A new Forbes report revealed that President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, had 18 health code violations, receiving the lowest score in all of Somerset County.
The Bedminster property is owned through a network of companies and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, from which Trump can derive income while in office.
During his first term, Trump spent over 100 days at Bedminster according to the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). According to New Jersey law, annual health inspections are a requirement for all retail food establishments, including those on private golf courses.
But it's evident that adhering to health codes is not on the club's list of priorities considering the Somerset County Department of Health inspected it and gave it a score of 32 out of 100 during a recent health inspection, with officials documenting 18 violations—nine of which were classified as critical due to potential health risks.
According to the inspector’s report—available HERE—the club failed all three criteria under the “food protected from contamination” category. The inspector cited issues such as expired milk, improperly stored raw meat, and a dishwasher that may not reach the required sanitizing temperature. The club reportedly resolved the milk and meat problems during the inspection.
The facility was also cited for four separate hand-washing violations, including missing soap and paper towels at sinks, a lack of required signage, and a sink being used to store a sanitizer bucket. As a result, the establishment received a “conditionally satisfactory” C grade and must post the rating in a visible area.
Nasty, huh? You've got that right—and many saw the news as more evidence of Trump's disregard for even the most common-sense laws and regulations.
Roughly three hours after Forbes published its report, a health inspector returned to the property for a reinspection; the club received a B grade with a score of 86—the lowest score possible to still qualify for that grade.
It's still not good: the inspector documented six violations, including two labeled as critical. One of the critical issues was resolved on site. Among the noted problems were milk and coffee creamers stored at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature above the required maximum of 41 degrees.
Forbes noted that a spokesperson for the Somerset County Department of Health declined to comment on the timing or outcome of the inspection, stating that department policy is to let the official reports speak for themselves. Trump has yet to comment.
