Breakfast with Donald Trump? Invitations on Chinese social media and messaging apps promise access to US president – for a hefty fee
- Offers to wealthy entrepreneurs include opportunities for face-to-face meetings and a chance to brief Trump on business plans and demands
- Events mentioned include Republican fundraisers, which foreign nationals cannot pay to attend under US law
One invitation promised a breakfast reception with the president. Another offered one-on-one photos with him. And a third claimed to “allow you to communicate with President Trump face to face and brief him on your business plans and demands”.
The offers, promoted online to wealthy entrepreneurs in China in the form of official-looking invitations, are part of a sprawling cottage industry claiming to provide intimate access to the US president, sometimes at official Republican fundraisers and often for a hefty fee.
Such invitations, posted on Chinese social media and messaging apps, have cropped up in isolated instances since Trump took office.
The Washington Post has reviewed eight that promise opportunities to interact with Trump at US-based events, suggesting that the practice is broader than previously known.
The Post was not able to determine the authenticity of the invitations and whether anyone gained access to Trump through them. Officials with the Republican National Committee said that neither they nor the Trump campaign has had anything to do with the solicitations.
But seven of the invitations referred to events, including Republican fundraisers, that took place. If Chinese nationals paid to attend fundraisers, it would be illegal under US law because foreigners are not permitted to donate to American candidates or political committees.