In mid-April 2024, a number of social media users posted a photo of four uniformed U.S. Marines at the Mar-a-Lago club, which is owned by former President Donald Trump. The posts claimed that the Marines were there for a fundraiser, and some even claimed that it was specifically in support of Trump.
Lisa emailed VERIFY to ask if uniformed U.S. Marines attended a Trump campaign fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.
THE QUESTION
Does this photo show Marines attending a Trump campaign fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago?
THE SOURCES
Grey Team, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to reduce suicides among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
THE ANSWER
No, this photo doesn’t show Marines attending a Trump campaign fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.
WHAT WE FOUND
Uniformed U.S. Marines did attend a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, but not for Trump. The fundraiser was for Grey Team, a nonprofit charity organization that seeks to reduce suicides among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Some of the people who posted the photo to social media wondered if the Marines violated a rule prohibiting members of the military from wearing their uniform to partisan political events. A Department of Defense directive does prohibit members of the military from participating in “partisan political fundraising activities” in uniform. Since this was not a political event, the directive would not apply to these Marines.
Grey Team is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Boca Raton, Florida, a city that is in Palm Beach County. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all 501(c)(3) to abstain from participating in or funding political campaigns.
“All section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office,” the IRS says. “Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.”
The IRS may revoke an organization’s tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status for violating this rule.
The U.S. Marines posted about the event and the pictured Marines on social media:
“On April 11, 2024, a @marforres unit, 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, supported a nonpolitical event hosted by a civic organization at the Mar-a-Lago Club by providing a color guard and static display.
The civic organization, Grey Team, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Boca Raton and they submitted an official request for military support to a community event.
The request was reviewed by Marine Forces Reserve Community Relations and deemed eligible for support. The event was open to the public and helped raise awareness about military and veteran suicides. The event was neither a political fundraiser, nor was the 45th President of the United States in attendance.”
People and organizations can book events, including “a gala for your favorite charity,” at Mar-a-Lago, according to the club’s website.
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