While making a rare West Coast swing to promote his controversial border wall with Mexico, President Donald Trump took time out to headline a fundraiser at the home of a Beverly Hill’s supporter that appears to have been a bust, reports the Daily Beast.
According to the report, tickets for the event at the home of health-care executive and GOP donor Lee Samson started at $15,000 and went as high as $150,000, but few took advantage of a chance to meet the president, with the Beast characterizing the event as “embarrassing.”
Rabbi Marvin Hier who attended the event claimed that the turnout included “no celebrities” with valets confirming the no stars came out to see Trump.
According to the report, the goal of the meet and greet — hosted by Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, national finance chairman Todd Ricketts and deputy national finance chairman Elliott Broidy — was to raise estimated $5 million for the GOP but likely came up short due to so few attending.
“Fundraisers had estimated that some 90 donors would be in attendance, but did not disclose the invite list. 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,” the Beast reported, adding that guests attempted to put a good face on turnout, with an estimate of 400 attendees.
However, according to the Washington Post, only “170 people attended the event at Samson’s home.”
Trump was greeted by a few protesters outside, the Beast reports.
“The event, whose location was leaked to TMZ, drew a tiny crowd, with four flag-clad supporters in MAGA hats, and 10 protesters holding a banner that read ‘TRUMP AND PENCE MUST GO.’ More than one passing driver blared YG and Nipsey Hussle’s ‘F*ck Donald Trump’,” the report maintained.
Trump reportedly told the crowd that he expects to win California in the 2020 election before being whisked away to his golf course in Palos Verdes.
You can read more here.