Moammar Khadafy’s Bedouin-style tent — erected on a lawn on Donald Trump’s sprawling Westchester property — was dismantled yesterday, as officials said the colonel would be steering clear of the tony suburb.
The move came at the behest of Bedford officials, who said the tent broke town codes since it would have people bunking down in it.
Aides to The Donald, who had been slammed for renting out space to the visiting dictator, issued a vague statement saying, “We have requested that the tenant occupying the property in Bedford, New York, remove the tent that was erected. They have complied with this request.”
Town Attorney Joel Sachs said Trump had been put on notice that the tent had to come down by 5 p.m. yesterday. Had that not happened, Sachs likely would have sought an injunction to evict anyone staying in it.
The tent was dismantled at about 4 p.m., leaving two maroon leather sofas, some chairs and tables exposed on the lawn. The tent itself was tucked into a green-and-white carry bag.
Shortly before the tent came down, Khadafy was reportedly headed for Bedford.
But within minutes, the office of Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano said the Secret Service told him that Khadafy’s plans had changed, and he wouldn’t be visiting after all.
Earlier in the day, a worker on the property, who appeared to be part of Khadafy’s advance security team, threatened a Post photographer, crying out, “I’ll shoot you!”
It was the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Khadafy, on his first US trip in 40 years, trying to find a place to pitch his tent.
He was rejected when he tried for permission to bed down in Central Park, and later on a Libyan Mission-owned property in Englewood, NJ.
Last night, the Englewood estate was vandalized when someone left flammable debris on the driveway, according to the town’s mayor.
Trump officials had initially denied that the Libyan thug was hunkering down on his Bedford estate, only to later say that a business associate had leased the property “to Middle Eastern partners, who may or may not have a relationship to Mr. Khadafy.”
As word spread of the Libyan’s plans, so did local outrage.
Khadafy was “unwelcome throughout the New York area,” said Rep. Nita Lowey (D- Westchester.
Neighbors in the area were outraged.
“Its unbelievable,” said Felipe Rodriguez, 57. “I’ve been here 20 years. I think that it’s terrible that he should be here. Donald Trump should be ashamed of himself.”