Fogbow

Washington (CNN)A sprawling lobby and bar with only a handful of people. Confused guests asking where everybody went. Elegant, but empty hallways. These are the scenes CNN observed inside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, this month as the once-humming destination confronts a new reality without its namesake in the White House.

The hotel had opened to much fanfare just months before former President Donald Trump took office, and quickly became a draw for Trump loyalists and insiders throughout his tenure.

"I mean, we were very busy," Shawn Matijevich, the former executive chef at the hotel's steak restaurant, explained to CNN. "With so many every day, you know it almost got overwhelming at times -- how many VIP's and members of our government that you know are making headlines are all together in the same place."

But the ongoing coronavirus pandemic -- which has impacted the entire hotel industry -- paired with Trump's exit from office, now appear to be taking a significant toll on the place Trump once dubbed "one of the great hotels of the world."

Trump told confidants he would skip CPAC if Pence was attending

Former President Donald Trump told friends he would not appear at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida if Mike Pence, his always-loyal vice president, was also on the bill, according to people familiar with his conversations.

Details have emerged as Trump prepares to make his return to the limelight over the weekend with a speech expected to lay out his vision for the future of the Republican Party and include a forceful critique of President Biden's immigration policies. The strategy is to keep the 45th commander in chief ahead of others mulling a run for the party's presidential nomination.


He played golf on Sunday with close ally Sen. Lindsey Graham as he huddled with confidants.

The result is growing speculation that he will use his first public appearance since leaving the White House to demonstrate that he retains a firm grip on the party he seized in 2016 and has the poll position for a return to power in 2024.

AndyinPA wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:39 pm https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/22/politics ... index.html

Washington (CNN)A sprawling lobby and bar with only a handful of people. Confused guests asking where everybody went. Elegant, but empty hallways. These are the scenes CNN observed inside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, this month as the once-humming destination confronts a new reality without its namesake in the White House.

The hotel had opened to much fanfare just months before former President Donald Trump took office, and quickly became a draw for Trump loyalists and insiders throughout his tenure.

"I mean, we were very busy," Shawn Matijevich, the former executive chef at the hotel's steak restaurant, explained to CNN. "With so many every day, you know it almost got overwhelming at times -- how many VIP's and members of our government that you know are making headlines are all together in the same place."

But the ongoing coronavirus pandemic -- which has impacted the entire hotel industry -- paired with Trump's exit from office, now appear to be taking a significant toll on the place Trump once dubbed "one of the great hotels of the world."

Lani wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:29 pm I thought the hotel doubled or tripled the room rates for March 3rd & 4th - the real inauguration day!

Sunrise wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:06 pm I find myself in a quandary regarding how best to refer to the person for whom this thread is named. I called him IMPOTUS, which was perfect on so many levels, but now, of course that’s no longer appropriate. I thought I had settled on DFO for Disgraced Former Occupant, which was suggested by Mary Trump, but now I’m leaning toward Joe Biden’s term ‘the other guy’, shortened to TOG. Decisions, decisions.

MN-Skeptic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:11 pm Actually, Biden referred to Trump as "the former guy." I like former because it puts Trump in the past. "Other" puts Trump on the same level as Biden.

Andrew Feinberg
@AndrewFeinberg
NEW: Confidantes say Donald Trump's plan to keep teasing a 2024 run is at least in part meant to make state or federal authorities think twice about issuing indictments he could cast as part of an attempt to keep him from reclaiming the presidency.

https://t.co/T3L89Cc5Er?amp=1

roadscholar wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:48 pm This president is no more! He has ceased to be the CIC! 'E's been retired and gone to Mar-o’Lardo on the grift! Bereft of office, 'e bastes in grease! If we hadn't nailed 'im in the election 'e'd be caging up babies! 'Is electoral processes are now 'istory! 'E's off his rocker, and kicked the heck out! ‘E's shuffled out of the Oval, wobbled down the lawn and joined Deplorables Insufferable!! THIS IS AN EX-PRESIDENT!!

Andrew Feinberg
@AndrewFeinberg
Foremost on Trump's mind is a probe run by @ManhattanDA
Cyrus Vance, who recently hired a crack team of forensic accountants and an experienced organized crime prosecutor.

Ex-federal prosecutor @glennkirschner2 says Vance's recent moves indicate that charges are imminent: "I don’t think Cy Vance would have spent considerable state resources to hire expert forensic accountants unless he was moving toward indictment & trial”

Former Watergate & SDNY prosecutor @nickakerman said the wide scope of Vance's probe has been an open secret among the New York City defense bar for some time.

“They’re talking to former employees and talking to lots of people in New York… and they’ve been geared up for a while on this thing. So I think they’ve got a good indication of where they’re going,” @nickakerman said.

.@glennkirschner2 added that Trump's push to cast charges as political won't be as effective without the power of the presidency.

“I think it’s a less effective formula now that he can’t abuse his office & make people’s lives miserable,” he said.

“I think all of this is going to come to a very abrupt halt — not his whining & complaining and his living a life of grievance — but people paying as much attention...or caring about the impact that might have once the first indictment drops on his head”.

MN-Skeptic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:11 pm

Sunrise wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:06 pm I find myself in a quandary regarding how best to refer to the person for whom this thread is named. I called him IMPOTUS, which was perfect on so many levels, but now, of course that’s no longer appropriate. I thought I had settled on DFO for Disgraced Former Occupant, which was suggested by Mary Trump, but now I’m leaning toward Joe Biden’s term ‘the other guy’, shortened to TOG. Decisions, decisions.

Actually, Biden referred to Trump as "the former guy." I like former because it puts Trump in the past. "Other" puts Trump on the same level as Biden.

northland10 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 04, 2021 11:06 pm Trump is having a mad at Karl Rove.