The case for giving Putin permanent residence at Mar-a-Lago
National Post, 1 November 2026
Ending the war with Ukraine could end Putin's life, but his buddy in the White House could offer him safe haven
Flávio Bolsanaro, fresh off losing the Brazilian presidential election and ordered to surrender his passport as he is under criminal investigation, has fled his country. The Trump administration issued his family visas, and they sought refuge in Florida.
Apropos of which, perhaps it is time to consider an even more bold asylum play. U.S. President Donald Trump has been determined to lavish American affection upon Russian President Vladimir Putin, receiving him in Alaska last year — red carpet and limo ride — and beseeching him to come to the G20 in Florida in December.
Is it not time for a modest proposal regarding Putin? A grand gesture to end the Russian war against Ukraine? Trump should offer Putin permanent residence at Mar-a-Lago.
It is surely Trump’s dream to inaugurate his billion-dollar ballroom with a gaudy state dinner for Putin, themed as the Saint Petersburg Winter Palace comes to Washington. But until then, Trump has invited Putin to the G20, to be held in December at the president’s golf club in Miami.
Like many of his holdings, it is a money loser — Trump has spent US$380 million (C$530 million) on it, and it was worth about US$300 million in 2021 — but the G20 will surely provide an infusion of cash at elevated rates.
The Trump National Doral Miami club welcomes guests with a 15-foot, three-ton bronze statue — the “Don Colossus” — of Trump, covered in gold leaf. It was installed earlier this year, not to be confused with the monumental Trump statue installed in 2025 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., which was donated by Anthony Constantino, an obscure businessman of dubious character from upstate New York. Subsequently, he got Trump’s endorsement to run for Congress.
If Putin comes to the Doral club, it could serve as a warm-up for having him at the White House. Yet bolder thinking is needed. Trump has in recent weeks renewed his efforts to obtain a Ukrainian surrender for Putin, launching several schemes to fund lethal Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians — a deal to buy Russian diesel, suspension of new sanctions and lifting of current sanctions.
None of that will induce Putin to lay down arms. Nothing has so far — including Russian war deaths in the hundreds of thousands and over a million casualties. The reason is not so much strategic but survival. Tyrants who fail — and Putin’s war to annex Ukraine is a failure — risk more than prestige. Their lives are at risk.
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