Wednesday, April 24, 2024

It’s A Real Thing

It's a thing, and it's real:
Special gold-tone ceremonial White House key released in very limited quantities during the presidency of Donald Trump. The key measures 8″ x 2.5″ with both sides of the bow featuring the seal of the President of the United States of America, and both sides of the shaft engraved with text: “Key to the White House” and “President Donald J. Trump.” Includes its original handsome wooden display box, 9.25″ x 4″ x 1.5″, with the underside of the lid featuring an artistic depiction of the north portico of the White House, and the top of the lid laser-engraved with presidential seal. In very fine condition. This White House-exclusive key was specially made for and presented to foreign dignitaries and other VIPs during the Trump-Pence administration.
Why it exists is another matter:
Trump’s sense of ownership of the building extended even to a souvenir he had created: a “key to the White House.” In his book “Breaking History,” Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner described the tchotchke.
“When Trump met with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], he whipped out his signature gift — an oversize bronze ‘key to the White House’ in a wooden box carved with the presidential seal. Trump had designed the key himself to give to special guests.” 
" ‘This is the first key I’m giving to anyone,’ he said. ‘Even when I’m not president anymore, you can walk up to the front gate of the White House and present it, and they will let you in.’ "
— "Breaking History," Jared Kushner 
Kushner writes that he “tried to keep from laughing” at the presentation. 
Understandably. It is not the case that presidents can simply grant other people lifetime access to the White House. Not only because of the security implications but, again, because the house isn’t the president’s to offer to others. Trump was allowed to stay there by the people; that grant isn’t transferrable.
This is Trump, so I’m a little curious about who paid for this souvenir, and why Trump still has one.

And “Trump designed the key himself”? I’m old enough to remember when Carter was criticized for reports (probably apocryphal) that he concerned himself with the schedule for the White House tennis court.

Gold-tone. Trump’s name. Trump designed. It all checks out. Trump is the stain on the White House it will take a century or more to eradicate.
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