West Palm Beach, Florida: Palm Beach is used to Donald Trump. His sprawling Mar-a-Lago resort has been his official home since 2019, and he hosted no shortage of world leaders at “the winter White House” (not to mention stacks of classified documents).
But the Trump show is rolling back into town in a much bigger way than usual. Across the lagoon at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre in West Palm Beach, final preparations are being made for the former president’s official election watch party.
Trump, his family, campaign team and associates are expected to attend as the votes are counted on Tuesday night, local time, and Americans decide whether they want to return the country’s 45th president – and the first to become a convicted felon – to the Oval Office.
Preperations are under way for Donald Trump’s election night watch party.Credit: Michael Koziol
On Monday evening, two traffic lanes directly outside the centre were blocked off as workers erected temporary fencing and bollards. Media crews from around the globe were camped on the outside lawns, filming pieces to camera and setting the scene ahead of a momentous occasion in world history.
Many journalists – this one included – have been denied access to the watch party due to what the Trump team said were capacity constraints and will instead have to cover the event from a spillover area nearby.
But there was no one around to stop this masthead from taking a sneak peek inside the building on Monday evening.
Large banners saying “Make America Great Again” had been installed, and the requisite American flags were on stage (this reporter counted 15). Neon blocks spelling out “TRUMP 47″ were also present at one entrance to the ballroom (Trump would become the 47th president if elected again).
Sky News reporter Peter Stefanovic does a stand-up across from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.Credit: AP
Bottles of wine and plastic tumblers had also been set up at several stations dotted around the convention floor.
Security is a massive logistical undertaking for an event of this nature and is being handled in tandem by the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, West Palm Beach Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James warned would-be troublemakers to stay away.
“While we don’t expect or want any trouble or issues, I just want to let everyone know that if you are thinking about or planning on coming to our great city to cause problems, don’t do it,” he said.
“It won’t end well for you.”
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said there would be a designated area for protesters, and that’s where they would stay.
“At the slightest inclination that things are getting ready to heat up and get out of hand, we’re going to stop it real early, and you’ll come spend the night with me.”
