Latest news with #ExecutiveBranch
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Donald Trump Jr set to open private club with $768k fee
President Donald Trump's eldest son, Don Trump Jr, is launching a new private members club that will cater to the wealthiest supporters of his father's administration. Named 'Executive Branch,' the invite-only venue in Washington, DC's Georgetown neighbourhood will charge members a $US500,000 ($A768,000) joining fee as well as annual dues, which have not yet been revealed publicly, Realtor reports. Speaking to The Washington Post, Don Jr's business partner in the venture, Omeed Malik, revealed the aim of the club is to provide a space that is 'friendly to Republicans,' something the founders believe will fill a large gap in the market. 'During the 2024 campaign, many of us developed deep friendships and wanted to be able to catch up when our paths crossed in DC,' he explained. '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.' MORE: Shane Jacobson's big new pub plan Skipping Girl's multimillion-dollar makeover Why these iconic Vic pubs are up for sale The outlet notes the club will offer a 'health-conscious menu' with 'nods' to RFK Jr's Make American Healthy Again initiative. In other words, beef tallow will abound, but seed oils will likely be checked at the door. There will be an array of American dishes on the menu — as well as Mediterranean and Japanese-inspired options — with plenty of cocktails and high-end wines included in the offerings. Memberships will be tiered, per CNBC, and only 200 were made available in the first round, which had already led to a lengthy waiting list as of the end of April, the outlet reported. Among the founding members are a number of well-known characters, including crypto entrepreneurs Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, tech investor David Sacks, and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya. Only a select group of individuals were given the opportunity to become founding members or provided with a chance to join the highest (and most expensive) tier of memberships; however, other, lower-cost options are available, with fees ranging in the 'low six figures,' The Washington Post reported. According to Mr Malik, the aim is to create a truly luxurious experience for members — one that rivals some of the finest private establishments in the world — such as No. 5 Hertford St in London or Carriage House in Palm Beach. '[We wanted] a high-end experience comparable to the finest social clubs in the world,' he said, before questioning: 'Why shouldn't our nation's capital have a luxury venue like other major metropolitan cities?' Parts of this story first appeared in Realtor and was republished with permission. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: Buyers eyeing forgotten Melb Woolies store Ex-Tiger star eyeing $5m+ deal MCC boss' secret $2m Melb mancave revealed
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Donald Trump Jr set to open private club with $768k fee
President Donald Trump's eldest son, Don Trump Jr, is launching a new private members club that will cater to the wealthiest supporters of his father's administration. Named 'Executive Branch,' the invite-only venue in Washington, DC's Georgetown neighbourhood will charge members a $US500,000 ($A768,000) joining fee as well as annual dues, which have not yet been revealed publicly, Realtor reports. Speaking to The Washington Post, Don Jr's business partner in the venture, Omeed Malik, revealed the aim of the club is to provide a space that is 'friendly to Republicans,' something the founders believe will fill a large gap in the market. 'During the 2024 campaign, many of us developed deep friendships and wanted to be able to catch up when our paths crossed in DC,' he explained. '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.' The outlet notes the club will offer a 'health-conscious menu' with 'nods' to RFK Jr's Make American Healthy Again initiative. In other words, beef tallow will abound, but seed oils will likely be checked at the door. There will be an array of American dishes on the menu — as well as Mediterranean and Japanese-inspired options — with plenty of cocktails and high-end wines included in the offerings. Memberships will be tiered, per CNBC, and only 200 were made available in the first round, which had already led to a lengthy waiting list as of the end of April, the outlet reported. Among the founding members are a number of well-known characters, including crypto entrepreneurs Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, tech investor David Sacks, and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya. Only a select group of individuals were given the opportunity to become founding members or provided with a chance to join the highest (and most expensive) tier of memberships; however, other, lower-cost options are available, with fees ranging in the 'low six figures,' The Washington Post reported. According to Mr Malik, the aim is to create a truly luxurious experience for members — one that rivals some of the finest private establishments in the world — such as No. 5 Hertford St in London or Carriage House in Palm Beach. '[We wanted] a high-end experience comparable to the finest social clubs in the world,' he said, before questioning: 'Why shouldn't our nation's capital have a luxury venue like other major metropolitan cities?'
