April 5, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Trump has taken to hosting a slew of private dinner parties at the White House with friends, lawmakers, conservative leaders and prominent television journalists, according to a Politico report.
April 5, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Trump has taken to hosting a slew of private dinner parties at the White House with friends, lawmakers, conservative leaders and prominent television journalists, according to a Politico report.
The dinners often serve as a means of entertainment for the president and, at times, offer him an affirmation of his own views, Politico reported.
Trump has garnered a reputation as a sort of recluse in Washington, known for fielding late-night phone calls with friends and political allies instead of throwing the high-profile events that have been common for past presidents.
Among those who have dined with Trump at the White House are Patriots owner Bob Kraft, media mogul Rupert Murdoch and New York real estate developer Richard LeFrak.
Fox News host Sean Hannity has also stopped by for dinner, according to Politico. And last month, the president hosted former campaign aides Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie and 2020 reelection campaign manager Brad Parscale.
The dinners have also become an informal way for Trump to hear advice and do business. This week, for example, he dined with venture capitalist Peter Thiel and Oracle Corp. co-CEO Safra Catz, whose company is vying for a multibillion Pentagon contract.
First Lady Melania Trump is not often at the dinners, Politico reported, citing administration officials.
The dinners are also relatively regimented affairs, and usually begin at 6:30 p.m. Trump occasionally gives guests tours of the Lincoln Bedroom, or shows off other features of the White House, Politico reported.
"One of the things the president seems to miss most is the freewheeling nature of having people stop by. That is part of why he has the dinners – to stay connected," a former White House official, who has attended some of the dinner parties, told the news outlet.
Courtesy/Source: The Hill
