Trump does New Year's Eve his way

PALM BEACH, Fla. — With the U.S. Embassy in Iraq underneath assault, President Donald Trump has so far eschewed the standard laid-back New Yr’s Eve optics.

He didn’t golf, as an alternative holding a meeting concerning the Center East at his own golf club moderately than hitting the hyperlinks. His Twitter feed has provided ideas concerning the risky state of affairs throughout the day, sandwiched between the traditional grumbling about Democrats. He spoke with the prime minister of Iraq about defending the U.S. diplomats and different embassy staffers huddled in a protected room in Baghdad.

But when previous New Yr’s Eves at the president's Mar-a-Lago property are any information, the president might make an appearance Tuesday night time on the luxurious resort’s annual black-tie New Yr’s Eve gala, a $1,000-a-head occasion that begins with cocktails by the primary pool earlier than shifting to a decadent dinner within the property’s large ballroom. Up to now, the shindig has attracted celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Woody Allen, Rod Stewart, Serena Williams, Martha Stewart and Robert Kraft.

It’s a second of probably fraught optics for a president who cares deeply about his picture. Trump is making an attempt to show management in a moment that echoes the deadly 2012 raid on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, an occasion with which Trump incessantly lambasted his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of State at the time.

To date, Trump hasn’t achieved something to trigger his critics to pounce, whilst they questioned whether or not the president’s “most strain” marketing campaign on Iran has brought about Tehran to more and more lash out via proxy militia forces. The attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Baghdad came in response to U.S. airstrikes that targeted an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia the Trump administration blames for a rocket attack that killed an American protection contractor.

The president started his day at the Trump Worldwide Golf Club in West Palm Seashore, the place Trump typically performs golf when he stays at his luxury Mar-a-Lago resort. As an alternative of enjoying 18 holes of golf, although, Trump left the membership after roughly 45 minutes, probably aware of the picture of golfing as the diplomatic compound in Baghdad was surrounded. The State Division has stated that while the protesters pressured their method into the embassy compound, there had been no “breach” of the power itself.

On Twitter, Trump stated he had met on the golf club to discuss the Center East, the U.S. army and commerce. The White Home didn’t respond to requests about whom Trump had met with or why they met on the golf membership fairly than Mar-a-Lago.

Trump’s allies have been fast to praise the president for his response to the disaster.

“Simply had an excellent assembly with President @realDonaldTrump and his group relating to the state of affairs in Iraq,” tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who golfed with Trump on Monday. “President Trump is decided to guard American personnel and expects our Iraqi partners to step as much as the plate. No extra Benghazis.”

Earlier than Trump turned president, he typically criticized President Barack Obama for golfing during crises — he chided him for doing so after floods in Louisiana in 2016, during an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and a rash of tornadoes in 2013. Still, as president, Trump has visited golf clubs over 230 occasions, in accordance toTrumpGolfCount.com.

Trump’s golf membership assembly got here after he had already condemned Iran for “orchestrating” the attack on the embassy in Baghdad. He urged the Iraqi authorities to protect the embassy from further intrusion and assault. He additionally stated Iran “might be held absolutely responsible” for the attack from Shiite militia forces.

Trump additionally revealed after his assembly that he will signal the first part of a restricted commerce cope with China at the White House on Jan. 15, adding that he will journey at a later date to Beijing to start out talks on the subsequent part of a broader settlement.

As Tuesday rolls on, although, consideration will turn to the Mar-a-Lago get together. The resort has almost doubled its ticket prices for friends of Mar-a-Lago members. In 2016, just weeks after Trump was elected, visitors might get in for $575.

One one that attended the social gathering two years in the past stated it was like “open season” for individuals to speak to Trump. The subsequent yr, the individual stated, Trump’s family was extra roped off — Trump himself missed the festivities because of the government shutdown.

When Trump has attended past New Yr’s Eve galas, he often provides a toast to the gang and typically leads the countdown to the new yr as the gang watches the ball drop in Occasions Sq..

Trump’s allies have long chafed at any insinuation that it’s inappropriate for Trump to attend — and revenue from — a star-studded New Yr’s Eve social gathering at his personal property.

“If it’s about selling entry, then condemn every celebration gala dinner that’s held by which the president or Schumer or Pelosi go to,” a former White House official stated, referring to 2 of Trump’s favorite targets — Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Article initially revealed on POLITICO Magazine

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