President Trump begins 17-day vacation in New Jersey

<p>President Donald Trump and his family have arrived in New Jersey to spend a 17-day vacation at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 4, 2017, 9:38 PM

Updated 2,600 days ago

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President Donald Trump and his family have arrived in New Jersey to spend a 17-day vacation at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.
Bedminster residents tell News 12 New Jersey that things really pick up in the typically quiet town when the president arrives. Business owners says that they are ready for a business boom.
“They do a lot of business here, they bring us a lot of business,” says Enzo Grande of Bedminster Pizza.
Grande says that the Secret Service frequents the pizzeria and the meatballs are reportedly the president’s favorite. He often gets them delivered to the club.
“The guys have to get checked. They have to go through security and all that,” Grande says. “They enjoy it, the kids. They think it’s different, you know?”
Bedminster resident John Dragseth says that he knows President Trump is in town when the cinnamon rolls disappear from Quick Check each morning.
“The Secret Service takes them all, so I know he’s coming,” Dragseth says.
While some neighbors tell News 12 that they did not vote for President Trump, he is popular in Bedminster. The club is more than 500 acres, so residents say that it is possible to forget he is even there sometimes.
But the president’s last four visits to the club have drawn protests.
“I think people just need to get over it and be more positive about what he’s trying to do,” says Basking Ridge resident Diana Murin. “Can’t please everybody all the time.”
The Secret Service also announced a new surveillance drone will be tested during the presidential stay. It will fly along the club’s perimeter about 300 to 600 feet up in the sky. Residents say that they never would have guessed that Bedminster would be home to the New Jersey White House.
“We used to ride around on the golf course before he became president. Not anymore though,” Lauren Steinkopf says with a laugh.
Trump National Golf Club has been designated an official residence of the president by the Secret Service so that Bedminster can receive federal security reimbursement.