Union League Club split over honoring Donald Trump with portrait
The pretentious Republican stronghold of the Union League Club is split over a portrait of President Trump, Page Six hears.
There is a long tradition (is there another in a club opened in 1863?) of commissioning imposing oil portraits of Republican presidents for his Murray Hill clubhouse.
But three years after Trump left office (for the first time, at least), the honchos at the club — which has 15 presidents as members — are still arguing over whether to honor the New York native Don with his own majestic photo.
A source close to the situation said, “Across the lobby, in a long reception hall, hang portraits of Presidents of the United States. They include…all Republican presidents except one. While Richard Nixon is at least relegated to a dark corner, Trump is conspicuously absent.
“There is a group agitating for a portrait. There are members who think Trump has done a lot of good things, even if his personality leaves a lot to be desired,” another insider said.
Meanwhile, “some members think he is hurting the party. Some won’t let him go.
We’re told Trump made no friends when Union League overseers invited him to speak during the 2020 campaign, we’ve learned.
An insider recalled: “Trump asked, ‘Will there be reporters?’ We said ‘Absolutely not! You will not be quoted. He said, ‘No journalists? I will not be quoted? So I’m not coming.
(The club’s unofficial motto is said to have long been held to be “no women, no dogs, no journalists and no democrats.”)
Both Bushes showed up for the unveiling of their portraits.
A representative of the Union Club did not answer us.