The president Donald Trump offered a dinner on Friday night in the recently paved Rose Garden of the White House for around a hundred Republican congressmen and senators, in gratitude for their support of his legislative agenda.
However, the Cuban Americans Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Giménez do not appear to have attended, as, unlike other participants, they did not post images of the event on their social media.
Yes, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (from Florida) attended, and she shared a photo with Vice President J.D. Vance, joking that it is "proof that the Air Force and the Marine Corps get along well."
Trump dubbed the meeting the beginning of the so-called “Rose Garden Club,” a space that, according to him, will be reserved for senators, congress members, and figures from Washington “capable of bringing peace and success to the country.”
The official indicated that his idea was to debut the venue the night before with technology executives such as Bill Gates, Tim Cook, and Mark Zuckerberg, but the rain forced that meeting indoors.
Among the prominent attendees were the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who shared photographs of the meeting on the social network X, and Vice President J.D. Vance, who dined with Senators Marsha Blackburn and Markwayne Mullin, and Congressman Richard Hudson.
The absence of publications from the Cuban-American congress members contrasts with the activity on social media from other guests, which fuels the claim that they were not invited to the meeting.
The new "club" reflects the style of Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence in Palm Beach, with tables, chairs, and umbrellas set up on the now paved lawn of the Rose Garden.
The evening's menu included Rose Garden salad, New York Strip steak, roasted chicken or primavera pasta, and to top it off, fudge-filled cake.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dinner at the White House and the Absence of Cuban-American Congress Members
Why didn't the Cuban-American congress members attend Trump's dinner?
The Cuban-American congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Giménez did not share images from the event or make any statements regarding it, suggesting they did not attend. The absence of their presence on social media, which contrasts with other participants, supports the idea that they were not invited. This absence occurs amid a context of political tensions, particularly related to immigration policy and Trump's actions toward Cuba and Venezuela.
What is Trump's "Rose Garden Club"?
The "Rose Garden Club" is a new space at the White House inaugurated by Trump, intended for events with senators, congressmen, and figures from Washington. This club reflects the style of Mar-a-Lago, with tables, chairs, and umbrellas on the paved lawn, and aims to be a place for those who, according to Trump, can "bring peace and success to the country." The dinner with loyal Republican congressmen was the inaugural event for this space.
How is dinner related to Trump's policy towards Cuba and Venezuela?
Trump's dinner at the White House occurs in the context of tense relations with Cuba and Venezuela. Trump has reinstated Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism and has taken measures such as imposing tariffs on countries that buy Venezuelan oil. These actions have been praised by Cuban-American congressmen on other occasions, but their absence at the dinner could reflect disagreements or tensions not publicly expressed.
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