Getty White House says Prince concert for 500 was 'private'

When is a White House event for 500 people considered “private?”

They won’t say. Nor would they say, in advance, that hundreds of guests were expected on Saturday night for a soiree and serenade from Prince, as guests of the President and First Lady.


All White House spokesman Josh Earnest would say about the Saturday event was that the First Family paid for it (though he wouldn’t elaborate on how much it cost, or whether things like security were also covered).

“The President and First Lady did host a private event over the weekend,” Earnest told reporters on Monday. After much prodding, he offered an elaboration: “a private social event at the White House on Saturday night.”

That private social event included bold-faced names from both the public and private sectors, including Wall Street execs, Hollywood stars, cabinet-level officials and even the Seattle Seahawk’s Russell Wilson, according to Page Six.

While it’s not unusual for the president to host official receptions that are closed to the press, they’re typically included on his official schedule, distributed to the media in advance. But President Barack Obama’s schedule for Saturday made no mention of the party, and the pool reporter was sent home before 5:30 p.m. after accompanying Obama on a golf outing.

Instead, the announcement came from the Rev. Al Sharpton, who tweeted as he was “Leaving the White House party w/POTUS and FLOTUS. Awesome to see Prince and Stevie Wonder on keyboards together. Unbelievable experience.”

Earnest would not address whether lobbyists were present, but according to Page Six, guests included D.C. private equity titan David Rubenstein, Wall Street exec Robert Wolf and Amex’s Ken Chenault. Tyler Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, Angela Bassett and Gayle King also mixed it up with National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the tipsheet reported – not to mention Malia and Sasha Obama.

The gathering, Earnest said, was “an opportunity for the President and First Lady to host some of their friends at the White House at a party that they paid for themselves.”

He added, “The president obviously had an opportunity to meet lots of people and make lots of friends.”

While the First Couple “reserve the right” to throw a private party, Earnest said, “The fact that we’re talking about a private event, and the fact that details of this are known is an indication that the president is committed to being transparent.”

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