Trump calls Dan Gilbert a 'great friend' and supporter during strange photo op

click to enlarge President Donald Trump says Dan Gilbert is a "great friend" and supporter during a White House meet and greet. - Screenshot
Screenshot
President Donald Trump says Dan Gilbert is a "great friend" and supporter during a White House meet and greet.

At a White House meet and greet with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, President Donald Trump made an unusual request — asking Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert to pose in a photo with the group.

Typically, World Series winners schedule a visit to the White House for a formal celebration during the following season, and the Cubs are in town for a series against the Washington Nationals. It isn't clear why Gilbert — who owns the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers — was present at the meet and greet, but Trump specifically sought him out during the photo op, asking "Where's Dan Gilbert?"

Bloomberg News White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs posted a clip of the encounter on Twitter. "He's a great friend of mine, a supporter, and a great guy," Trump says of Gilbert in the clip.

The Chicago Tribune's Michael A. Memoli noted that Trump's summons for Gilbert was an "odd request," and described Gilbert as hesitant to join the photo.
As Gilbert reluctantly joined the group Gary Cohn, Trump's top economic adviser, pointed out it was tough local politics to do so. "I'm trying to protect him," Cohn told the president.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Quicken Loans donated $750,000 to Trump's record-breaking $107 million inauguration. While Gilbert had not donated to Trump's campaign, he had donated to Republican presidential candidates John Kasich and Chris Christie. He also donated $75,000 to a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton and other Democratic candidates.

Quicken Loans is currently involved in a massive legal battle with the U.S. Department of Justice, which alleges that the company improperly originated and underwrote mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

About The Author

Lee DeVito

Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in Hour Detroit, VICE, In These Times, and New City. He once asked porn star Stormy Daniels to spank him with an issue of Metro Times. She obliged...
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