The “ladies” who run Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, have challenged a news story portraying President Trump as a disinterested tourist rudely walking through the presidential estate with French President Emmanuel Macron last April.
Breaking from its tradition of keeping quiet about presidential visits, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association today issued a statement questioning Politico’s story of Trump’s “truly bizarre” visit, including a claim that the first president should have his name on the mansion as Trump has on his hotels.
The news outlet cited three sources “briefed on the exchange,” but the association said that there were only two officials guiding the presidential families.
“Mount Vernon has a firm, long-standing policy of not commenting on the details of high-profile visits to the home of George Washington. However, we believe in the importance of ensuring that reports about events that take place at Mount Vernon are accurate. As such, we are concerned that the third-party accounts of the Trump-Macron visit released by several media outlets today do not correctly reflect the events that transpired nearly a year ago,” said the group.
“Mount Vernon President Doug Bradburn and Regent Sarah Coulson escorted the presidents and first ladies on a tour of the Mansion on April 23, 2018. During the tour, all parties were interested and engaged in the story of George Washington and his beloved home. Conversations touched on topics like business dealings, real estate, and related matters that were of relevance and interest to the touring parties, and questions were asked by both leaders with curiosity and respect,” the group said, dismissing suggestions that Trump showed little interest in Washington.
“Comments pulled from sources who were not present for the tour do not properly convey the tone and context in which they were delivered,” said the statement, which did not break down which of the descriptions of Trump it was shooting down.
Administration officials and Trump allies were outraged by the story. “It portrayed the president as some kind of kid. It’s totally fake news,” said one.
