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The billionaire
real-estate developer and presidential contender indicated he
thought guns were not generally allowed, but should be. Several
resorts bearing his name, however, have told news outlets guns
are absolutely unwelcome, even for guests with permits.
On Thursday Trump's company, the Trump Organization, only added
to the confusion by saying guns were already allowed.
The question, and its contradictory answers, came to the fore in
Wednesday's debate among Republicans seeking their party's
nomination for the November 2016 election during a discussion
about gun control and the country's high rate of mass shootings,
a highly divisive topic in U.S. politics.
Trump, who has spent months as the Republican favorite in polls,
was in the middle of saying that gun-free zones in schools and
elsewhere are a "catastrophe" that only make it easier for
shootings to happen when a moderator asked him about his
properties.
"We called a few Trump resorts," said moderator Carl
Quintanilla, "that do not allow guns with or without a permit.
Would you change those policies?"
Trump's eyes drifted up in thought for a split second. "I would
change them," he said almost immediately, in a tone suggesting
he had not considered it before but liked the idea. "OK. I would
change them."
But the Trump Organization said there was nothing to change:
guns are already allowed at Trump properties, even if the boss
and some resorts appear unaware of this.
"While laws vary substantially from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction," the company said in a statement, "we allow
security personnel and other licensed individuals the ability to
carry a firearm in an effort to protect themselves, our guests,
associates and the general public." The firm, based in New York
City, is opposed to gun-free zones, the statement said.
It declined to say why Trump and some of his hotels seemed
unaware of this policy. Spokeswomen for Trump, who has been
attacked by his Republican rivals who accuse him of being a
less-than-serious candidate, did not respond to requests for
comment.
Trump-stamped hotels and golf courses across the country
appeared reluctant to discuss whether they agree with Trump's
argument that more guns will increase safety.
Reuters contacted the general managers at nearly 20 Trump
resorts. Most did not respond to messages, while a couple of
managers simply expressed irritation at the inquiry and hung up.
(Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Additional reporting by Alana
Wise; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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