Trump Attends Lavish ‘Villains and Heroes'-Themed Costume Party
Trump wore his usual dark suit and, when asked what costume he was wearing, pointed at himself and mouthed "me"
By Jonathan Lemire and Julie Pace ••
President-elect Donald Trump, still mulling key Cabinet positions, attended a lavish costume party Saturday night hosted by some of his most influential donors at their palatial Long Island mansion.
Trump, who did not sport a costume, reveled with guests at the Mercer family estate for the annual Christmas party; this year's theme was "Villains and Heroes." When asked what costume he was wearing, Trump — who was sporting his usual dark suit — simply pointed at himself and mouthed "me."
An invitation to the annual December party is a coveted ticket in Republican circles, never more so than this year. Several strategists who helped engineer Trump's upset win were attending, including incoming White House senior counselor Stephen Bannon and senior aide Kellyanne Conway. Conway was dressed as Superwoman; Bannon did not wear a costume.
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Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for President-elect Donald Trump, smiles as she arrives for a party at the home of Robert Mercer, one of Trump's biggest campaign donors, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Head of the Harbor, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Both Conway and Bannon have close ties to Rebekah Mercer, the daughter of hedge fund manager Robert Mercer. The younger Mercer became one of Trump's leading and most influential donors and urged him to bring Bannon and Conway into the campaign in August.
Rebekah Mercer, who ran a pro-Trump Super PAC, had compared the electoral race between Trump and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton to an "apocalyptic choice," so the night's "Villains and Heroes" theme was perhaps fitting.
The "Owl's Nest" estate was decorated with depictions of good and evil, such as angels and devils. Even the party staffers' costumes were split: some were dressed as Hell's Angels motorcyclists, some as Salvation Army volunteers.
Trump's sojourn to the party was his only expedition on Saturday outside the Manhattan skyscraper that bears his name. He is expected to lay low the remainder of the weekend, before returning to transition meetings in New York on Monday and the next stop of his "thank you" tour in North Carolina on Tuesday.
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Kushner, a real estate developer and owner of The New York Observer, as well as husband to Ivanka Trump, has been instrumental in Trumpu2019s campaign. Speculation that his father-in-law, President-elect Donald Trump, may hire within the family for positions in his presidential cabinet was realized when senior transition officials announced that Kushner will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Jan. 9, 2017.
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President-elect Donald Trump and Jack Ma, Chairman of Alibaba Group, speak to reporters following their meeting at Trump Tower, Jan. 9, 2017 in New York City.
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Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky Jenean Hampton, left, arrives at Trump Tower, Jan. 6, 2017 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration.
Lockheed Martin executive Leo Mackay speaks to the media following a meeting with President-Elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower on Jan. 3, 2017 in New York City.
Journalist Bob Woodward arrives at Trump Tower, Jan. 3, 2017 in New York City.
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Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg speaks to members of the media after meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016.
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Billionaire businessman Vincent 'Vinnie' Viola arrives at Trump Tower, Dec 16, 2016 in New York City. Viola was President-elect Donald Trump's pick as Secretary of the Army
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From left to right, Jeff Bezos, chief executive officer of Amazon, Larry Page, chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc., Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook and Vice President-elect Mike Pence listen as President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting of technology executives at Trump Tower, Dec. 14, 2016 in New York City. This is the first major meeting between President-elect Trump and technology industry leaders.
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Jeff Bezos, chief executive officer of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post, listens during a meeting of technology executives and President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower, Dec. 14, 2016 in New York City.
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U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) arrives at Trump Tower, Dec. 12, 2016 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump picked Zinke as his choice for Interior Secretary on Dec. 16.
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Republican National Committee communications director Sean Spicer walks through the lobby at Trump Tower, December 14, 2016 in New York City.
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Wilbur Ross, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Commerce Secretary, leaves Trump Tower, Dec.14, 2016 in New York City.
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Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, walks into Trump Tower on Dec.13, 2016 in New York City.
