President Trump's possible visit to Bedminster sparks protests

<p>President Donald Trump is expected to spend the weekend at Trump International in Bedminster during his first visit to the tristate area since being elected president.</p>

News 12 Staff

May 4, 2017, 10:15 PM

Updated 2,563 days ago

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President Trump's possible visit to Bedminster sparks protests
Word that President Donald Trump may be spending the weekend at the Trump International Golf Course in Bedminster has brought out dozens of protesters.
The demonstrators gathered on overpasses along Route 78 Thursday afternoon and evening, hours after House Republicans advanced the health care bill to replace the Affordable Health Care Act, colloquially known as Obamacare.
"We don't want Bedminster to turn into another Mar-a-Lago," says Bedminster resident Jim Girvan. "It's extremely inconvenient…it shuts down two airports."
Many Somerset County residents say they are unhappy about the fact that the president may be spending much of the summer at his golf course in New Jersey. They say it will cost taxpayers a lot of money.
"This is going to cost residents of the state and this municipality millions of dollars to have the president fly in or swoop in to Bedminster and soak up resources we don't have," says Analilia Mejia, of New Jersey Working Families.
But others say Trump's visit is a chance to put Bedminster on the map. The potential visit would draw international attention to an area of the state with which few people outside of New Jersey are familiar.
"I think people are just pleased of the notoriety. Someone so well-known is in our area - in our hub of New Jersey," says Bedminster business owner Anne Brookes.
Trump had a busy Thursday. He started his day in Washington, D.C. celebrating a legislation victory on health care. He met the Australian prime minister in New York and commemorated the Battle of the Coral Seas at the Intrepid Museum.
If Trump does come to Bedminster this weekend, residents should expected road closures, delays and demonstrations in the area.
Bedminster Mayor Steven Parker says that he estimates each weekend President Trump visits Bedminster could cost the town $42,000. He said the town would be reimbursed by the federal government.


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