Barack and Michelle Obama threw one of “the best house parties” ever Saturday night for exclusive guests featuring a private concert by Prince and Stevie Wonder, but the press knew nothing of it and the White House is trying to keep it hush hush.
“The president and first lady did hold a private party at the White House over the weekend, but given the private nature of that event, I don’t have a lot of details to discuss from here,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters who hounded him Monday at the daily briefing.
Earnest was faced with a slew of questions about the soiree, which was not listed on the president’s official schedule. As Politico asked, “When is a White House event for 500 people considered ‘private?'”
Though the Obamas are the First Family, they are still regular citizens who “reserve the right” to “host some of their friends at the White House at a party that they paid for themselves,” said Earnest.
Fine. Have a party. Go wild.
It seems the issue at hand is not being snubbed from Obama’s exclusive guest list but the fact that the large event was kept so quiet and that specific details about how it was paid for have not been released. All Earnest could say was that it was on the Obama’s dime, but people want to know if the president also picked up the tab for the security, the staffing, and all the extra taxpayer-funded details that typically come with the president throwing a party.
And why was it kept such a secret? The official schedule of the president is given to the media in advance, but this event was left off the schedule. Politico also noted that pool reporters were sent home before 5:30pm after accompanying Obama to — you guessed it — the golf course.
The public was tipped off about the event when Rev. Al Sharpton sent out a name-dropping tweet letting the world know he was leaving a party “w/POTUS and FLOTUS” and of course Prince and Stevie Wonder.
Leaving the White House party w/POTUS and FLOTUS. Awesome to see Prince and Stevie Wonder on keyboards together. Unbelievable experience.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) June 14, 2015
Among the 500 guests were big named celebrities like Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, singer Ciara, Jon Bon Jovi, TV and movie stars like Angela Bassett, Tyler Perry, Connie Britton and Gayle King and a number of private sector players such as Wall Street executives and cabinet members, as was first reported by Page Six.
And, not to forget, Prince, who was in D.C. for concerts Sunday, and Stevie Wonder, who performed with Prince onstage for Mr. and Mrs. Obama, were also in attendance. Earnest would not address whether lobbyists were present at the party or not, but Malia and Sasha were there.
Watch Josh Earnest answer the press’ questions about the White House soiree below.
