'You'll be my guest': Trump invites Americans to Mar-a-Lago but laughs that $5K will only get them a burger and a small dessert

“Go to Florida, go to any one of our great places. You can even come to Mar-a-Lago, I said it the other night. You’ll be my guest at Mar-a-Lago” Trump told the crowd in Texas. “The problem is that for $5,000, the most you’ll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert.”

The president continued to joke, saying that he’s “not even sure you could buy that,” before telling the crowd that Mar-a-Lago isn’t “a good place if you’re price conscious.”

The comment was made just one week before the midterm elections, and the economy remains the top issue for many voters.

Mar-a-Lago’s prices

The president was seemingly joking about how far $5,000 will get you at his private Florida club, but Mar-a-Lago does boast some eyewatering fees.

There is little public information about the prices at Mar-a-Lago, including its dining menus, but membership to the private club is $1 million. The price was raised from $700,000 shortly before Trump’s re-election, marking a 43% increase.

In an interview with Bloomberg published in 2024, Mar-a-Lago’s long-time manager Bernd Lembcke justified the steep price increase by saying the private club is “not desperate” for members.

The exact amount members pay in annual dues is unconfirmed, but those fees are reportedly between $14,000 to $20,000 per year, and members are expected to spend approximately $2,000 per year on dining. Fundraising events at the club have reportedly hit $1 million per-plate.

The president has seen a massive spike in earnings from Mar-a-Lago since returning to office. According to Trump’s 2025 federal financial disclosure, the luxury Florida club earned him $77.5 million last year, a 50% increase compared to 2024.

It’s also worth noting the club is private, meaning the average American wouldn’t be able to enter even if they wanted to spend their $5,000 check there.