Trump Temporarily Keeps NJ Liquor Licenses—But Faces Special Rules
President Donald Trump sips a glass after making a toast at the United Nations during the 72nd ... More session of the General Assembly in 2017. (AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski) AFP via Getty Images
A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records tied to hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign, crimes each punishable by up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
New Jersey law bars anyone convicted of crimes 'involving moral turpitude'—including 'dishonesty, fraud or depravity' severe enough to typically be punishable by more than a year in prison—from holding a liquor license, according to a state handbook, first reported by Forbes in June 2024.
After Trump's conviction, New Jersey's Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) declined to renew the liquor licenses at his Bedminster and Colts Neck clubs, instead issuing a series of temporary permits—first for 90 days pending a hearing, then extended.
On Monday, with the latest temporary licenses set to expire, the ABC issued six-month permits, letting the clubs continue to serve alcohol but requiring liquor proceeds be kept in separate accounts, banning their payout to Trump's companies and demanding extra records on the clubs' ownership, according to copies of the permits obtained by Forbes.
Losing the liquor licenses would be one of the few direct penalties Trump could face from his felony conviction.
'We are pleased with this latest extension of our licenses and look forward to working cooperatively with the ABC to ensure that our valued members and guests continue to enjoy the finest services and amenities at our world-renowned clubs,' a spokesperson for the Trump Organization told Forbes in a statement.
The Trump Organization contends Trump's conviction shouldn't matter because he isn't listed as a holder, officer or director on any New Jersey liquor license, according to a statement provided after Forbes' initial report. Key Background
New Jersey regulators determined in 2024 that Trump holds a 'direct beneficial interest' in the clubs' liquor licenses, because he receives profits from them, countering his argument that the conviction shouldn't matter. Court records and Trump's financial disclosures show he is the sole owner of the clubs through a series of LLCs held by a revocable trust, of which he is also the sole beneficiary and sole provider of assets. The Trump Organization confirmed in an April regulatory filing in the United Kingdom that, as president, Trump retains control over his businesses. Other states, however, reached different conclusions: A spokesperson for California's alcohol regulator, for example, previously told Forbes because Trump transferred the license for his Los Angeles-area club to Donald Trump Jr. in 2017, he is no longer part of the license—even though he remains the sole beneficiary of the underlying business.
The ABC does not appear to have publicly explained why it's taken more than a year to decide if Trump's felony convictions should cost his clubs their liquor licenses. Crucial Quote
'Profiting from a liquor license is a privilege, not a right granted by law,' Allison Inserro, a spokesperson for the New Jersey attorney general, told Forbes. She added the special conditions were 'consistent with the division's obligation to ensure that all liquor licensees comply with the law.' Big Number
$49.2 million: That's the income Trump reported from his Bedminster and Colts Neck golf clubs in his June 2025 financial disclosure, which appears to cover all of 2024. News Peg
Trump's conviction in May 2024 made him the first former U.S. president to become a felon. Surprising Fact
Golf markers featuring the presidential seal have appeared at five Trump courses, including Bedminster, a potential violation of federal law barring its use for commercial purposes.
Trump's Bedminster club received a 32 out of 100 health inspection score in May, the lowest grade in Somerset County, and was issued a 'conditionally satisfactory' C grade after it was flagged for 18 violations, including all three requirements in the 'food protected from contamination' category. On a subsequent reinspection, the club earned a B grade with a score of 86—the lowest score possible to still receive that grade. Forbes Valuation
Forbes estimates Donald Trump is worth about $5.3 billion, with crypto making up the bulk of his wealth. Further Viewing
After Years Of Lying, Trump Organization Tries To Figure Out How Big Its Properties Actually Are (Forbes)
Trump's Properties Charged Defense Department $1 Million, New Documents Reveal (Forbes)
How Trump Built A Golf Empire With Secret Financing (Forbes)
Here's How Much Trump Received For Hosting Saudi-Backed Golf Tournament (Forbes)
How Donald Trump Shifted Kids-Cancer Charity Money Into His Business (Forbes)
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