Throughout the pandemic that's upended daily life in the United States, outgoing President Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly downplayed the threat posed by the virus that's killed over 300 thousand Americans.
In February interviews with journalist Bob Woodward that were released in September, Trump said the virus was worse than "even your most strenuous flus" despite saying the diametric opposite in public. Trump also said to Woodward that even young people were dying from the virus while publicly saying that young people were practically immune.
The President has repeatedly amplified disinformation about basic safety precautions recommended by his own officials, such as mask-wearing and stay-at-home orders.
So it may not come as a surprise that the New Year's Eve party held at Trump's infamous Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida was packed with maskless supporters of the President.
The event, which featured dancing and performances by rapper Vanilla Ice, sparked outrage as video surfaced on Twitter.
New Year's Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago during deadly pandemic pic.twitter.com/oICbuJzpH1
— Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) January 1, 2021
Wondering why Vanilla Ice deleted this video of him mocking his buddy for wearing a mask at the mar-a-lago NYE party? pic.twitter.com/QZaD2ez4CS
— Lucy L (@lasertronic) January 1, 2021
With cases in Florida spiking, one Florida state lawmaker is calling for Mar-a-Lago to close due to violations and subsequent health concerns.
State Representative Omari Hardy went viral last year during his time as a city commissioner after his impassioned condemnation of Lake Worth Beach Mayor Pam Triolo's pandemic response.
Now, Hardy is taking the Mar-a-Lago partygoers to task for defying the county's mask order—and he's calling for the resort to shut down.
We're one step closer to shutting down Mar-a-Lago.
This was an egregious violation of our mask order. Hundreds of People. Indoors. No Masks. It's a public health catastrophe waiting to happen.
No business should get away with this. #ShutDownMarALagohttps://t.co/d4aadhLOCx
— Rep. Omari Hardy (@OmariJHardy) January 5, 2021
Hardy linked to a CBS 12 News article in which he said:
"It was infuriating to see hundreds of people so blatantly disregarding our mask order. When I saw that video my mind immediately went to the staff at Mar-a-Lago and I thought about all the people they might come into contact with."
People across the internet voiced support for the Representative's effort.
I support this shutdown! Also make sure Trump doesn't use it as a residence, his legal agreement forbids this when it's operating as a business.
— BrickmanInGA (@BrickmanInGA) January 5, 2021
Please do it.
— El Basurero 🇺🇸 (@MaxPowerNYC) January 5, 2021
pic.twitter.com/W2xz6WHygo
— Jon Maas (@jondmaas) January 5, 2021
Good! Superspreader event holders should be punished
— Larry 4680 Bishop (@CCTSSAB) January 5, 2021
That should have been done right there!
— liaisonsus (@liaisonsus) January 5, 2021
Thank you!
With this Xmas & New Years revelry, Florida is going to look like California in a couple of weeks. We need to be on lockdown.
— Lauren J. Schindler (@JoyWray) January 5, 2021
Some are calling for the revocation of the club's liquor license.
If nothing else pull their liquor license. It won't directly hurt Trump but it will clear the place out.
— Brent Norris (@BrentNorrisKY) January 5, 2021
Pull their liquor license and their food license. They shouldn't be serving food and drinks during Covid anyway. Should be easy to shut down Mar-a-lago
— jewellE (@JewellE1974) January 5, 2021
If Trumps pal Gov. DeSantis wasn't in his seat Mar-A-Lago's liquor license would be shut down at minimum for it's Maskless Covid super spreading events. https://t.co/EmRBL93MB5
— Nestor Vega (@NewsRemote) January 5, 2021
Assistant Palm Beach County administrator Todd Bonlarron assured the county takes complaints like Hardy's "very seriously."
