In the United States, the White House said that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump did not dine in Florida with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate of Australia and his group. Earlier, Tate told media that he had dined with Trump at the Mar-a-Lago club after the signing of an agreement between the Trump Organization and a Queensland developer concerning a proposed Trump Tower project on the Gold Coast.
Conflicting accounts of the meeting
As ABC News Australia reports, in an interview with Triple M Gold radio, Tate confirmed that he had dined with Donald Trump, his son Eric, and Eric’s wife Lara. The mayor also mentioned expensive wines and tomahawk steaks.
At the same time, the White House told ABC that the president and first lady did not dine with this group. According to another version learned by ABC, Trump briefly approached the table where his son and the Australians were seated, but dined at another table at Mar-a-Lago that evening.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Documents and expenses
Gold Coast City Council documents concerning Tate’s three-day stay at Mar-a-Lago list only one item: “meeting with the Trump Organization.” A freedom of information request found no documentary confirmation of the invitation mentioned by the mayor. Tate’s office explained that the invitation was verbal.
Initially, Tate stated in the register of interests that the Trump Organization had paid for his accommodation, meals, and transfers. The declaration was later changed: Tate said he personally paid for accommodation and transfers after receiving an invoice, while he declared meals and a red cap as received. The mayor refused to provide the invoice itself.
Tate’s trip also included Italy, Dubai, and Los Angeles. According to the city council, the cost of flights paid for by local taxpayers amounted to nearly $33,000. The proposed $1.5 billion, 340-meter Trump Tower complex on the Gold Coast was discontinued less than three months later.
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