Latest news with #1789
Washington Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Here's the plan for D.C.'s exclusive new Trump-connected club
Since late April, when Washington learned that Donald Trump Jr. and some business partners were planning to open a new private club in Washington called Executive Branch, with memberships costing up to $500,000, curious scenesters — not to mention critics and ethics people — have had more questions than answers. Who is the target clientele, and what might they expect to get for their money? How will the club fit into the social and political topography of the city? And why was this presumably fancy club going to be located in Georgetown Park, a complex perhaps best known for its bowling alley, clothing retailers and Department of Motor Vehicles service center? As Executive Branch prepares to open later this month, we finally have some answers. 'During the 2024 campaign, many of us developed deep friendships and wanted to be able to catch up when our paths crossed in D.C.,' said Omeed Malik, Trump Jr.'s business partner in venture capital firm 1789 and a co-founder of the club, in a statement to The Washington Post. 'There aren't a plethora of options that are friendly to Republicans — examples of that abound — and we needed a space where friends can converse without worrying about their conversations showing up in the press the next day.' What will that space look like? There will be a health-conscious menu with nods to the Make America Healthy Again movement — expect beef tallow to be present, and seed oils to be absent. They've hired a chef — Salvatore Brucculeri, of Carriage House, a club in Palm Beach, Florida — to create a menu of American food that will include touches of Mediterranean (think grilled fish, citrus, and olive oil) and Japanese (they're planning to hire a sushi chef, too). There will be high-end wines and cocktails, but no cigars. The club will be open at least six days a week, with a lower-level bar, dining space, and several lounge areas, and a private VIP section and bar on the mezzanine. The decor will be intended to evoke the elegance of a grand mansion. As for that $500,000 fee: that's for the highest tier of Executive Branch membership, which will include only some members, many of whom are out-of-towners. There are cheaper memberships that are in the low six figures, with annual dues in the four- or five-figures — still expensive, but aligned with other clubs of its caliber. Membership is capped around 200 people initially, and demand has far exceeded that number already. No reporters — not even MAGA-friendly ones — are allowed to join. And phones will be checked at the door. Hiring service staff might seem like a challenge, given D.C.'s liberal population. But the Executive Branch team are confident that, with proper vetting, they'll be able to weed out any applicants who could cause trouble. For Trump allies and MAGA influencer types looking for comfortable social spaces in a city full of liberals and feds, there are some new and old options to consider, such as Butterworth's, Ned's Club and Cafe Milano. But the Executive Branch aspires to a peer group beyond the Washington scene. Malik name-checks Carriage House, as well as 5 Hertford, in London, explaining that the founders 'wanted a high-end experience comparable to the finest social clubs in the world. Why shouldn't our nation's capital have a luxury venue like other major metropolitan cities?' Which brings us to the location. The Executive Branch will be situated in the lower level of the sprawling Georgetown Park complex, well-known to Washingtonians as the painfully inconvenient home of the only DMV service center in the city's Northwest quadrant. (The DMV location is on the lower-level, too — but in a different part of the building, so don't expect to get a glimpse on the way to renew your license.) It used to be a proper mall with an interior courtyard and fountain — immortalized as a filming location in movies including 'True Lies' and 'No Way Out' — but was more recently converted into mixed-use retail with exterior frontage, with tenants including T.J. Maxx and Gold's Gym, and a Uniqlo to come. Before 1070 Wisconsin Avenue NW began its transformation into Executive Branch, it was a bar called Clubhouse, which only admitted guests over the age of 23 — because its previous tenant, Church Hall, had a reputation for admitting underage drinkers with fake IDs. On the other side of the street, there's a 90 Second Pizza and a shop that sells D.C. souvenirs made in China. This collage of middle-tier Americana would seem to cut against the aesthetics of exclusive private luxury to which the club aspires. (The phrase 'Mall-A-Lago' comes to mind.) On the other hand, it's in Georgetown. Malik knew he wanted to locate the club there, calling the area an 'iconic Washington neighborhood steeped in social history.' There's a direct entrance to the Executive Branch's part of the building from the parking garage, so members will have privacy when they enter and exit. It's also a distance from many of the city's other clubs — and from work. 