One invitation promised a breakfast reception with the U.S. president. Another offered one-on-one photos with him. And a third claimed to “allow you to communicate with President Trump face to face and brief him on your business plans and demands.”
The offers, promoted online to wealthy entrepreneurs in China in the form of official-looking invitations, are part of a sprawling cottage industry claiming to provide intimate access to Trump, sometimes at official Republican fundraisers and often for a hefty fee.
Such solicitations, posted on Chinese social media and messaging apps, have cropped up in isolated instances since Trump took office. The Washington Post has reviewed eight that promise opportunities to interact with the president at U.S.-based events, suggesting that the practice is broader than previously known.