American flags wave from truck beds, Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats top heads in supermarket aisles, and banners reading Trump 2024 line suburban streets. In the shadow of Mar-a-Lago, West Palm Beach has transformed.

“There’s always been these people (conservatives), and now, they’re empowered and yelling their opinions from the rooftops instead of being quieter,” West Palm Beach resident Michael Buttigieg said. “It might just be that something that has always been here is now getting more of a voice.”

The Palm Beach Post reported that during the 2016 election, Democrats in Palm Beach County held an advantage of 114,260 registered voters over Republicans. By the 2024 election, this lead had dwindled to 42,784. Once considered a more Democratic county within Florida, Palm Beach has steadily become a focal point for conservative rallies and gatherings. 

“Big businesses benefit from Trump’s presence,” local traffic control business owner William Hamilton said. “They get more traffic and people who come in when there’s a rally of supporters around their location, especially if they are conservative. When he comes into town, some small businesses shut down, and it makes it difficult to operate. The streets get closed off, and my business can’t work.”                 

Alongside the shift in political registration, West Palm Beach has seen a rise in politically motivated events, making it a hotspot for political tourism. As residents prepared for Trump’s second term, streets hosted frequent marches and protests. The Palm Beach Post found that 40 different organizations marched in Trump’s favor for his inauguration. This surge of political activity is also accompanied by predictions for what changes are to be seen over the next four years.

“I definitely think that certain aspects of taxes and a harsh economy may begin to fall (lessen), especially because Trump has promised a lot of economic change,” theatre sophomore Zachary Fischetti said. “I also think there’s going to be a lot of social change. It’s good.” 

While some people thrive from political tourism, enjoying the new opportunities it presents to express their beliefs, others, like theatre sophomore Harper Toolan, view the growing political identity as polarizing. Beyond its cultural significance, Trump’s regular presence in Palm Beach County has led to logistical changes that affect residents and visitors alike.

“Him (Trump) being favored and having everyone else’s plans shut down or reworked for when he comes around can be really impactful on other people’s lives,” Toolan said. “It’s disruptive and an inconvenience because what is a small visit to him is every day for us.” 

Trump’s residency at Mar-a-Lago has not only shaped the political atmosphere, but it has brought changes to the infrastructure and operations of Palm Beach. Each of his visits requires extensive planning, from creating special entrances at the airport to rerouting airline traffic. According to Forbes, temporary flight restrictions are in effect when President Trump is visiting Mar-a-Lago. These restrictions include higher flight costs, longer flight times, and increased security stops.

“It makes travel less accessible, especially to those who may be traveling for emergency reasons,” Toolan said. “People who may be evacuating or meeting family could be deterred from it, worsening the situation. What if they don’t have enough money for the extra expense?”

Some residents of West Palm Beach living near Mar-a-Lago, such as Buttigieg, hold concerns about how Trump’s presidency and continued presence in the area will impact their daily lives. 

“Conservatives are so empowered here, so now I wonder, ‘Will that not have a lot of Democrats leaving the state?’” Buttigieg said. “If our rights are taken away, we’re not going to want to be five minutes away from the new White House. A lot of people are gonna feel free to say and do whatever they want, and they didn’t have that before and had to be more politically correct.”

As political messages increase on online platforms, they often reinforce the views held by many residents. A casual survey conducted by The Muse found that 84.1% of respondents believed that political posts on social media affect political opinions. Conservative media outlets have narratives echoing themes of patriotism, tradition, and a vision for America that resonate deeply for some. 

“A lot of the things I see that are posted are very political,” dance senior Sophie Izenwasser said. “A lot I feel is propaganda from both sides and people just posting to seem like they are involved when they haven’t done research on the topics. I feel like it played a big role in (the shift towards) conservatism.” 

These conservative influences become more ingrained in the community with younger generations increasingly voting for Republicans, as found by The Independent Florida Alligator. In schools where liberal ideologies are more prevalent, there is a clear contrast between the broader political climate and the attitudes of students. In a casual survey conducted by The Muse, out of 929 student responses 34.8% of students identify with the Democratic party, 23.3% more than those who identify as Republican. For Dreyfoos, this contrast can be seen in everyday school culture and how students carry themselves. 

“I think Dreyfoos is very unified in our views, socially and politically, but there’s always going to be people that don’t agree,” Izenwasser said. “People at Dreyfoos are very comfortable with themselves and how they express themselves.  They express themselves very freely, and once you step outside of that and go farther into West Palm Beach, it’s very different.” 

West Palm Beach seems to increasingly align with broader statewide trends. As Trump’s influence continues to shape the county, the integration of conservative values, bolstered by an influx of Republican-leaning retirees, signals a long-term change in the area’s political landscape. The ongoing political rallies, social media exposure, and public adoption of Trump-era ideologies all point toward a future where the conservative identity of West Palm Beach is not just a passing trend, but a core characteristic.  According to the Hungarian Conservative,  the President of the Palm Beach Institute (Paul du Quenoy) noted, “‘And what happens to those Democrats who move to Florida? They become Republicans,’” continuing on to claim that seven times as many Democrats switch to the Republican Party in Florida as the other way around. 

“I’ve lived here my whole life, built a family here, and supported my community,” Hamilton said. “Conservatism isn’t anything new, but it should still be talked about more often. My children, their children, and their children’s future children will still feel it and see it around them. It’s here to stay. It’s part of Palm Beach as a whole, past, present, and future.”