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By Andrew Stanton
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Supporters of former President Donald Trump voiced outrage at a 1981 sale notice for Mar-a-Lago after Judge Arthur Engoron valued the Florida estate at $18 million.
The value of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate came into question during his civil business fraud trial, in which Engoron made his ruling on penalties on Friday. The New York judge ordered Trump to pay $354.9 million in relation to New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit against the former president's businesses
James, a Democrat, accused Trump and top executives at his family company, The Trump Organization, of conspiring to increase his net worth by billions of dollars on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to make deals and secure loans.
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The lawsuit was civil, not criminal, meaning Trump has not faced jail-time in the case. He has also vowed to appeal the decision, maintaining that he did not engage in any wrongdoing.
In his October ruling, in which Engoron first sided with James' accusations of fraud, the judge noted that the Palm Beach County Assessor "appraised the market value of Mar-a-Lago at between $18 million and $27.6 million" from 2011 to 2021. This sparked backlash from Trump and his supporters, who argued the estate that now functions as a social club is worth much more.
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On Thursday, a 1981 sales notice from The New York Times reemerged on social media, sparking a fresh wave of criticism from Trump's supporters, as it notes that Mar-a-Lago was priced at $20 million in 1981.
The notice described the property as the "undisputed queen of Palm Beach society" that was put on the market for a "regal sum."
"By all accounts the Post Foundation is selling Mar-a-Lago, the 17.7-acre estate that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the front yard to Lake Worth in the back, for no less than $20 million. A record-breaking price in this winter watering hole of the very rich, it is also one of the highest ever asked for a residential property in the country," the notice reads.
Trump's supporters argued the notice shows that Engoron undervalued the property in posts to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
"Flashback: If you had $20M 46 years ago you could have bought Mar-a-Lago. Sadly according to real estate expert Arthur F. Engoron the property is only worth $18M today," posted X user @amuse.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, responded, "Judge Engeron should be disrobed and thrown out, he's a disgrace!! Mar-a-lago in 1981 was only a home, today it is one of the most exclusive social clubs in the world. Mar-a-lago is worth more now than the ridiculous judgement he ruled against Pres Trump!"
"Seems legit..." posted Donald Trump Jr.
While the property was listed at $20 million, Trump only ended up paying $10 million for the property in 1985. Since then, he has invested in refurbishments and turned it into a social club, rather than just a residence. He has claimed the property may be worth up to $1 billion.
Palm Beach County values the estate at about $37 million based on its annual net operating income as a club for tax purposes, reported The Associated Press.
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