Kuwait moves annual DC party to Trump hotel

Kuwait yesterday said it would host its annual Washington party at Donald Trump’s new hotel, underscoring the president-elect’s unusual status as the owner of a major venue for events in the US capital. Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s ambassador to the US, said the party would take place on Feb 25, adding that he hopes guests like the “new hotel in town”. He said no one pressed him to move the Kuwaiti National Day event from its regular venue at the Four Seasons. Although Kuwait did not have a contract with the Four Seasons for the party, the date had been set aside for it to possibly take place there.

“I do not know President-elect Trump,” the ambassador told AP in a telephone interview. “I do not know any of his people. None of his people have contacted me.” He added: “I thought would be exciting for our guests to see a new venue. It looks great. It looks cool. So let’s do it.” Sheikh Salem noted that last year’s reception occurred at the Newseum, a museum promoting the media.

Sheikh Salem ridiculed the notion that he would choose the DC hotel to curry favor with the next administration. “We have very deep economic, military and cultural ties; we’ve had tens of thousands of American troops in our country,” he said, noting Kuwait’s basing of forces for US operations in Afghanistan and to fight the Islamic State group. “You think a two-hour reception in a ballroom does that?” — AP