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Kanye West enters Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016.
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Former professional football player Jim Brown, left, former professional football player Ray Lewis, center and Pastor Darrell Scott, right, speak to reporters at Trump Tower, Dec. 13, 2016 in New York City.
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CKE Restaurants CEO Andrew Puzder, center, departs Trump Tower in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. President-elect Trump nominated Puzder, whose company owns burger chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, as his pick for secretary of labor.
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Former RNC Finance Committee Chairman Lewis Eisenberg appears at Trump Tower, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, in New York.
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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to the media after a meeting at Trump Tower on Dec. 7, 2016 in New York City. According to reports, Emanuel urged Trump to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) system that was enacted by U.S. President Barack Obama to let youths staying in the U.S. illegally, known as DREAMers, to remain in the country with protection.
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt arrives at Trump Tower on Dec. 7, 2016 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Muriel Bowser, mayor of the District of Columbia, speaks to reporters at Trump Tower, Dec. 6, 2016 in New York City.
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Roger Stone stops by the press pit at Trump Tower on Dec. 6, 2016 in New York City.
Al Gore arrives at Trump Tower, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, in New York. Bill Clinton's former vice president did not disclose what he discussed with the president-elect and his daughter, Ivanka, but has described the conversation as "extremely interesting".
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad arrives at Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.
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Former Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson waves as he leaves Trump Tower on Nov. 22, 2016 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Dec. 5, 2015, that he picked the retired neurosurgeon for the position of secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Pam Bondi, Attorney General of Florida, speaks to reporters at Trump Tower, Dec. 2, 2016 in New York City.
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John Bolton, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, waves to reporters as he leaves Trump Tower, Dec. 2, 2016 in New York City.
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KT McFarland and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrive at Trump Tower Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 in New York City.
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President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis as he leaves Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Trump said at a Cincinnati, Ohio, rally on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 that he planned to announce Mattis as his Secretary of Defense.
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Preet Bharara, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, arrives at Trump Tower on Nov. 30, 2016 in New York City.
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Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), speaks with reporters at Trump Tower, Nov. 30, 2016 in New York City.
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President-elect Donald Trump and Mitt Romney dine together at Jean Georges restaurant, Nov. 29, 2016 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration.
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Wilbur Ross, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Commerce Secretary, wears a 'Make America Great Again Hat' as he speaks briefly to reporters at Trump Tower, Nov. 29, 2016 in New York City.
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Steve Mnuchin, national finance chairman for the Trump campaign, arrive at Trump Tower on Nov. 29, 2016. A source familiar with the White House transition say President-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Mnuchin as his Treasury secretary on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016.
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Former US Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao arrives at Trump Tower on Nov. 21, 2016. A source with President-elect Donald Trump's transition team confirmed that Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was Trump's pick to head the Department of Transportation.
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Georgia Rep. Tom Price, a leading critic of Obamacare, was picked to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in a Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 announcement. Price is seen leaving Trump Tower on Nov. 16.
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Former vice-president Dan Quayle makes a surprise visit to Trump Tower on Nov. 29, 2016.
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Anthony Scaramucci, left, walks with former CIA director retired Gen. David Petraeus as he arrives at Trump Tower for a meeting with Presiden-elect Donald Trump, Monday, Nov. 28, 2016.
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Reince Priebus, President-elect Trump's choice for White House Chief of Staff, exits Trump Tower after a visit on Nov. 22, 2016. President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration.
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Former U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich addresses the press with his wife Callista following his visit with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower on Nov. 21, 2016.
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O magazine editor Gayle King emerge from the elevators following a visit to Trump Tower on Nov. 21, 2016 in New York City.
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Former Senator Scott Brown, a Republican from Massachusetts, speaks to members of the media in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, on Nov. 21, 2016.
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Former Texas governor Rick Perry arrives at Trump Tower on Nov. 21, 2016, in New York City.
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Mary Fallin, governor of Oklahoma, speaks to members of the media in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.
