It was my first (and apparently) last time getting kicked out of the Trump Hotel DC. 2/
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
While the ejection itself wasn't much of a surprise, the timing was.
I hadn't been to the Trump Hotel DC since March 2020. (Posts on social media showed it wasn't strict about enforcing Covid protocols). 3/
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
I hadn't been to the Trump Hotel DC since March 2020. (Posts on social media showed it wasn't strict about enforcing Covid protocols). 3/
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
Weeks ago I noticed the lowest rate at the Trump Hotel DC last night was $2,400.
But for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why.
So armed with a double-layered mask and anti-bac it time for some shoe-leather reporting.
4/
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
But for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why.
So armed with a double-layered mask and anti-bac it time for some shoe-leather reporting.
4/
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
My Trump Hotel DC visit started off weird—
I was carded.
(Even masked, nothing about me says "under 40.")
And while it'd been a while, the bartender knew my line of work. Heck, I once landed him a cameo on Inside Edition.
5/
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
I was carded.
(Even masked, nothing about me says "under 40.")
And while it'd been a while, the bartender knew my line of work. Heck, I once landed him a cameo on Inside Edition.
5/
bit.ly/3mFm0C7
Now, after going undercover at the Trump Hotel DC with an Inside Edition crew—that's when I expected to be banned.
6/
bit.ly/38irzOz
6/
bit.ly/38irzOz
Anyway, I quickly figured out the likely reason for the Trump Hotel DC's price spike.
No, it was not welcoming part of the Israeli delegation.
It was hosting a corporate event for an bug exterminator.
7/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
No, it was not welcoming part of the Israeli delegation.
It was hosting a corporate event for an bug exterminator.
7/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
So after settling up and finishing my prosecco (which was a bit bland but what can you expect at $17 a glass), I rose and took a few photos on my phone of the scene—
📸 a bustling lobby
📸 a quiet BLT Prime
📸 an empty Brioni store
8/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
📸 a bustling lobby
📸 a quiet BLT Prime
📸 an empty Brioni store
8/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
The restrooms are at the other end of the lobby from the bar, so I'd always go there before leaving—gave me an excuse to walk around and look for notables.
You can learn a lot from name tags and lapel pins.
9/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
You can learn a lot from name tags and lapel pins.
9/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
After finishing up and—unlike some Trump Hotel DC customers—following CDC handwashing guidance, I'm standing by the sinks and texting.
The hotel's director of security opens the door, scans the restroom, and leaves.
10/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
The hotel's director of security opens the door, scans the restroom, and leaves.
10/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
Text sent, I leave the restroom and head towards the Trump Hotel DCs ballroom to see if the pest exterminators booked that space too.
The hotel's security chief beckons though, and tells me I'm going the wrong way (which I was).
11/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
The hotel's security chief beckons though, and tells me I'm going the wrong way (which I was).
11/
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
When I reach the hotel's head of security, he tells me that he's asking me to leave and walks me to the door.
He said it was for taking photos without permission.
Now, nobody knows better than me that it's ok to take photos inside the Trump Hotel DC.
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
He said it was for taking photos without permission.
Now, nobody knows better than me that it's ok to take photos inside the Trump Hotel DC.
bit.ly/2WorK8Y
And, while my reporting often relies on photos of Trump Hotel DC guests, I can only recall surreptitiously taking photos of guests twice: Louie Gohmert and Romania's prime minister.
Figured snapping pics of customers was a sure way to get tossed.
13/
bit.ly/2WwDUML
Figured snapping pics of customers was a sure way to get tossed.
13/
bit.ly/2WwDUML
I decided against trying to record my ejection, as OPSEC best-practices necessitated my phone being locked and out of security's reach.
14/
bit.ly/3DpeQI7
14/
bit.ly/3DpeQI7
After we exit the hotel, the security chief informs me that I'm not allow to return.
Standing beside him at this point—the hotel's head of marketing.
15/
bit.ly/3DpeQI7
Standing beside him at this point—the hotel's head of marketing.
15/
bit.ly/3DpeQI7
It seems the Trump Hotel DC's marketing director has conflicted opinions about my reporting—
👉 She once told Yahoo News, we "would caution you [not] to publish baseless claims made by Mr. Everson in his ‘newsletter.'”
👉 She's an avid reader.
16/
yhoo.it/3mEQFj2
👉 She once told Yahoo News, we "would caution you [not] to publish baseless claims made by Mr. Everson in his ‘newsletter.'”
👉 She's an avid reader.
16/
yhoo.it/3mEQFj2
The head of hotel security declined to explain why my ban was for life and reps from the Trump Org have not replied to requests for comment.
The Trump Org's trying to sell its lease though, so seems likely I'll get back inside 1100 Penn again.
17/
bit.ly/2Y4hDGL
The Trump Org's trying to sell its lease though, so seems likely I'll get back inside 1100 Penn again.
17/
bit.ly/2Y4hDGL
Alas, the NPS clocktower is closed due to covid.
https://twitter.com/zippyman818/status/1431303306891124742
An excellent question!
A friend is itching to go there and I'm the only one he knows who'll accompany him.
So I'm going to contact the restaurant directly for a ruling.
A friend is itching to go there and I'm the only one he knows who'll accompany him.
So I'm going to contact the restaurant directly for a ruling.
https://twitter.com/hunterw/status/1431302162349498369
Thanks for reading. Looking for more reporting along these lines? I [wait for it] have a newsletter.
/20
bit.ly/3puCb4X
/20
bit.ly/3puCb4X
My proposed headline, BTW, which I did not expect to survive—
Trump's Hotel Bans the Boswell to Its Johnson
bit.ly/3DuCyCQ
Trump's Hotel Bans the Boswell to Its Johnson
bit.ly/3DuCyCQ
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