Trump visit to Fort Myers will focus on seniors, White House confirms

Mayor Randy Henderson confirmed on Wednesday that President Donald Trump will attend an event at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center – formerly Harborside Event Center – in downtown Fort Myers on Friday.

A “presidential helicopter” was spotted Wednesday over downtown Fort Myers, and signs are posted on the garage across the street from The Luminary Hotel that says it’s closed for part of the day.

Throughout the day Thursday, whether the event would be public or not was back-and-forth and ultimately finalized as a private event. Henderson said he will be attending.

According to a White House official on background, Trump will be discussing health care costs and Social Security.

People downtown can expect delays on the roads and likely some roadblocks. We are learning a lot more will go into this visit and have heard mixed reactions.

WINK News safety and security specialist Rich Kolko, says the president will travel in a large motorcade to downtown with roadblocks along the way.

“They have different law enforcement shut down different intersections along the way,” Kolko said. “That’ll keep the traffic moving around the president, but it’ll keep him safe in a traffic bubble.”

Kolko says the Secret Service is closely monitoring the area in and around where the president will speak.

“If it’s somewhere like this hotel, they’ll sweep the hotel,” Kolko said. “They’ll understand what the parking is, if there’s anything underground or inside. They would certainly have people on rooftops. We’re right next to the river. They’re going to have to put boats out there, whether it’s the Coast Guard or police boats.

Traffic is enough to keep some people away.

“I mentioned that to my wife last night,” Dan Norden said. “That traffic will be an issue.”

Others say, with less than three weeks to Election Day, this is a big indicator of how important votes are in Southwest Florida.

“That’s amazing that he would pick our town to come to with the election just three weeks away,” Rich Galvano said.

The Fort Myers Police Department said it’s preparing for the president’s visit, but it’s unclear exactly where you’ll notice roadblocks.

Kolko said the roadblocks shouldn’t cause traffic delays for too long.

We have reached out to the White House to find out whether this is a private or a public event, and we have not heard back yet.