An 18th charity is pulling its event from US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate over his response towards a deadly terrorist attack by a white nationalist in Charlottesville
The annual Hab-a-Hearts luncheon would no longer be held at the president’s property in Palm Beach, Florida, according to the Palm Beach Habilitation Center.
The Palm Beach Daily News quoted the group's CEO, David Lin, as making the announcement.
“We’ve decided to move because we want to keep the focus of the event on our mission, which is to help adults with physical or mental challenges live the best lives possible,” he said.
The president has been under fire due to his failure to immediately condemn the recent tragedy in Charlottesville, in which a driver plowed into demonstrators protesting against white supremacists, killing a young woman and injuring nearly 20 others.
Instead, he has blamed “both” and “many” sides for the clashes that took place on August 13.
Heather Heyer, 32, was killed and some 20 others were wounded.
A 20-year-old Nazi sympathizer, identified as James Alex Fields Jr, was said to have been behind the wheel.
Trump has ever since faced a raft of resignations from his advisory councils and talks about resignation of other White House officials.
“What about the alt-left that came charging at the — as you say, the alt-right?” he asked. “Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do. As far as I am concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day.”
As a local charity, the Palm Beach Habilitation Center is joining a long list of charities that have pulled their events from the estate the president frequently visits.
High profile nonprofits such as the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and Susan G. Komen Foundation are among the 24 charity groups that have left the estate so far this year.