Donald Trump has courted fame and celebrity his entire life, obsessed with his public image and desperate for attention. Other than extreme right-wing celebrities like Ted Nugent, who made vague threats on President Obama’s life and referred to his mixed-race status by calling him “a mongrel,” and Kid Rock, who openly mocks transgender people during his live shows, celebrities avoid Trump like the plague.
So I’m reading this story about Trump’s visit to L.A. and the few protesters and supporters who showed up outside his fundraiser in Beverly Hills. How have his supporters come to believe undocumented immigrants get $3,500/month for life? *cough* @FoxNews *cough* pic.twitter.com/JY7lJrTgFp
— Lilu, P.I.(T.A.)🔍 (@Lilulicious) April 6, 2019
On Friday night, Trump hosted a big donor fundraiser in Beverly Hills, California, with ticket prices rangign from $15,000 to $150,000. Just like his inauguration and his Fourth of July military parade, however, attendance was embarassingly lacking. It seems that no one with any sense of self-preservation wants to be associated with the president.
The Daily Beast reports that:
‘The event was held in the 22,000-square-foot Beverly Hills home of health-care executive and GOP donor Lee Samson. The 15-bathroom “Italian-style limestone villa” runs about $10 million, according to Zillow, and was namedRobb Report’s Ultimate Home of the Year in 2012. Tickets started at $15,000 for dinner, $50,000 for a photo op with Trump, and $150,000 to join his roundtable discussion, according to an invitation obtained by the City News Service.’
Trump in L.A. for #fundraiser in #Beverlyhills today. Avoid!https://t.co/hBdN18N3ll
— Andrew Crane (@Acranemuse) April 5, 2019
Since the Trump presidency began with a lie about crowd size, for which he was caught and so was his White House press secretary Sean Spicer, the number of people attending on Friday night. Trump’s most avid supporters are more than willing to lie and exaggerate for him. The fundraiser’s organizer, Rabbi Marvin Hier, tried to inflate the numbers for Trump to reporters only to have his wife correct him, unwilling to be caught in a lie.
“Hundreds of people came,” Hier said. “Probably 400 people.”
“200,” Marlene corrected.
“No, 200 couples,” he said.
“Don’t quote him on that. It wasn’t 400.”
It wasn’t 400. The Washington Post confirmed that 170 people attended.
Speaking of priorities, I noticed that the L.A. fundraiser Trump came in for (besides golf) drew only 170 rubes. No celebrities! Big disappointment. No big surprise. Sad! @TheRealTBone
— Portermaus Mike (@PortermausSteak) April 6, 2019
Not only was the number of attendees kept under wraps, the names of attendees were closely guarded. Limo drivers were sworn to secrecy and people working in the event would not talk. A source inside the event did talk to reporters, however, and confirmed the head count.
‘Security guards posted around the house could not estimate who or how many people attended, and the drivers of several tinted black cars around the neighborhood declined to identify their clients. One claimed he had signed a non-disclosure agreement in advance of the event.’
President Trump boasts about his relations to celebrates. Trump claims he knows the "best people" and he can draw more crowds that Obama, but explain to me why only 200 people attended his L.A. fundraiser which featured no celebrates? #ResistersForum https://t.co/9MaXPewXiq
— Mhambi Musonda 🌊🌊 (@Mhambi_M) April 6, 2019
Featured image via Flickr by Gage Skidmore under a Creative Commons license
