25 unimpeachable examples of Trump profiting from his hotel
Foreign governments, Trump administration, GOP lawmakers, industry all have called on the Trump Hotel D.C. since its owner became president
Launched on Dec. 10, 2018, today’s issue is 1100 Pennsylvania’s 200th. To celebrate, we’ve recapped the top stories (broken by this newsletter and other outlets) that show how President Donald Trump has profited from his D.C. hotel via foreign governments and political leaders, his own administration, GOP lawmakers, businesses, and other sources that present conflicts of interest with his day job.
For the uninitiated: President Trump owns 76.725 percent of the hotel via a revocable trust that is not blind. In 2017 and 2018, Trump reported taking in more than $81 million just from the Trump Hotel D.C.
Foreign government officials and political leaders
Representatives from at least 29 foreign governments have visited the Trump Hotel D.C. since Trump was elected president
“Saudi-funded lobbyist paid for 500 rooms at Trump’s hotel after 2016 election” (by David A. Fahrenthold and Jonathan O’Connell for The Washington Post)
With one month to go before Nigeria’s general election, Atiku Abubakar—one of two main candidates for the presidency of the world’s seventh most-populous country—checked into the Trump Hotel D.C.
A top official for Taiwan’s main opposition party appears to have stayed at the U.S. president’s D.C. hotel and visited four other Trump properties this summer.
At the Trump Hotel D.C., lobbyists advocating on behalf of foreign interests have pitched their causes—in person—to President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The Trump administration
At least 25 of the 33 different officials who have served in President Trump’s cabinet have visited the Trump Hotel D.C.
Pence’s Great America Committee PAC has reported spending $225,553.03 at the Trump Hotel D.C.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, then-Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon, then-advisor Gary Cohen, and then-communications director Anthony Scaramucci have lived (separately) at the Trump Hotel D.C.
The Trump Hotel D.C. is one of at least six Trump properties Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich, has visited since May 2016. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft and U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell are rare Trump Gold Card members (reported David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post).
The hotel hosted Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s farewell party.
Republican members of Congress
At least 26 of the 53 Republican U.S. Senators have been spotted or spent campaign funds at the Trump Hotel D.C. (as has one Democratic Senator)
At least seven of 17 Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee have been spotted or spent campaign funds at the Trump Hotel D.C.
At least six of 17 Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have been spotted or spent campaign funds at the Trump Hotel D.C.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) campaigns and committees have spent more than $245,000 at Trump’s properties (mostly his D.C. hotel) after Trump was elected.
“Greg Pence, a freshman congressman and brother of Vice President Mike Pence, reported spending more than $7,600 in campaign funds on lodging at the Trump International Hotel in the first few months after his election in November, although lawmakers are supposed to pay for their own housing in Washington.” (by Maureen Groppe for USA Today)
Businesses and associations
“T-Mobile’s patronage of President Trump’s Washington hotel increased sharply after the announcement in April of its merger with Sprint, with executives spending about $195,000 at the property since then.” (by David A. Fahrenthold and Jonathan O’Connell for The Washington Post)
Representatives from at least four U.S. government departments were scheduled to address the annual Firearms Import/Export Conference (IM/EX) July 30–Aug. 1, 2019 at the Trump Hotel D.C.”
“Energy execs spend big at Trump hotel ‘Disneyland’” (by Dylan Brown and Hannah Northey for E&E News)
“Trump’s D.C. hotel gave a sweetheart rate to a pro-immigrant worker group: The group happened to be lobbying for policies that benefit the president’s other businesses.” (by your correspondent for The Daily Beast)
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma Bankers Association, and the Jefferson (Louisiana) Chamber of Commerce (twice) are among the groups that have hosted fly-ins—during which members travel to D.C. to lobby the government—at the Trump Hotel D.C.
Others
Super PAC America First Action, the Trump campaign’s “one approved outside non-campaign group,” has reported spending more than $500,000 at the Trump Hotel D.C.
The Army’s 3rd U.S. infantry regiment’s fourth battalion held its annual ball at the commander-in-chief’s D.C. hotel this February.
Despite a promise not to use the Trump presidency to market itself, the Trump Store sold soaps, clothing, and other gifts that used images of the White House alongside the Trump Hotel D.C.
