Obama Snubs Chinese-Owned Waldorf Astoria
NEW YORK, July 18 (UPI) — For the first time in nearly 90 years, a sitting United States president has opted not to lay his head to rest in the historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel during a visit to the Big Apple.
President Barack Obama opted not to stay at the landmark New York City hotel, which has hosted every president since Herbert Hoover, after it was purchased earlier this year by China’s Anbang Insurance Group. Some speculate the move was over concerns of possible Chinese spying.
The White House would not confirm which hotel will host the president instead, but theNew York Post reported he’s sleeping at Millennium’s ONE UN New York, which is blocks from the United Nations.
Obama is visiting Manhattan with daughters Malia and Sasha, attending a Democratic fundraiser and watching a Broadway show.
The Chinese insurer purchased the Waldorf for $1.95 billion. Wu Xiaohui, head of Anbang Insurance Group, is married to the granddaughter of Deng Xiaoping, the former communist guerrilla who served as China’s paramount leader from the late 1970’s until he died in 1997.
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