Why Mar-a-Lago is a horrible place to meet a foreign leader

[MineralMan]

Compare these two photos:





One is phony, pseudo-European, casino-style decadence. The other is genuine, historical elegance. I'm sure everyone will recognize the difference.

[Angry Dragon]

1. one is for a tacky president ............... fake

[MineralMan]

3. And yet, Trump think's that Mar-a-Lago is a more appropriate

venue for this meeting. That sort of says it all, I think.

[OldHippieChick]

9. He probably does because I don't want to

give him any credit for taste but I'm not sure it would matter. What matters is he can make money off making WH staff, Secret Service, Press and any visitors meet at one of his properties. If he could figure out a way, he would never be in the WH.

[Warpy]

14. Actually, what I've seen of Chinese esthetic tends to be almost as tacky

Mar-a-Loco is overdone and overwhelming to me. It's way too much and it's trying way too hard. The White House might look a little spare, almost Spartan, to a lot of people. I'm not one of them, but some people I know are.

I think Xi would be a lot more impressed with a happy medium between these two extremes.

[gratuitous]

16. President Trump doesn't get a cut if the White House hosts

Isn't that obvious?

[shenmue]

7. Yes

Tacky is the right word.

[OldHippieChick]

2. Assuming that top one is Mar-a-lardo

That is so garish and tasteless. Can't imagine having any appetite to eat anything let alone actually discuss foreign relations.

[MineralMan]

5. Yes, it is the dining room at Mar-a-Lago.

The other is the dining room in the White House, set up for a state dinner. I know which one better represents the United States, but Trump clearly does not.

Xi will think, and rightly so, that Mar-a-Lago is a perfect example of American decadence.

[Buns_of_Fire]

10. It might work for a Paris brothel.

http://www.messynessychic.com/2012/12/11/inside-the-paris-brothels-of-the-belle-epoque/

[eleny]

13. What a perfect comparison

............. ...............

[MineralMan]

17. A long-ago Paris brother, of course.

But a great analogy.

[EarthFirst]

4. Coming from someone who has an aversion to the rustic nature of Camp David...

This is hardly surprising.

Trump could take some clues from the old money where the generations old mega camps have a place in this socioeconomic class.

[MineralMan]

6. You're right. It's not surprising.

However, it is a serious mistake.

[nikibatts]

8. 45 just messed up week. I thought it was Friday because he headed to Mar a logo but it's Thursday.

I could set my calendar by his week-end jaunts.

[underpants]

11. The Oval Office was often used to intimidate world leaders

It's an incredible asset to have but Trump doesn't understand that other that him sitting in there all day in LOOK AT ME! kind of way.

[WhollyHeretic]

12. Most casinos have more restraint than that...

[cyberswede]

15. Ugh - that looks like something Midas puked up. nt

[milestogo]

18. MaraLago going to be literally underwater in 75 years or so.

Trump is trying to hasten the process.

[MineralMan]

19. It would have been torn down long before then.

Crappy construction that's not built to last long. I'm sure they're in a constant battle against black mold and deteriorating Chinese drywall there. You can paint over it, but it will end up destroying everything that's badly built in time. You can also gild a dog turd, but it will smell like dog crap before long.

[EX500rider]

25. Actually it was built in 1924...so probably quality construction.

I doubt they used Chinese drywall back then...lol

Mar-a-Lago is an estate and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida, built from 1924 to 1927 by heiress and socialite Marjorie Merriweather Post. Post envisioned the house as a future winter retreat for American presidents and foreign dignitaries, and following her death in 1973, it was bequeathed to the nation. However, successive presidents declined to use the mansion, which was returned to Post's estate in 1980.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar-a-Lago

[fantase56]

20. #45 wants to be in his element

He goes to Mar-a-Lago because he belongs there. He doesn't belong in the White House because he's a #fakepresident. Sad.

[longship]

21. Somehow "gilding a lily" comes to mind.

Shakespeare, as usual, knew how to turn a phrase.

To gild refined gold, to paint the lily ... is wasteful and ridiculous excess.

[Denzil_DC]

22. That bigger pic has given me a migraine.

Chalk that up as a first, Donny.

[Historic NY]

23. There isn't an embassy nearby is the biggest reason...

for countries to house their delegation and home base from. Its not convenient.

[bearssoapbox]

24. The most real thing in the first picture?

The smoke detectors.

Everything about him is fake.

[nolabear]

26. Jesus How do you even find anyone in that room?

Somehow all I can think of is musty, moldy old carpet and oppressive gilt. It's got everything but slot machines.