The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Embassy of Kuwait plans to host 600 guests at its National Day celebration Feb. 25 at Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
If that doesn’t sound too exciting, chances are 1) you weren’t invited, and 2) didn’t hear about the story from ThinkProgress, which concluded that the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits the president from receiving money from a foreign government or head of state, looms large over the hotel arrangements, as members of Trump’s team “pressured the ambassador to hold the event at the hotel owned by the president-elect.”
ABC News on Tuesday also reported on the hotel arrangements for the celebration, and they don’t sound any more sinister in Bradley Klapper’s piece than they did in the Washington Post — but Think Progress still would like credit for breaking the story Monday.
@bklapperAP could you credit @thinkprogress with breaking this story? we reported this news yesterday afternoon https://t.co/WcBxMUqNOh
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 20, 2016
Confused – You spread unsubstantiated claim that Trump team pressured Kuwait into shifting venue, providing no evidence, & want credit? https://t.co/eblQB3Bxvu
— Brad Klapper (@bradleyklapper) December 20, 2016
Ouch.
which is the same thing you reported. ambassador disputes he was pressured. that does not make our story unsubstantiated
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 20, 2016
we reported the event was going to be held at the Trump hotel and that it was previously scheduled at the four seasons
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 20, 2016
We’ll give Think Progress credit. The site did have the story first, but its report has since been updated with comment from Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah, who said he moved the event from the Four Seasons to Trump’s new hotel, because “why not?”
Al-Sabah told ABC News essentially the same thing: “I thought it would be exciting for our guests to see a new venue. It looks great. It looks cool. So let’s do it.” He also told the Washington Post, “I do not know President-elect Trump. Or his people. No one has contacted me about moving the event.”
ThinkProgress editor Judd Legum maintains he has a source and documentation suggesting that Trump’s people did indeed pressure the embassy to cancel its reservation at the Four Seasons.
You view the ambassador's denial as the final word? I have a source and documents that suggest otherwise, as I reported
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 20, 2016
Hmm …
nice work getting this but why does TP story still say Kuwait broke a contract?
— Jonathan O'Connell (@OConnellPostbiz) December 20, 2016
it was a written document, per the ambassador via Bloomberg. That's a contract.
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 20, 2016
sure technically but point is Kuwait-FS didn't finalize space agreement.
— Jonathan O'Connell (@OConnellPostbiz) December 20, 2016
that is inaccurate, according to my reporting. Can explain more over DM
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 20, 2016
Here’s the Washington Post’s take, for what it’s worth.
Kuwaiti embassy is latest to book Trump D.C. hotel, but ambassador says he felt "no pressure"https://t.co/tM7tDJ68Eg
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 20, 2016
Let’s just agree it doesn’t look like the #Kuwaitgate hashtag will be burning up social media any time soon.
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