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CNN's Wolf Blitzer arrives at Trump Tower on Nov. 21, 2016, in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration.
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Co-host of "CBS This Morning" Charlie Rose, is seen at Trump Tower on another day of meetings scheduled for President-elect Donald Trump Nov. 21, 2016, in New York.
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
President-elect Donald Trump poses for photos with David McCormick at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster, N.J.
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
President-elect Donald Trump talks to media as he stands with retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, right, at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster, N.J.
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President-elect Donald Trump and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., shake hands as she leaves the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster, N.J.
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
President-elect Donald Trump, left, stands with BET founder Robert Johnson at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster, N.J.
President-elect Donald Trump, right, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani pose for photographs as Giuliani arrives at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster, New Jersey. Giuliani. Trump said that Giuliani was a prospect for secretary of state "and other things."
President-elect Donald Trump, left, appears with Ari Emanuel at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Bedminster, New Jersey. Emanuel is Trump's former agent and the co-CEO of entertainment and sports agency WME-IMG. Emanuel is a Democrat and also the brother of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He is not believed to be interested in serving in Trump's administration, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Trump called him the "King of Hollywood."
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President-elect Donald Trump, left, gestures as he talks to the media as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie looks on at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster. "He's a very talented guy," Trump said of Christie. But he wouldn't say if he would offer Christie a Cabinet post.
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President-elect Donald Trump looks on as Michelle Rhee, a former chancellor of Washington, D.C., schools, and her husband, former NBA basketball player Kevin Johnson, leave Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Rhee, a Democrat, is rumored to be a possible pick for education secretary.
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President-elect Donald Trump gives the thumbs-up as Mitt Romney leaves Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Romney, who called Trump a "phony" during the campaign, was "under active and serious consideration" to be secretary of state, Pence said.
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Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee arrives at Trump Tower on Nov. 18, 2016. It is rumored than Huckabee is President-elect Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to Israel.
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During the campaign, Trumpu2019s team vetted Flynn as a possible running mate. Now, heu2019s been asked to serve as Trump's national security adviser, a senior transition official told NBC News.
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Sessions, the first sitting senator to endorse Donald Trump's presidential campaign, was tapped by the President-elect for attorney general.
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Bannon, who has been appointed as one of Trumpu2019s top strategists, has sparked backlash online as critics wonder if the former head of Breitbart News holds the white nationalist views of much of the websiteu2019s readership.
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After announcing New York City as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, de Blasio stopped by Trump Tower to speak with the president-elect for 62 minutes. He said in a news conference afterward that he had a "very candid" conversation with Trump with "give and take" between the two. "I tried to express to him how much fear there is," de Blasio said. Trump's campaign chief Kellyanne Conway said she was "glad that the mayor came here -- obviously mayor of the nationu2019s largest city and a neighbor to the new president-elect.u201d
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Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel shocked many techies with his pro-Trump endorsement in May.
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The filmmaker, whose latest work, u201cMichael Moore in Trumpland,u201d debuted days before the election, made his way to Trump Tower to deliver a note to Trump. The message read, u201cYou lost, step aside.u201d He did not meet with Trump.
The vice president-elect and transition chairman has had a busy week, including submitting the Memorandum of Understanding to begin the White House transition process. He visited Trump Tower on Wednesday.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Maples visited Trump Tower for about 25 minutes on Tuesday. The mother of Tiffany Trump, Maples was married to the president-elect from 1993 to 1999.
Evan Vucci/AP
Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign chief, resigned as a CNN political commentator after visiting Trump Tower last week.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
After meeting with Trump, Cruz said heu2019s u201ceageru201d to work with the president-elect. Trumpu2019s former presidential opponent is being considered for attorney general.
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The former mayor was a vocal advocate for President-elect Trump during his presidential bid. Now, Trump is considering Giuliani for the most coveted cabinet position: secretary of state.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
The former personal trainer/u201dInside Editionu201d producer and wife of Eric Trump was just one of many family members to visit the president-elect in the past few days.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
The first son made an appearance on Wednesday to chat with reporters.
