Gold Coast Mayor Swears at Reporter Over Trump Dinner Claims
Gold Coast Mayor Swears at Reporter Over Trump Dinner Claims
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Key Points
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Tate previously said the dinner included Trump’s son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump, that the president called him “Mr Mayor,” and that they ate steaks together while he praised Melania Trump’s appearance.
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The visit was tied to the signing of a proposed $1.5 billion Trump-branded tower in Surfers Paradise; Eric Trump was involved in overseeing the deal and was photographed meeting developer David Young at Mar-a-Lago. Young’s company had previously been bankrupt.
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A spokesman for Tate’s office initially offered a different account, saying the Australian delegation was dining with Eric Trump when the president entered the room with another group, spoke with Tate, and then ate at an adjacent table. Tate’s office later withdrew that clarification, with Tate returning to his claim that he had a private dinner with the president.
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In an earlier interview with Triple M, Tate said the gathering involved “expensive wine” and “a couple of Tomahawks,” adding that he had delayed taking out his wallet before the others paid.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is standing by claims he dined with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago in February, despite denials from both the White House and Trump Organization. During a press conference, Tate told an ABC journalist to "f--- off" and walked out when pressed about the meal's details. Metro reported the tense exchange.
The White House stated the president and first lady "did not have dinner with that group," while the Trump Organization called Tate's account a "complete fabrication." The disputed visit centered on a proposed $1.5 billion Trump-branded tower in Surfers Paradise, with developer David Young's company backing the project and Eric Trump involved in overseeing the deal.
Tate's Shifting Story on the Mar-a-Lago Meeting
Tate initially claimed he enjoyed a private dinner with Trump, eating steaks while Trump praised Melania's appearance and called him "Mr Mayor." He said Eric Trump and Lara Trump attended. However, a spokesman later offered a different version: the Australian delegation dined with Eric Trump when the president entered, spoke with Tate, then ate at an adjacent table. Herald Sun detailed the conflicting accounts.
Tate's office subsequently withdrew the clarification and returned to his original claim. In an earlier radio interview with Triple M, Tate described expensive wine and steaks, joking he delayed reaching for his wallet before others paid. He refused to discuss the meal's duration or cost during the recent press conference.
White House and Trump Organization Reject Mayor's Account
Both the White House and Trump Organization issued clear statements contradicting Tate's version. The White House said Trump and Melania "did not have dinner with that group." Daily Telegraph reported that the Trump Organization labeled Tate's claims "a complete fabrication" and denied any involvement in an event connected to him.
The organization maintained there was no dinner as described. These denials directly contradicted Tate's repeated public statements about sharing a meal with the president and first lady at the Florida resort in February.
Tower Deal and Business Ties Behind the Visit
The Mar-a-Lago visit was linked to a proposed Trump-branded tower in Surfers Paradise. Developer David Young's company backed the $1.5 billion project, with Eric Trump overseeing the deal. Eric Trump was photographed meeting Young at Mar-a-Lago during the trip. Young's company had previously filed for bankruptcy.
The real estate development became a focal point of Tate's trip to Florida. The mayor's insistence on his dinner account may hinge partly on validating the business relationship and legitimizing the proposed Gold Coast project to investors and local stakeholders.
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