

View of Mar-a-Lago from the new beach club Trump built. (Mary Jordan/The Washington Post)

A large sinkhole has formed in front of Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate belonging to President Trump.

Town officials posted a run-of-the-mill advisory about the sinkhole Monday morning:

"A 4' x 4' sinkhole has formed on Southern Boulevard directly in front of Mar-a-Lago," the traffic alert read. "It appears to be in the vicinity of the newly installed water main. West Palm Beach Utilities distribution crews have secured the area and will most likely need to do some exploratory excavation today."

But where utility workers saw a repair project, the Internet saw a giant opening — for metaphors.

The swamp is draining? https://t.co/iWE7BjFs9i — Peter Stevenson (@PeterWStevenson) May 22, 2017

"Give us a sign, God."

[sinkhole appears in front of Mar-A-Lago]

"Hm, can't be sure that's anything."https://t.co/oTrfQkYBxR — Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) May 22, 2017

The Sinkhole: Our New National Symbol. https://t.co/gKz0I3940b — glennwsmith (@glennwsmith) May 22, 2017

Hate to be pedantic, but the Mar-a-lago sinkhole isn't *technically* a metaphor, because metaphors aren't *that* obvious. — Dennis DiClaudio (@dennisdiclaudio) May 22, 2017

Others questioned if the sinkhole hadn't been mistaken for something else.

My working theory: It’s a hellmouth, not a sinkhole. — Jeff LaMarche (@jeff_lamarche) May 22, 2017

@TheRickWilson That's not a sinkhole that's an escape route... — rocki one (@rocki_) May 22, 2017

Sean Spicer wants to make it very clear there is NOT a sinkhole in front of Mar-A-Lago... It is a Florida Swamp Center. — Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) May 22, 2017

@thehill Look, I have the best sinkhole. Everyone's talking about my sinkhole. It's yuge. Tremendous. Really. Great, great sinkhole. Believe me. — Zachary Myers (@zachskymyers) May 22, 2017

Within minutes of the traffic alert, the sinkhole had legitimate fans.

@townpalmbeach @Fahrenthold Has anyone ever rooted for a sinkhole before? — chuckyou2 (@chuckyoutwo) May 22, 2017

Others had formed theories behind how the 16-square-foot sinkhole came to be. Most had to do with the mysterious glowing orb Trump was pictured touching on his trip to Saudi Arabia.

The sinkhole began forming seconds after the Orb was touched. https://t.co/zBVio0ejjs — Chad Fondiller (@ChadFondiller) May 22, 2017

A sinkhole just opened in front of President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate https://t.co/vlSlzzwBCP THE ORB DEMANDS SACRIFICE — Oliver Willis (@owillis) May 22, 2017

What's next?

Step 1. Glowing orb

Step 2. Sinkhole

Step 3. pic.twitter.com/Jf9QuL09Hm — Jay (@theshamingofjay) May 22, 2017

The Washington Post's Jenna Johnson and Aaron Blake explain why President Trump spends so much time at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, and how he uses it as a second White House. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Read more:

Government watchdog to review Trump’s use of Mar-a-Lago

At Mar-a-Lago, the star power of the presidency helps charities — and Trump — make more money

Trump, Camp David, Mar-a-Lago and the history of presidential retreats