Donald Trump was spotted leaving Trump Tower in New York City on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after denying a report that he was so frustrated with the way Saturday Night Live mocked him and his presidency that he asked if the Justice Department or other government agency could investigate the show.
The former president called the report in The Daily Beast 'fake news.'
The 75-year-old was pictured leaving his Manhattan residence in a suit and tie, laden with Louis Vuitton luggage and Gucci shopping bags.
For the past 14 years, Gucci has leased 48,667 feet at the base of Trump Tower, making it the building’s biggest commercial tenant. In 2020 Gucci renegotiated a reduced rent and agreed to extend its lease beyond 2026.
Donald Trump on Tuesday was seen leaving Trump Tower in the rain, believed to be heading back to his Bedminster golf course where he now lives
A member of Trump's Secret Service detail keeps an eye as the former president leaves Trump Tower. All former presidents and their spouses are entitled to Secret Service protection for the remainder of their lives. Their children are protected, post-presidency, until the age of 16. Trump negotiated an unusual extension for his adult children, providing them with Secret Service details for their first six months of life outside the White House
The former president was protected by a Trump Organization umbrella
Trump is based in New Jersey, but frequently travels back to New York City for meetings at Trump Tower, the headquarters of the Trump Organization. He is resuming control of the family business, which for the past four years was run by his sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric
Trump is spending the summer at his Bedminster golf course in New Jersey, having relocated from Florida for the summer.
The move was in part to escape the swampy Florida heat - Mar-a-Lago, where he lives, closes during the summer and the Palm Beach area empties as the wealthy second homeowners leave.
It was also designed to allow him closer oversight of the Trump Organization, headquartered in Trump Tower, and the subject of two criminal investigations - one from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, and the other from the New York Attorney General, Letitia James.
Trump's relocation also puts him in closer proximity to New York's powerbrokers as he mulls a 2024 presidential run.
Suit carriers and Louis Vuitton luggage were seen being taken from Trump Tower before the former president's departure
Trump's luggage included a Gucci carrier bag. The Italian fashion house has been Trump Tower's longest-serving tenant, and in 2020 renegotiated their lease until at least 2026 - a valuable win for the Trumps, who have seen Nike and Tiffany abandon their stores in Trump Tower during his presidency
Aides to the former president kept watch as the luggage was unloaded
The former president left Trump Tower alone. There has been no sighting of his wife Melania or son Barron at the Manhattan residence. The family is registered for tax purposes in Florida, so would be limited as to how much time they can spend in New York
An aide was seen overseeing the preparations for Trump's departure from the building
On Tuesday Trump was once more hitting back against critical news stories - labelling as entirely false a report that he was enraged by SNL.
'The story that I asked the Department of Justice to go after ratings-challenged (without Trump!) Saturday Night Live, and other late-night Losers, is total Fake News.
'It was fabricated, there were no sources, and yet the Lamestream Media goes with it,' Trump said in a statement.
He did get in a shot at actor Alec Baldwin, who portrayed him on the show.
'I did say, however, that Alec Baldwin has no talent, certainly when it comes to imitating me. The one who had what it took was Darrell Hammond,' he added.
Trump also repeated his argument that satire programs - such as the late night comedy shows - should be considered political contributions.
'With all of that being said, however, I do believe that the 100% one-sided shows should be considered an illegal campaign contribution from the Democrat Party, hard to believe I got 75 million votes (the most of any sitting
