The committed leftists in the media—the ones perfectly happy to let ratings and profits tank if they push the left-wing agenda—may think their principles give them the strength to survive their dwindling ratings, as their core leftist audience ages and eventually dies. But we populists are not just free marketeers. We’ve got a willingness to fight for something bigger than ratings. We’ll keep driving home the message of American greatness and pushing back against the elites, both corporate and governmental, even when it means we don’t get to be put in heavy rotation on the pundit circuit like the commentators who tell the press what they want to hear.
The establishment is fighting for something very hollow and trying to do it on the sly. We’re happy to put on a show and wear our hearts on our sleeves, and one way or another, I think America will get our message. It’s a shame we have to fight the media to get that message out.
CHAPTER SIX
Mar-a-Lago Magic
March 9, 2020
Undisclosed location on Palm Beach Island. 5:00 AM…probably.
There’s nothing like watching the sunrise while kissing in a hot tub with a Secret Service perimeter protecting you. They’re not there, but they’re there, if you know what I mean.
Congressman Charlie Wilson didn’t have to worry about smartphones or hidden Nest cams during his warm and bubbly rendezvous. It is a rare joy to know with certainty that TMZ isn’t hiding in the bushes.
In America, our paparazzi don’t take our royalty from us but anoint them—and the Trump family is American political royalty. They are both representative and regal. The Secret Service agents who guard them dig them—and the appreciation and affection are returned.
Mar-a-Lago is a magical place; few other residences have the same aura in the United States. It is a grand palace designed in a different era, yet the glamor, glitz and gold still shine. Especially when the president is on location.
What makes President Trump even more remarkable is that he doesn’t surround himself with a cocoon of security or a cadre of aides. This is his home, and one can often see him hopping from table to table during supper. He knows most of the guests and has been friends with some for decades.
Members of the club tend to be very supportive and protective of the president. One such individual, Toni Holt Kramer, started a small group in Palm Beach called the Trumpettes. A socialite group of sophisticated Florida women soon blossomed into an international organization with thousands of members, all to defend and support the president. I love the Trumpettes!
Tiffany Trump always surrounds herself with interesting, pretty people. All the Trumps do. My date for the evening was a stranger the day before. Following an afternoon at the Mar-a-Lago pool, everyone is connected—digitally, politically, socially, and sometimes even familially.
I was in town for a glamorous birthday for the still more glamorous Kimberly Guilfoyle. Along with myself, seated at the head table was the Trump family (gorgeous birthday girl included)—Ivanka, Jared, Eric, Lara, Don, Tiffany, and Michael—along with special guests Tucker Carlson, Anthony Guilfoyle, Sergio Gor—and a good-looking young billionaire who kept hitting on my date. He didn’t make the cut for the hot tub later, if you’re wondering.
“K. G.” is a force of nature in the MAGA movement. Don Jr.’s ride-or-die. The campaign’s best fundraiser. A TV superstar. Una puertorriqueña with elite America First operative skills. “She’s a killer,” says POTUS. Don Jr. is lucky to have her by his side. #RelationshipGoals.
“There’s my favorite congressman!” Trump exclaimed. “The best. I wish they were all like him. He defends hard. Harder than most. Thank you, Matt. He loves this place.”
When I confessed to the president that I liked Mar-a-Lago even more than Camp David, he matter-of-factly replied, “You go for the gold.”
The president is happy and gracious when he has friends in his homes and everywhere he goes he is at home even if it doesn’t say Trump on the building.
When Donald Trump enters, everyone stands at attention. When he speaks, they learn whom he speaks to. I’m told this was the case at Mar-a-Lago well before his campaign. The clubhouse and beach are breathtaking, sure, but Trump is the main attraction.
My date was radiant like the chandeliers, glowing even, and though totally unaccustomed, she was a quick study. Upon hearing Tucker Carlson humblebrag about his captivating cable show, she said, “It’s nice you have a show. What is it about?” Tucker is the best sport. Trump is the star women love even when they don’t like him. She was transfixed. Take that, Mr. Billionaire!
She’d later say she’s now Tucker’s biggest fan. But in these times, who among us doesn’t think we are? Tucker recharges by fishing, pondering and debating constantly with friends. It is a blast to be among those to share time with him. We share what we enjoy most.
The party made headlines in various papers. You had to be there to truly experience the magic of celebrating Kimberly’s birthday. Dressed in a shiny metallic gold and black dress, while most gentlemen donned tuxedos, toasts were said in her honor. Her best friend and former Fox News producer, Sergio Gor, DJ’d from the music booth above the dance floor. President Trump stopped by the ballroom not once but twice to greet everyone and even sang “Happy Birthday.” He brought with him the Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, who had been upstairs having a working dinner earlier that night.
As the beats played, A. J. Catsimatidis and her skintight white dress joined the conga line, while Jesse Watters, with his beautiful wife Emma, sipped champagne by the outside pool. Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell chatted with Arthur Schwartz over Twitter wars, while Ambassador David Fischer watched in awe as his exuberant wife Jennifer took center stage on the dance floor to Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.” David would go on to heroically coordinate logistics returning Americans home from Morocco during the
