On Sunday, the former president was spotted landing at Dulles International Airport, about 26 miles west of DC, after flying from his Bedminster residence and golf resort in New Jersey. He wrote on Truth Social, his own social networking site, that his arrival in DC was a “work” trip and that he would be doing so from Trump National Golf Club Washington DC starting Monday. In an apparent attempt to quell speculation about his activities, he said: “Working today at Trump Washington DC on the Potomac River. What an incredible place! Speculation surrounding the former president began Sunday when a video shared on social media by @PenguinSix, a DC-based freelance journalist, showed Trump disembarking the Cessna Citation X jet he had been using for air transport since he left power before getting into a black Sport. Utility vehicle. Trump was seen being greeted by his Secret Service details and a marked police car from the Loudon County, Virginia Sheriff’s Department. Eagle-eyed onlookers noticed his casual golf attire and a “Make America Great Again” hat in his hand. What those details meant — if anything — continued to be debated online throughout Sunday night, as commentators and “Trump watchers” discussed the unannounced visit to D.C. amid an ongoing FBI investigation into missing classified documents. “Donald Trump was seen landing in Dulles tonight and getting into a blacked out SUV,” Stephanie Winston Wolfoff, a former adviser to Melania Trump, tweeted. He continued: “He appears to be wearing white golf shoes. Maybe he didn’t have time to change? Nobody knows why he’s in DC.” Another Twitter user, @AngryStaffer, argued that it was unusual for Trump to go anywhere without “fanfare” on the Truth Social platform, which had remained largely silent since Monday morning until his announcement of a “trip work”. “It’s not often that Trump does anything without fanfare, so this leads me to believe it’s a narrative he can’t control,” he tweeted, adding, “Also, he doesn’t usually travel in golf clothes, so I found that interesting. I’m sure we’ll know more soon.” Others meanwhile pointed out that Mr Trump, especially as president, chose to wear white golf shoes when he was not on one of the golf courses – suggesting that the outfit at Dulles Airport could not provide clues to his trip. The twice-impeached former president, who usually spends his summers at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club but maintains his primary residence in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under FBI investigation after the recovery of classified and highly of classified documents from the Mar-a-Lago Estate last month. It remains unclear whether or not his surprise arrival in DC is related to that investigation, amid calls for the US Justice Department to indict the former president on espionage and other charges. Mr Trump denies wrongdoing. Other online commentators pointed to the fact that Trump had no events scheduled in DC in the coming days, fueling further speculation about his activities. “I’m watching his schedule and events very closely,” tweeted former Republican and attorney Ron Filipkowski. “I don’t know anyone in the DC area tomorrow for Trump.” Meanwhile, Citizens for Ethics, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit and government watchdog, tweeted: “Look, it’s kind of weird that Trump flew into DC tonight and no one seems to know why. There is a lot of speculation, so let’s wait until we know more before jumping to conclusions. But it’s strange.” Other social media users and commentators suggested Mr Trump was in the area for a visit to Walter Reed Military Hospital, where he was treated while ill with Covid as president, although this remained unconfirmed on Monday. Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Virginia is one of a dozen resorts owned by Mr. Trump. The Independent has approached his office for comment.
