Trump's now visited his properties 48 times since first reports of coronavirus
Bedminster hosted Trump, presidential press conference (yes, you basically read this story last week)
President Donald J. Trump arrived at his Bedminster golf course Friday evening and departed Sunday afternoon, bringing his total up to 48 visits to Trump businesses since Chinese officials reported a cluster of cases of acute respiratory illness on Dec. 31, 2019.
The virus has killed more than 170,000 people in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The club’s website boasts that “Members at Trump National Bedminster enjoy exclusive events and celebrations for adults and families, alike.” On Saturday, one of those select experiences for Trump customers was getting to witness the U.S. president hold a press conference.
(Yes, up to this point, this article is basically the same as one 1100 Pennsylvania published last week. Sometimes on the Trump Org beat, time is a flat circle.)
To wit—the customer shown here is former New York Police Department commissioner and presidential pardon recipient Bernard Kerik (he made sure to inform the Trump family of his patronage). Kerik also’s been a guest at the Trump Hotel D.C. and Mar-a-Lago.
The president also was at his club to receive an endorsement from the New York City Police Benevolent Association. The union, which claims to represent more than 50,000 active and retired officers, enjoyed remarks from the president.
ICYMI—Trump told NY Post that his D.C. hotel’s lease was no longer for sale and he was involved in decision
There’s a lot going on, but the president saying he’d yanked his D.C. hotel’s lease off the market because it was performing well seems like it should have received more coverage. (Disclosure: Your correspondent publishes a newsletter focused on the Trump Hotel D.C., so he often has that opinion.)
Anyway, read “Trump says he considered selling DC hotel—but will never part with Trump Tower” by Ebony Boden and Steve Nelson for The New York Post on Thursday.
Then read 1100 Pennsylvania’s analysis from Friday.
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.
Mask in hand, actor, Trump supporter, National Medal of Arts recipient, and repeat Trump Hotel D.C. guest Jon Voight posed well within six feet of a fellow customer.
Trump White House staffer turned political consultant Hannah Salem reunited the band. Other members include fellow Trump White House alum and current media operations manager for the Republican National Convention Laura Lee Lewis and Trump Commerce alum turned RNC’s North Carolina director Bethany Hudson.
A construction manager for the Architect of the Capitol, Lisa Thompson, hit up the president’s D.C. hotel for lunch and also ran into Voight (mask in hand, again).
A staffer who’s done some on-air work for the Sinclair-owned ABC D.C. affiliate, WJLA, Hailey Zeiler celebrated her birthday with bubbles, cake, and apparently a stay at the Trump Hotel D.C.
HBO’s documentary “The Swamp” premiers Tuesday. It “provides a look behind the curtain of Washington politics by following three renegade Republican Congressmen—Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Ken Buck (R-CO)—over the course of a pivotal year in politics as they champion President Trump’s call to ‘drain the swamp.’” The trailer shows Gaetz enjoying a warm, familiar welcome at the president’s D.C. hotel from its managing director, Michael Damelincourt.
Other Trump Organization news
A lawsuit filed by restaurant and hotel owners’ alleging Trump is violating the emoluments clauses can move forward after the full Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit denied the Department of Justice’s request to rehear the case. It took the court 294 days to decide not to take the case. Earlier: Here’s why you won’t see Trump’s financials before the election.
“Manhattan DA Cy Vance hints that the grand jury probe is far broader than Trump thinks” by Adam Klasfeld for Courthouse News
“Senate committee sought investigation of Bannon, raised concerns about Trump family testimony” by Del Quentin Wilber, Chris Megerian, Sarah D. Wire, Jennifer Haberkorn for The Los Angeles Times
On Friday, Trump announced he’d donated $100,000 of his presidential salary to the National Park Service. In the first three years of his presidency, Trump reported more than $120 million in revenue, just from his D.C. hotel (he does not divulge his profits). The Trump Hotel D.C., of course, co-locates with the National Park Service-managed Old Post Office Tower.
On Friday, the House Ways and Means panel filed a motion asking the judge to lift a stay in its lawsuit seeking the president’s federal tax returns.
“President Trump eyes new unproven virus ‘cure’ promoted by Ben Carson and the CEO of MyPillow” Jonathan Swan reported for Axios on Sunday. As 1100 Pennsylvania reported in March, the MyPillow Guy’s GOP contributions top $620,000, he’s a Mar-a-Lago member, and he’s a regular at the Trump Hotel D.C.
Robert Trump—the president’s brother, one-time scapegoat for the Trump Taj Mahal’s failure, and chief executive and co-owner of All County Building Supply & Maintenance—died on Saturday.
Reference section
Links to rundowns of developments in the House’s investigations and lawsuits, reference sheets for some of 1100 Pennsylvania’s previous reporting, and articles that provide the background on why all of this matters. The date published or last updated is in parentheses.
Trackers
House investigations (Aug. 17, 2020)
Lawsuits (Aug. 17, 2020)
Breakdown of judges’ rulings by political party of presidents who nominated them (July 13, 2020)
Health inspections (Jan. 27, 2020)
COVID-19 bailouts and charity (July 13, 2020)
Notable hotel customers
Foreign governments with representatives spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 32 (Aug. 3, 2020)
Trump cabinet members spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 27 of 35 (July 1, 2020)
U.S. Senators who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: 33 of 53 Republicans, one Democrat (Feb. 21, 2020)
House Judiciary members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Seven of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (April 21, 2020)
House Intelligence members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Four of eight Republicans, no Democrats (June 1, 2020)
House Oversight members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Nine of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (Aug. 2, 2020)
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Four out of six Republicans, one Democrat (July 1, 2020)
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R–CA) found Trump’s hotels competitive only after Trump’s election (Sept. 12, 2019)
Rudy Giuliani at the Trump Hotel D.C: A retrospective (April 30, 2019)
Summaries
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 (Sept. 27, 2019)
“Power tripping in the swamp: How Trump’s D.C. hotel swallowed Washington
The MAGA social scene is a movable feast, but its dark heart resides within the Old Post Office Building, where the Trump Org operates under a mercenary charter” by your correspondent for Vanity Fair (October 2019)“Inside the world’s most controversial hotel: The hotel that was expected to take its place among the crown jewels of D.C.’s travel scene has become a magnet for protestors, a West Wing Annex, and—possibly—the center of a constitutional crisis.” by your correspondent for Condé Nast Traveler (May 2018)
27 times Trump’s promoted his businesses on Twitter while president (May 12, 2020)
Upcoming key dates
Sept. 23, 2019—House Judiciary Committee hearing “Presidential corruption: Emoluments and profiting off the presidency” (postponed, not yet rescheduled)
Aug. 21, 2020—In House Ways and Means’ lawsuit against the Treasury Department seeking Trump’s tax returns, deadline for both sides to file briefings about how an appellate court ruling in a separate case that Congress has standing to enforce subpoenas of White House officials impacts this suit.
Sept. 14, 2020—Discovery ends in a one-time Trump appointee’s lawsuit against the Trump Hotel D.C., alleging glass from a sabered bottle of champagne left a gash in her chin.
Sept. 20, 2020—Scheduling conference before D.C. Superior Court in D.C. attorney general’s lawsuit alleging improperly spent nonprofit funds by the Trump Hotel D.C. and Trump’s inaugural committee.
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