'We were drawn to a location separate from the political power centers on Capitol Hill and the White House, which provides just enough distance to help our members take a break,' Malik says. The political scene has experienced a bit of a private-club resurgence recently thanks to the opening of Ned's Club, a hot spot near the White House that has seen VIP guests including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), and billionaire Mark Cuban swing by. Meanwhile, old-school clubs including the Cosmos Club and the Metropolitan are trying to appeal to a younger generation. In May, Tysons Corner's Tower Club announced a renovation and rebranding intended to modernize its look. President Donald Trump — famously a country club guy — may have contributed to 'an appreciation of society in the clubs,' says Bill McMahon, founder of the McMahon Group, a private club consulting firm. McMahon has consulted on other clubs in Washington, and while he isn't involved with Executive Branch, he echoed an assumption others have made about why clients might be eager to buy in. 'You're paying a lot for it,' he said, speculating about the mindset of the joiners, 'because you're expecting to get a lot back.' This is what the critics are worried about: that Executive Branch might not simply be a luxurious hangout for the kind of jet-setting titans (for whom a six-figure membership fee may not be a meaningful expense), but as an ante-up for those looking to get in good with the administration and its allies. Other than Don Jr. and Malik, the club's co-founders include Christopher Buskirk, a partner in 1789 Capital, along with Alex and Zach Witkoff, sons of Steve Witkoff, United States special envoy to the Middle East. Among the top-tier members are David Sacks, White House AI and crypto czar, and Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who have founded a cryptocurrency platform. 'It just appears to be a ploy to sell access to Trump and the Trump administration through this private club for wealthy donors,' says John Pelissero, a director at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Pelissero, who focuses on government ethics, is concerned that the club could be used for conducting government business in secret. A number of Democratic lawmakers have framed the Executive Branch's existence in nefarious terms — perhaps none as colorfully as Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California), who, in a May 14 speech, characterized the club as a place 'for insiders, for investors and billionaires to directly line the pockets of the first family, sending a message as clear as day to anyone who wants to do business in the United States: If you want to be with Trump, you've gotta pay the cover charge.' Malik called these claims 'ridiculous.' 'Members at Executive Branch are already plugged in — they don't need to trek across town to Georgetown for access,' he said in a statement. 'This is not a space for fundraisers or lobbying. It's a place for members to come and enjoy the best food and finest wine that DC has to offer in a private and relaxing environment.' Besides, he added: 'Where are all the media stories accusing clubs designed for Democrats' — such as the National Democratic Club ($500 initiation fee, $1440 annual dues) and Women's National Democratic Club ($325 initiation fee, $840 annual dues) — 'of peddling influence?' The club's name, rather than suggesting a portal to the actual executive branch, is intended to 'honor our location in the nation's capital,' Malik says. The founders 'also liked the tongue-in-cheek nature of it,' he added. 'Our members are executives at the top of their game, whatever their industry or expertise.' Apparently some rando is trying to use the club's existence to make money, or make fun, or both. A website with a similar URL as Executive Branch's site has begun soliciting 'membership' inquiries via bitcoin donation. 'Please note that preference for contact may be given to those who have best demonstrated their spirit of generosity,' the website says, adding that donations 'may allow us to facilitate making 'every reasonable effort' in connecting you with the member or department best suited for your needs.' Executive Branch says that this other site has no affiliation to the club, that its legal team is involved, and that it aims to have the site shut down. (The real Executive Branch website is simple, with a crest on a green background and an email address for membership inquiries.) The club's long-term success may rest on how much time members of the Trump family and other VIPs actually spend at the club. 'My initial gut is that those people are so busy you're not going to see much of them,' McMahon says. Maybe that's why neighbors in the area haven't made much of a fuss about Executive Branch. The chatter on lower Wisconsin Avenue has been minimal and polite, says neighborhood commissioner Mimsy Lindner. 'People are curious and simply want to make sure that they have [their] liquor license,' she says via email. 'Not much else.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Jr. Teases Run for the Presidency: ‘That Calling Is There'
