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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Gino Spocchia

Melania Trump stirs up rumours of Mar-a-Lago move after touring $35,000-a-year Florida school

Photograph: REUTERS

Melania Trump has caused more rumours to circulate about a relocation to Florida after she was reported to have toured a private school there for her son, Barron.

The first lady was said to have toured the Pine Crest school in Fort Lauderdale, as she reportedly prepares to relocate to Florida in the coming weeks.

Pine Crest, which costs about $35,000-a-year (£26,150) to attend , was among those reportedly under consideration by Ms Trump and her husband Donald Trump, who is due to depart Washington DC and the White House, despite protestations that November’s election was rigged against him.

Barron, who would attend ninth grade, has been enrolled at Maryland's St Andrew’s Episcopal School, close to the White House in Washington DC.  

A source told People Ms Trump toured the private school in Florida’s Fort Lauderdale, which counts musician Ariana Grande as an alumni, and was considering schools in other counties close by.

“They have looked all over Palm Beach County and neighbouring Broward County for just the right place. There are several options, and they will decide soon,” the source said.

Pine Crest is located some forty minutes from Mar-a-Lago, the Trump family’s private Florida residence, where they are expected to relocate when they vacate the White House. It is currently undergoing renovations, according to reports.

Mr and Ms Trump have already changed their permanent addresses to Florida, having completed a “declaration of domicile” in the state last year, and voted in the presidential election in Palm County.

Mr Trump, who spent a lifetime in New York before becoming president, said the decision was the “best for all concerned” when he announced the move last October, and blamed Democratic city and state leaders for treating him “very badly”, in a Twitter post.

He is currently under investigation in New York State, with one criminal and one civil case considering possible financial fraud.

Meanwhile, Ms Trump was reportedly keen to leave Washington DC and the White House behind. A source told CNN last week that "she just wants to go home".  

When Mr Trump became president in 2017, his wife was reportedly reluctant to relocate from New York to the White House, and stayed behind with Barron for several months before moving into the executive mansion.

Speculation about the Trump family relocating to Florida comes as Ivanka Trump, the president's eldest daughter, was reported to have brought a property with husband Jared Kushner in the state.

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