Former Secret Service Agent Analyzes Trump's 'Winter White House' In Palm Beach
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PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) – Not since the Kennedys has Palm Beach been a presidential retreat, but Mar-a-Lago is changing that.
Protecting President-elect Donald Trump is a challenge unlike any other, from Trump Tower in New York to his private club in Florida.
Mar-a-Lago is a 20-acre waterfront estate in Palm Beach.
It's secluded from the public, but he also shares it with as many as 500 members, who are willing to pay $100,000 to join.
"Basically, it's a compound and you have to treat it as such," said Rennie Rodriguez, a former Secret Service agent
Rodriguez says, in many ways, it's ready-made for presidential security.
Behind a 13-foot wall, Trump keeps a residence that could become the Winter White House.
"I love Florida. This is my second home," Trump said on campaign trail.
Where presidents spend their vacations is a window into their personalities.
George W. Bush liked to spend the hottest month of the year on his ranch in Crawford, Texas. His father, George H. W. Bush, famously enjoyed the peaceful serenity of Kennebunkport, Maine.
Mar-a-Lago stretches across a barrier island, cut down the middle by a two-lane road nestled between a stunning stream of multi-million dollar homes.
The best view comes from across the bay.
Rodriguez says Secret Service teams are assessing threats that could come by land, sea and air.
And standing outside the club, it doesn't take long to see the skies above will be a major concern.
The Palm Beach International Airport is just a few miles west of Mar-a-Lago.
"You can see the path of the commercial aircraft," said Rodriguez.
For years, Trump has waged a legal battle to keep commercial and private planes from flying over this estate.
And now that he's president-elect, he might have just gotten his way.
When he's on the property, Rodriguez says the air space over Mar-a-Lago will be closed.
And in the waters around Mar-a-Lago, the U.S. Coast Guard is already setting up security zones.
Some parts completely off limits, while other areas will require permission before entering.
Rodriguez says Secret Service agents will also conduct renewed background checks on every club member.
And inside the club they can also expect to see new levels of visible and invisible layers of security.
