Donald Trump ditched his press pool and showed up at a Manhattan restaurant earlier tonight. The only reason we know this is because a reporter happened to be in the restaurant when it happened:

Standing ovation and cheers at Keene's steakhouse for @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/zJsA1t00Sk — Taylor Riggs (@RiggsReport) November 16, 2016

(For the record, it’s 21 Club, not Keene’s.)

Now, the fact that Trump ditched his press pool was of some concern to, well, the press:

Looks like Trump went out for dinner tonight — but the president-elect's press pool was not notified, so journalists are not on the trip https://t.co/p2g5X7j8Tg — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 16, 2016

By this point (and actually well before it), there would be a protective pool in place to document the PEOTUS movements. https://t.co/73FwgHs2i7 — Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) November 16, 2016

Would be interesting to get the Trump campaign's definition of a 'lid,' because one was called and then this happened –> https://t.co/lulAVNo69K — Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) November 16, 2016

The American people *depend* on accurate info re potus whereabouts. Hoping for an appreciation of this, to uphold solemn WH/press tradition. — Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) November 16, 2016

Not a good sign for future pool coverage of Trump as POTUS… — Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) November 16, 2016

Washington Post reporter Jenna Johnson, tonight’s pooler, chronicled what kind of night it has been for the reporters who had to scramble to get over to the restaurant:

From pooler @wpjenna, Trump is out to dinner with family. Promises of better access once a pool is set up. Big question is when? pic.twitter.com/IcUIJqDPBp — Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) November 16, 2016

On CNN, Sara Murray said, “It appears to be yet another misunderstanding of exactly how much gravity his new title as president-elect holds. You know, if something, God forbid, were to happen to him, that’s a matter not only of public record but also a matter of national security.”

She said that this is “not a normal situation” for someone who was just elected President of the United States.

Meanwhile, over on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow broke down what happened and wondered if the press was intentionally misled here.

She said there’s not really any law that says presidents should tell their press pool in advance, but pointed out there is a reason they’re supposed to…

Watch above, via CNN and MSNBC.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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