Trump and Melania Register to Vote in Florida

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have registered to vote in Florida. This makes Mar-a-Lago their new permanent residence as of 30 October. The move follows Trump’s announcement that he would move to his Palm Beach property earlier this year.

Trump plans to hold a rally in Florida on 26 November to mark his change of residence in what is expected to double as a get out the vote event. Florida is a key state for Trump’s reelection but his move is probably due to his deep unpopularity in his native New York.

Melania Trump spent much of her husband’s early presidency in New York and only moved to Washington, DC later on. No satisfactory explanation was given for this unusual decision, but speculation was rife that the First Lady was not happy to leave New York.

The White House is Trump’s official residence but he has spent much time at Mar-a-Lago. He prefers his own properties and has reportedly spoken disparagingly of the White House. Mar-a-Lago will no doubt become Trump’s home when he leaves the presidency.

Trump can expect a warm welcome from some Florida residents – the state went red in 2016. But there is no certainty about securing the Sunshine State in 2020. If the Trumps’ relocation there is part of some political ploy to win over Floridians, it is unlikely to succeed.