President Donald Trump purchasing a former Rockefeller estate in Maine for use as a “summer White House” is fake news that originated with a “prank news” site. Reports that Trump has purchased the Mount Desert Island estate of David Rockefeller for use as his “summer White House” are untrue. Rather, the story appears to make light of the fact that Trump has referred to his Mar-a-Lago estate as his Southern White House.
Where did the fake news originate? In May 2017, the Channel24News.com web site posted an article reporting that Trump had angered local Maine residents by purchasing the Eyrie in Seal Harbor, an estate on the southeastern shore of Mount Desert Island formerly held by the Rockefeller family patriarch who passed away in March 2017.
“In a bold move, President Donald Trump has purchased the MDI estate of David Rockefeller, according to filings at the Hancock County, Maine deed registry. The palatial Seal Harbor home, named The Eyrie, has been a fixture of the Mount Desert Island landscape for decades. According to sources, Trump plans to use the estate as a “Summer White House”, hosting influential business leaders and heads of state. Some local residents are angry, citing increased traffic congestion and their general hatred of the President. No official comment from the White House as to when the President plans his first visit.”
However, none of this reporting was true. According to Snopes, The Channel24News web site is not a news outlet but rather a “prank” web site that invites users to “create a fake story” and then “trick all your friends” by spreading the fabricated results through social media postings. This appears to be an attempt by someone to get a rise out of opponents of Trump who especially are angered by his frequent use of the Mar-a-Lago estate.
For example, the State Department recently removed from its website an article about the history and lavish furnishings of Trump’s privately owned Florida resort club Mar-a-Lago, following questions about whether the federal government improperly promoted Trump’s moneymaking enterprises.
David Rockefeller Sr., the last surviving grandson of oil magnate John D. Rockefeller, was the oldest billionaire on the planet at the time of his death. During his lifetime, David was known for both his generous philanthropy and vast art collection. In fact, Rockefeller made sure in his will that some of his vast fortune and possessions will remain in Maine, where several generations of his family have summered for more than a century.
The most significant chunk of Rockefeller’s estate to remain in Maine is $20 million that will go to the Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve, the board of which includes three of his children as members. Rockefeller gave generously to the preserve during his lifetime, including the gift of approximately 1,000 acres of contiguous land on Mount Desert Island in 2015.
What did you think of the fake news about Trump buying an estate for use as a “summer White House”? Did you believe it or see people sharing it falsely on social media? Let us know in the comments section.
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Source: B2C
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