Trump
discusses VA after promising 'major meeting'
Brooke
Seipel
MSN
Donald Trump said he
would hold a "major meeting" Friday at his private Mar-a-Lago club in
Palm Beach, Fla., that would be "all about" the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), but the Friday meeting apparently never took place.
Instead, the White
House said in a release the following evening that Trump spent a portion of his
Saturday focusing on the issue.
Trump "spent the
early morning and afternoon on issues concerning the Department of Veterans
Affairs and the military," according to a read out from the White House
late Saturday.
On Saturday evening,
the White House said, "Trump had another meeting, including dinner,
concerning the Department of Veterans Affairs and how to turn it around for the
benefit of our great veterans."
"Great progress
is being made and will be reported on in the future," the statement
added.
added.
Trump had touted a
"major meeting" on the VA during a press conference Friday with VA
Secretary David Shulkin.
The president said
that he was having a meeting Friday at his private club because "that
seems to be the most convenient location. Everybody always wants to go to the
Southern White House."
A White House official
later told the Palm Beach Post that the meeting would not happen Friday night.
The event never
appeared on Trump's official schedule for the day nor was it included on future
schedules.
Trump was slated to
have a meeting with Ike Perlmutter, the CEO of Marvel, on Saturday before
dinner, which was closed press, according to pool reports. Commerce Secretary
Wilbur Ross was also expected to join Trump and first lady Melania Trump for
dinner.
Trump had named
Perlmutter as one of the people who he expected to attend his "major
meeting" on the VA on Friday. Shulkin had indicated he would not be in
attendance at Trump's meeting at Mar-a-Lago.
Also on Saturday,
Trump met with his national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to discuss
"the threat of North Korea" and also "had a long and very
fruitful call" with Brazilian President Michel Temer, the White House
said.
"The two leaders
agreed to work together to promote economic growth in Brazil and the United
States. The leaders also discussed the importance of encouraging respect for
democratic and humanitarian rights in Venezuela," according to the read
out.
Trump has visited his
private Mar-a-Lago resort for five weekends so far and has spent nearly a
quarter of his time there since taking office.
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