A U.S. military operation aimed at senior Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has taken place under the close supervision of President Donald Trump and his top advisers. As with several past events, they followed the situation from Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate Trump bought in 1985 and turned into a private club with hotel-style amenities. Today, it also serves as his presidential home when he is in Florida, CNN reported.
Senior national security officials, such as the CIA director, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met in a secure area of the estate as the operation progressed. Meanwhile, guests attended a fundraising gala in the main ballroom, which the president also joined.
This is not the first time Trump has used Mar-a-Lago for military decisions. In earlier years, he authorized or oversaw operations from the property, such as the 2020 strike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, airstrikes in Syria in 2017, military action in Yemen, missile strikes on suspected ISIS camps in Nigeria and an operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Some officials have criticized using a private club for sensitive national security matters, pointing to the presence of club members and social events. In response, security has been tightened with stricter photography rules, better secure communications and more patrols. Last month, security officers shot and killed an armed man who entered the estate illegally.