Evan Vucci/AP
The 27-year-old press secretary for President-elect Donald Trump's campaign has kept a low profile while on the campaign trail. Sheu2019s serving in a leadership position on Trumpu2019s transition team.
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On Nov. 16, Donald Jr. posted a photo with his father and boxer Floyd Mayweather on Twitter.
Evan Vucci/AP
Miller, chief operating officer for President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, joined Trumpu2019s campaign after working for former contender Marco Rubio.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Donald Trumpu2019s campaign manager was the first woman to lead a winning presidential bid. Sheu2019s been at Trump Tower all week to address the press as President-elect Trump meets with potential cabinet members and others.
Evan Vucci/AP
Farage, the U.K. Independence Party leader, was the first British official to meet with Trump after the election.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
During the campaign, Kellogg served as one of Trumpu2019s foreign policy advisers. Heu2019s reportedly under consideration for defense secretary.
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Ivanka Trump visited her father, the President-elect, at Trump Tower along with her brothers and husband in the week following the election.
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The TV personality has been an outspoken Trump supporter.
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The Texas financier spearheaded fundraising during the Trump campaign. Now, heu2019s being considered for secretary of commerce.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
The Arizona treasurer joined the Trump campaign as COO in July. He has said he would consider a position in Trumpu2019s administration.
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Kraft has given support to both Democratic and Republican individuals and organizations in the past.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Federalist Society Executive Vice President Leonard Leo met with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss possible Supreme Court nominations. Trump told Leo he will be choosing from 21 contenders selected by his advisers.
Evan Vucci/AP
Epshteyn, a spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump, rode alongside Retired Lt. Gen Michael Flynn (not pictured) in the Trump Tower elevator on November 17.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Parscale, the Trump campaign's digital director, visits Trump Tower on Nov. 15..
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Sean Spicer, Republican National Committee communications director and chief strategist, is a transition spokesperson for President-elect Trump. On Nov. 14, he defended Trumpu2019s choice to appoint Steve Bannon as a top White House strategist.
Kevin Hagen/Getty Images
On Wednesday, Miller spoke to the press about Trumpu2019s transition efforts. u201cItu2019s happening in a very orderly fashion,u201d Miller said. u201cWe feel very good about it.u201d
Trump is also still mulling his choice to lead the State Department, one of the most powerful and prominent Cabinet positions.
According to two people close to the transition, Trump is moving away from two of the front-runners for the job, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee. Giuliani's international business ties and public campaigning for the job are said to have rankled Trump. And while Trump has met twice with Romney, he's said to be aware of the risks of angering his supporters by tapping a Republican who was among his fiercest critics.
Former CIA director David Petraeus is still in the mix, though both people close to the transition said Trump's prolonged decision-making process has left the door open to other options.
One of the sources said Trump was open to expanding his short list of secretary of State prospects. Among the possibilities: Jon Huntsman, a former Republican Utah governor who also served as the ambassador to China and speaks Mandarin.
President-elect Donald Trump traveled to Ohio, the first stop in a post-election battleground states “Thank You Tour.” Sounding a lot like a candidate, he promised to grow the economy, shrink taxes and rebuild an energy independent America. And he announced he’s naming retired Gen. James Mattis as his defense secretary.
The people close to the transition insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the private process publicly.
Trump also refused to answer questions outside the party about his decision to speak on the phone with Taiwan's leader, a breach of long-standing tradition that risks enmity from China.
Trump's conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen drew an irritated, although understated, response from China, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday that the contact was "just a small trick by Taiwan" that he believed would not change U.S. policy toward China, according to Hong Kong's Phoenix TV.
Chinese officials said they lodged a complaint with the U.S. and reiterated a commitment to seeking "reunification" with the island, which they consider a renegade province.
After the phone conversation Friday, Trump tweeted that Tsai "CALLED ME." He also groused about the reaction to the call: "Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call." [[404281066, C]]
