Couple’s ticket to the hottest party in New York City
United States President Donald Trump is back in his hometown of New York for just the third time since his presidency.
He’s brought with him a car called ‘‘the beast’’, a security headache at the United Nations and outside his Fifth Ave apartment in Trump Tower – not to mention fears of another diplomatic explosion at the UN.
But agree with him or not, few of the 130-odd world leaders in town for the UN General Assembly would turn down their invitations to a reception he hosted in downtown Manhattan on Monday night local time (yesterday NZ time).
While Trump has hosted a select group of world leaders at Trump Tower, the reception was held elsewhere, at the iconic Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Madison Ave.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed she would be attending with partner Clarke Gayford, though baby Neve would stay at the hotel with some of her staff providing baby-sitter services, after making her first diplomatic outing at a Kiwi expats soiree hosted at the Manhattan apartment used by New Zealand’s UN head of mission.
High-flying Kiwis from the tech sector were also among the event’s guests.
It is customary for world leaders to come away with a souvenir from receptions hosted by the US president – a photograph of them together for their bragging wall.
But Ardern has more reason than most to be wary of the security at the event – she revealed on Sunday that she has twice been knocked down by the security details for other world leaders at previous events. ‘‘I get that I don’t look like other world leaders. And I may be collateral damage from time to time.’’
Ardern turned heads when she attended a diplomatic reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace earlier this year when she arrived wearing a traditional Ma¯ ori cloak.
She is not planning to make such a statement in New York, instead wearing her ‘‘usual New Zealand designers’’.
While strict security always surrounds the UN General Assembly, Trump’s arrival means another step up after threats of protests. He was flown in by helicopter and taken to Trump Tower by motorcade.
This featured an upgraded limo called ‘‘the beast’’, which includes its own oxygen supply, tear gas launchers and an emergency medical suite.