Politico
5 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Trump fires Democratic appointee from Nuclear Regulatory Commission
President Donald Trump has terminated Commissioner Christopher Hanson from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the latest move by the White House to assert control over independent agencies. Hanson said in a statement Monday that he was removed from the position Friday 'without cause' and 'contrary to existing law and longstanding precedent regarding removal of independent agency appointees.' Spokespeople for the NRC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, said Monday that 'all organizations are more effective when leaders are rowing in the same direction,' adding that Trump 'reserves the right to remove employees within his own Executive Branch who exert his executive authority.' Hanson, a Democratic appointee, was tapped to be the chair of the NRC by former President Joe Biden in 2021. He was replaced in the top spot when Trump selected then-Commissioner David Wright to serve as chair under the new administration. Trump has sought more control over independent agencies since he returned to office, and his push has so far been supported by the Supreme Court. In May, the justices issued a two-page unsigned order declining to reinstate two members of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board that he had fired, even though federal law bars the president from dismissing the officials for political reasons. Hanson spoke out after Trump issued an executive order in February seeking to bring independent agencies under control of the White House. 'As a five-member bipartisan commission, the agency was deliberately structured by Congress to promote independence from outside influences that might turn the focus away from safety,' Hanson said at the agency's annual regulatory conference in March. 'This was a purposeful lesson learned from the days of the Atomic Energy Commission and implemented through the creation of the NRC.' Hanson added in his statement Monday that it has been an 'honor to serve' at the commission. 'My focus over the last five years has been to prepare the agency for anticipated change in the energy sector, while preserving the independence, integrity and bipartisan nature of the world's gold standard nuclear safety institution,' he said. Trump has pushed speeding the build out of new small nuclear reactors regulated by the NRC as part of his 'energy dominance' agenda. Last month, in a wide-ranging executive order to bolster nuclear power, he called for the NRC to streamline its licensing decisions.
Mint
7 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Mark Ruffalo joins ‘No Kings' protests, calls Trump ‘King, dictator'; netizens thank him for ‘standing for democracy'
Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, who was among the thousands of 'No Kings' protestors marching down fifth avenue in Manhattan against US President Donald Trump's alleged authoritarian behaviour, cited the reason of joining it as the "democracy in real-trouble", while stating Trump has made himself 'a king and a dictator' and the opposition is not 'powerful enough to stand up against the trampling of our rights". Netizens have thanked him for 'standing for democracy and freedom'. 'Because we see our democracy's in real trouble. We see a president who has made himself a king and dictator, and we don't see an opposition that's powerful enough to stand up against the trampling of our rights and the trampling of the Constitution that's happening every single day, with executive orders, with the refusal to obey court orders, with the kidnapping of immigrants, people who are here legally, people whose children are being taken from them. We're disgusted and we're scared, and we know the only way to fight this now is for the people to come together," Ruffalo told MSNBC channel. 'This president does not care about any of our Founding Fathers' principles. One of the reasons we separated the military from the Executive Branch was because we were leaving countries where dictators were using the military against the people. We're seeing it already happening in California; it is sending a message to the American people that the Constitution means nothing, and it's spitting — literally spitting — on our military members and the history of this country, which has been to fight fascism and dictatorship throughout the world,' he stated. Ruffalo added, 'They're pointing the guns in the wrong direction — it's not the immigrants who are taking anything, it's not that there isn't enough for everyone in this country; it's that there's a few very, very, very wealthy, powerful people who are taking too much. It's the billionaires and it's the people in power that are taking from the American people, which is leaving us feeling desperate. This is the answer to that; this is the reimagination of America and the reestablishment of our democratic principles.' In response to the forced removal of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after he raised concerns about the mass detention of both documented and undocumented immigrants, Mark Ruffalo said it signalled a shift toward authoritarianism. He warned that such actions marked a turning point and predicted that similar incidents would become more frequent as the administration continued to overreach. Ruffalo emphasised that people would not remain silent or disappear in the face of these developments. He explained that their presence, even in the rain, was a demonstration of love and solidarity—for each other and for the country. He mentioned that, in his view, unless someone was Native American or Mexican, they were, fundamentally, an immigrant. One of the users said, 'Mark always standing on business - what a gem of a human." Another stated, 'I've now added one more reason to my list of why I like him. Talented actor and solid man!' 'He is a special human being', 'He is a green gigant for a reason. Mark you are amazing!!!', 'Love Mark standing for democracy and freedom! Thanks!💙🇺🇸' were some others comments made. Other celebrities such as Jimmy Kimmel, Kerry Washington joined thousands marching across cities ranging from New York City to Austin to Los Angeles, now a central flashpoint in the growing conflict between local communities and federal policy. In response to widespread opposition to the aggressive escalation of ICE raids, Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles without the approval of state leaders. Chants of "USA! USA!" echoed as the Republican took the stage, a massive platform set up in front of the White House, for a parade that officially celebrated the 250th anniversary of the US Army, coinciding, perhaps notably, with Trump's own birthday.
