience.
“[The] ground shook very hard,”a club member revealed to The Post.
“There is no damage to Trump Bedminster,” a Trump Organization spokeswoman said declining to comment further.
Unsurprisingly, the news of Trump’s golf course being at the heart of the seismic activity quickly spread across social media platforms.
Anna Bower, a courts reporter at Law Fare, posted on X, “Wait, so you’re telling me the epicenter of the New York City earthquake was…Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster??”
She later quipped, “Is there any news this man doesn’t touch?”
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was at Mar-a-Lago in Florida at the time of the quake, but it’s unclear if other members of the family were present.
The Post has reached out for comment.
In 2002, Trump purchased the sprawling 506-acre Lamington Farm estate.
What was once a tranquil expanse of land soon transformed into a premier golf course and country club under Trump’s vision.
Speaking to New Jersey Hills at the time of the purchase, Trump expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Yes, I’ve bought it as of today. It’s a wonderful piece of property and it will be absolutely a world class golf course.”
This acquisition marked another addition to Trump’s portfolio, which already boasted golf courses in Florida and Westchester County.
The estate, acquired from National Fairways, a Connecticut-based golf course developer, had previously changed hands after being auctioned off from the automaker DeLorean during bankruptcy proceedings in the early 2000s.
Trump mentioned that he acquired the property for substantially less than its listed price of $35 million.
Located just 40 miles west of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, the club opened its doors in 2004, offering an escape for its members.
Notably, it became the backdrop for the 2009 wedding of Trump’s daughter Ivanka to Jared Kushner, who maintain a residence within the club’s grounds.
Trump spared no expense in expanding and enhancing the property’s offerings. Today, members enjoy access to two 18-hole courses meticulously crafted by renowned golf architect Tom Fazio. Other amenities include a lavish heated pool, tennis courts and even a private helipad.
However, such exclusivity comes at a price.
Membership at the Trump National Golf Club commands an annual fee of around $300,000.
Nevertheless, this investment grants members reciprocal privileges at 15 other Trump-affiliated clubs worldwide, excluding Mar-a-Lago.
In 2014, the club was granted with the approval to construct a family cemetery on the premises, where Trump’s ex-wife Ivana Trump was buried in 2022.
Reflecting on the estate’s allure, Trump mused in a 2015 interview with the Wall Street Journal, “Wouldn’t you want to be buried here?”
