"These are dark times for our nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents," Trump posted on the "Truth" social media site.
"Nothing like this has ever happened to a president of the United States before," he said, adding that it was "not necessary or appropriate" and labeling it "prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for president in 2024."
"Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World countries," Trump said, adding that "sadly, America has now become one of those countries, corrupt at a level not seen before."
According to CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, Trump was not at the resort when the raid occurred. New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin also noted the White House was apparently unaware of the raids, only learning about them on Twitter.
It's unclear what the alleged raid is about, but it could be in connection with alleged violations of the Presidential Records Act committed by Trump when he transferred classified documents to his residence of Mar-a-Lago instead of turning them over to the US National Archives, as all presidents are required to do at the end of their term.
In early February, the National Archives and Records Administration revealed it had already retrieved 15 boxes of records from Mar-a-Lago, and a federal grand jury subpoenaed the remaining documents in May.
NBC News has reported the FBI alerted the US Secret Service (USSS) about the impending raid, and that the USSS "facilitated access" to the grounds but did not take part in the search. Eric Trump, the former president's son, told Fox News that some 30 FBI agents had descended on the grounds.
The golf course and resort served as Trump's Versailles during much of his presidency, preferring to manage the affairs of state and entertain guests there instead of the White House presidential mansion in central Washington, DC. However, Mar-a-Lago was also where Trump retreated to in the aftermath of the November 2020 election, in which he refused to concede his loss to Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
The House January 6 committee's investigation revealed that one of Trump's senior advisers, far-right ideologue Steve Bannon, was instrumental in coaxing the lame duck president out of Mar-a-Lago and back to Washington, setting in motion the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6, 2021, and the insurrection at the US Capitol by his followers afterward.
The assault failed at its goal of overturning the election results or capturing politicians seen as opposing Trump's power grab, but the rioters sacked the national legislature and five people were killed. Trump was later impeached on charges of instigating the attack, but was acquitted by a minority of senators.
Biden was sworn in several weeks later under unprecedented heavy guard, as 25,000 US troops garrisoned the capital city.