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The basics:
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster cited for 18 violations
Nine violations deemed critical by Somerset County inspectors
Club initially scored 32 out of 100, later improved to 86
Issues included expired milk, poor sanitation and equipment misuse
President Donald Trump‘s private golf club in Bedminster was cited for 18 health code violations during an inspection last month by the Somerset County Department of Health.
Following a May 6 visit to the Trump National Golf Club, health officials gave the establishment a score of 32 out of 100 and issued a “conditionally satisfactory” C grade.
According to the initial retail food inspection report, nine of the 18 violations were considered critical issues that could pose a serious health risk. Inspectors said the facility was not compliant with many rules regarding how food should be protected from contamination, such as expired milk in refrigerators as well as improperly stored raw meat. These problems were corrected on site, the report showed.
The health department said it found dishwashers did not reach the required temperature of 170 degrees for proper sanitation. Officials also cited four separate handwashing violations, including sinks without soap or paper towels, one lacking a required sign and another used to store a sanitizer bucket.
Additionally, inspectors observed a “household” microwave in the main kitchen when only “commercial grade equipment” should be in use onsite, the report said. The club was given until May 20 to fix all violations and pay a re-inspection fee.
‘Politically motivated attack’
After a June 4 reinspection, the club earned a B grade with a score of 86. The mark is the lowest possible score to still receive that grade.
Under state law, all retail food establishments are subject to at least one inspection per year. Of the 115 sites inspected in Somerset County last month, Trump’s club received the lowest score, Forbes noted.
The Somerset County Health Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement to NJBIZ, David Schutzenhofer, general manager of Trump National Bedminster, said, “Never before have we witnessed such visceral hostility from the health department. This is clearly nothing more than a politically motivated attack. We operate one of the most immaculate golf facilities in the country, and we take immense pride in our standards of cleanliness, safety, and hospitality.”
The LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster is held at Trump National Golf Club. – PROVIDED BY LIV GOLF
Within New Jersey, Trump also owns two other private courses: Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck and Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia in Pine Hill.
Nearly a year after the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office decided not to renew liquor licenses, the sites continue to serve alcohol thanks to another extension of temporary permits, NJ.com recently reported.
In June 2024, the state began looking into whether Trump’s hush money felony convictions make him ineligible to hold liquor licenses at courses in Colts Neck and Bedminster. The state prohibits anyone convicted of a “crime involving moral turpitude” from possessing a liquor license.
At issue is whether Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment to an adult film star violates New Jersey law.
The U.S. Supreme Court moved to expand presidential immunity, which resulted in Trump being granted an “unconditional discharge” and leaving regulators in limbo.
All in the family
In Pine Hill, Trump’s club holds a municipal liquor license. It was renewed last year without a hitch.
According to the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, a review of the matter indicated that even though the licenses are in the name of his son, Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect “maintains a direct beneficial interest.” ABC cited Donald Trump as the “recipient of revenues and profits from them, as the sole beneficiary of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust.”
Overseen by Donald Trump Jr., the umbrella entity owns the Trump Organization. Prior to taking office in January 2017, Donald Trump reportedly filed an ownership change for Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck, Lamington Farm Club and Trump National Golf Club Pine Hill as part of a broader strategy to move most of his business interests to the trust.