New York Post
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
DC's new $500K private club The Executive Branch launches
On Friday night, tech billionaires and cabinet secretaries celebrated the opening of Washington, DC's 'The Executive Branch' — the members-only club co-founded by Donald Trump Jr. and 1789 Capital partner Omeed Malik Trump Jr. and Malik hosted the party for founding members who paid a $500,000 initiation fee, with their co-founders: 1789 partner Christopher Buskirk and Alex and Zach Witkoff, the sons of Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. While the president was not in attendance, Witkoff was, along with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, PayPal mafia member Keith Rabois, crypto billionaires Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and Dr. Oz. Advertisement 4 The Executive Branch's Omeed Malik and Donald Trump Jr. and their co-founders wanted to create a MAGA-friendly haven in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images From the Trump administration, crypto and AI czar David Sacks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were spotted, as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. In September, the Executive Branch will open to its new members with a $150,000 initiation fee and annual dues of $15,000. Advertisement Caviar, champagne and lobster were plentiful Friday, with one attendee describing it as a 'Gilded Age' experience. The club's menu is said to be MAHA-approved, with the chef using beef tallow in lieu of seed oils. I'm told several former Navy SEALs have been hired to handle security full-time. 4 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attended the club's opening Friday along with a host of other cabinet members. REUTERS Advertisement Other opening-night guests included newly minted Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth Jacob Helberg, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, UAE ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba, and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Also on hand: Deputy Chiefs of Staff Taylor Budowich, Dan Scavino and James Blair; FHFA Director Bill Pulte; Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski; and Emil Michael, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Notably absent were members of the media, whose presence is strictly forbidden. Adding to that layer of secrecy, no photos are allowed and stickers must cover phone cameras. 4 The Executive Branch is located in the former home of Georgetown's The Clubhouse, and the founders redesigned the space to include millions of artwork. Google Maps Advertisement Malik said he sees it as an extension of his existing work investing in the parallel economy. The club 'is the first of its kind in Washington, DC — there is nothing else like it,' Malik told me. 'It's consistent with our efforts at 1789 to invest in the parallel economy or, in this place, creating an entirely new experience.' He also said they want the Executive Branch to be a haven for members and are extremely cautious about not admitting members who may not be aligned with their values. 4 Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang attended the opening of the Executive Branch. Getty Images Private club The Ned also opened in DC earlier this year, albeit to a far less curated group who pay just $5,000 in initiation fees and $5,000 for membership. But while The Ned is near the Capitol and attracts an overwhelming group of politicos, The Executive Branch is Georgetown. Its Wisconsin Avenue address was formerly home to The Clubhouse, a bar that was a favorite of billionaires and world leaders. The co-founders renovated the space and added more than 10-million-dollars' worth of art, including 'a stunning array of original oil paintings and bronze sculptures celebrating US stories of bravery, service and politics,' as well as oil paintings of the club's founding class.