“Newly released emails and an official White House photo provide evidence suggesting that President Trump himself directed the General Services Administration and the FBI to modify a years-in-the-works plan to move the FBI’s downtown Washington headquarters,” which could have allowed that space to be developed as a competitor of the Trump Hotel D.C. (by Charles S. Clark for Government Executive).
“The General Services Administration inked a deal late last year to spend nearly $600,000 to continue operations at the Old Post Office Tower inside the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.—enough to keep the site open for up to a year in the event of a continuous government shutdown.” (by Jennifer Yachnin and Kevin Bogardus for E&E News)
Support this reporting
Paid and unpaid subscribers received this issue. If you are a paid one, thank you for supporting 200 issues! If you only receive the free editions, please become a paid subscriber to stay informed and support reporting read by Congressional investigators, other journalists, government watchdogs, and voters.
1100 Pennsylvania is making a difference. This month, for example, MSNBC, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Washington Post have cited 1100 Pennsylvania, sharing its reporting on how Trump is profiting from his presidency with a mass audience.
Paid subscriptions from people like you are the newsletter’s sole source of income.
Notable sightings
A glimpse of the foreign officials, government employees, politicians, lobbyists, and the like who patronize or appear at Trump businesses. Most people shown here have reasons to want to influence the Trump administration, rely on its good graces for their livelihoods, or should be providing oversight. Additionally, high-profile guests serve as draws for paying customers.
Trump defenders Rep. Matt Gaetz (R–FL) and Fox Business’s Lou Dobbs were at the president’s D.C. hotel yesterday, with Gaetz plugging the head of the executive branch’s business.
Conservative foundation Judicial Watch held an event at the president’s D.C. hotel during which speaker Sara Carter discussed pressuring the federal government.
Rudy posed with the president of pro-gun Second Amendment Institute, Tyler Yzaguirre.
Talk-radio hosts appear to have held an event at the Trump Hotel DC…
“Thank you for the incredible dinner this evening, Mister President!” wrote Jeffrey Katz of Richmond talk radio WRVA.
Idaho’s KIDO talk radio host Kevin Miller gave a thumbs up.
Lubbock, Texas’s KFYO talk radio host Chad Hasty dined on a great steak at Trump’s place.
Charlie James of Charleston, S.C.’s WTMA confused high tea with afternoon tea.
Other Trump Organization news
“Feds get Monday deadline to decide on Trump tax return fight” by Larry Neumeister for Associated Press
“The House doesn’t need an impeachment inquiry to confirm Trump’s wrongdoing. Just look at his hotel.” by Dana Milibank for The Washington Post
“Giuliani spoke to CNN multiple times on Thursday morning from what he said was his room at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.” by Michael Warren for CNN
Shut Down DC climate march stopped in front of Trump Hotel D.C. this morning, reported Will Vitka for WTOP
Fact sheets
Each issue of 1100 Pennsylvania reports on new updates in the House investigations, lawsuits, and health inspections regarding the Trump Hotel D.C. For a rundown of the earlier developments in each one, as well as reference sheets for some of 1100 Pennsylvania’s previous reporting, please see these paid-subscriber-only fact sheets.
House investigations (latest change Sept. 24, 2019)
Lawsuits (latest change Sept. 17, 2019)
Foreign governments with representatives spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 29 (latest change Sept. 21, 2019)
Trump cabinet members spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 25 of 33 (latest change Sept. 26, 2019)
U.S. Senators who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: 26 of 53 Republicans, one Democrat (latest change Aug. 1, 2019)
House Judiciary members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Seven of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (latest change Sept. 20, 2019)
House Oversight members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Six of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (latest change Sept. 26, 2019)
Breakdown of judges’ rulings by political party of presidents who nominated them in emoluments, unfair competition, and House committee investigations lawsuits (latest change Sept. 13, 2019)
Health inspections (latest change June 14, 2019)
Rudy Giuliani at the Trump Hotel D.C: A retrospective (published April 30, 2019)
Thanks for reading! If you like what you’ve read, tell someone. If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe at 1100pennsylvania.substack.com. Questions? Read our FAQ. Tips or feedback? Contact Zach Everson at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com (it’ll be encrypted if you also use a ProtonMail account, which is free) or via Signal (secure), SMS, or mobile at 202.804.2744.