Trump Aides Banned From Boozy Sessions With Lawmakers
President Donald Trump’s administration is cracking down on Washington D.C.’s favorite pastime: boozing.
All public-facing White House legislative affairs staffers have been advised against drinking with members of Congress, Politico reported Wednesday.
“We strongly urged everyone in the legislative affairs office and everyone who’s externally facing to be thoughtful about their alcohol use in public, and specifically with members,” one senior official said, according to the publication. “We strongly discouraged drinking with members.”
They added, “Is one drink a fireable offense? We’ll have to see what happens.”
The directive marked a departure from the lack of rules under both the Biden administration and Trump’s first White House term.
It is unclear how many staffers will be affected by the guidelines, but a former Trump White House staffer told Politico that they recalled reminders about drinking responsibly after “a few occasions where people had too much to drink.” However, no formal policy was ever in place during Trump’s first term.
Acknowledging the social culture in the nation’s capital, staffers were still encouraged to socialize—but to do it sober.
“It’s a free country, but we represent the White House and the president and that’s best done sober,” the official said, according to Politico’s source.
Trump doesn’t drink, having lost his brother Fred Trump Jr. to alcoholism. He famously prefers Diet Coke.