Donald Trump Jr. teased a continuation of the Trump dynasty Wednesday, claiming he has a 'calling' to take control of the White House when his father leaves. The eldest son of current President Donald Trump was speaking at the same Qatar Economic Forum that his dad's former right-hand man Elon Musk used to defend his failed DOGE effort on Tuesday—while insulting the interviewer. Trump Jr. kept the insults in check but did say something that may have shocked the audience. The 47-year-old said he could envisage a run for president of the United States, explaining, 'That calling is there.' 'So the answer is I don't know, maybe one day,' he told Bloomberg anchor Joumanna Bercetche. 'You know, that calling is there. I'll always be very active in terms of being a vocal proponent of these things. I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party,' he added. Trump, flanked by 1789 Capital co-founder Omeed Malik, was asked towards the end of the interview whether he would 'pick up the reins' after his father leaves the White House for the second and—probably—final time. 'Here we go. Well... oh boy,' he said, smiling. Some muffled applause could be heard, with Malik joking that the noise came from 'some friends in the front row.' 'It's an honour to be asked and an honour to see that some people are okay with it,' said Trump Jr, who currently hosts a podcast where he sometimes talks about believing in aliens. 'You never know,' he added, saying that business has been 'my focus.' He said that it is 'fundamentally important' that someone takes a two-pronged approach to the presidency. He highlighted the obvious political work, and also the fight against the 'woke ideology' that he claims has taken over corporate America. That's when he said 'the calling is there.' Trump Jr.'s business interests might sideline a White House bid for now at least. He is a partner at the 'anti-woke' investment firm 1789 where he helps invest in U.S.-based MAGA businesses. He became a partner in November last year rather than join his father's administration in an official capacity. Co-founder Malik, a former Bank of America managing director, has likened ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing to a 'cult.' Malik co-founded the company with Rebekah Mercer, the heiress to a hedge fund fortune and MAGA megadonor. Malik is also an investor in right-wing news site The Daily Caller. 1789's first investment was in the new media company founded by Tucker Carlson and author and marketer Neil Patel. Trump Jr. has joined at least eight corporate boards or advisory committees since his father won the election last year. Sean Spicer, Trump senior's press secretary during his first term, said Don Jr. is the 'most prominent non-elected representative of the MAGA base hands-down, the No. 1 surrogate and power-player in the ecosystem outside of his father.' Don Jr. also serves as an Executive Vice President of Development Acquisitions at The Trump Organization, the holding company for most of his father's business ventures. He works alongside his younger brother Eric, who has just heralded a $1.5B construction project in Vietnam, a country battered by their father's tariffs. Junior has also served as Director of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp and as a Director at Public Square Holdings Inc. since November. Additionally, he is moving into the club scene. Last month, the 47-year-old announced he intends to open an ultra-exclusive private members club in Washington, D.C. called 'Executive Branch.' It's got a $500,000 yearly membership fee. Richard Briffault, a law professor who specializes in government ethics at Columbia Law School, told CBS News that Don Jr. is using his father's position to super-charge his business interests. 'I don't think there has ever been anything comparable to this use of the presidency to advance private business interests,' he said. Donald Trump Jr. has been contacted for comment.
Boston Globe
28-03-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Dipping a toe into the wonders of the ‘parallel economy'
After I spent a few minutes on its website, which features an image of a machine gun mounted atop an RV, I started receiving nonsense target ads on social media: 'After a rigorous focus group, we have found that the French hate Black Rifle Energy — and Americans love it!' Advertisement Nothing about taste, mind you, but, sure, I'll have a double shot of xenophobia to go. Look who has dipped his toe into the fetid waters of the parallel economy — Donald Trump Jr., the butter knife in the family cutlery drawer of dull blades. Earlier this month 1789 is named for the year the Bill of Rights was introduced. That was also the year that French revolutionaries started Bloomberg says 1789 wants to raise $1 billion by mid-2025 and then $3 billion to $5 billion in 2026. Among the clients it plans to woo: endowments and public pensions in Republican-controlled states. Advertisement 'We genuinely believe in the parallel economy,' Trump Jr. said. Of course he does. 1798 has also backed Happy Dad hard seltzer, founded by right-wing YouTubers the Nelk Boys, who are of course Of course he is. Buying guns online feels like a halfway measure to me. Why not sell them in vending machines at the gas station? In case you have some important scores to settle en route, as it were. Bloomberg ungraciously points out that the 1789 crowd helped launch the parent company of the 'anti-woke' online marketplace It's a free country, and if people want to lose money investing alongside Donald Trump Jr., be my guest. I think ideological investing is a stupid idea. Boycott capitalism if you want to, but cherry-picking purportedly 'good' companies is for the birds. Of course, I am biased. In 1996 I think I was trying to be funny, i.e., 'Price collusion is the rule, not the exception, in the lucrative newsprint business, as hundreds of laid-off newspaper employees can attest,' but perhaps someone took me seriously. In 2002, USA Mutuals launched the Advertisement Vice pays pretty well. You would have Alex Beam's column appears regularly in the Globe. Follow him
