Trump ditches press pool to go out to dinner

{mosads}Donald Trump left Trump Tower without his press pool on Tuesday to have dinner with his family, according to reporters.

The president-elect reportedly received a standing ovation and cheers upon arriving at 21 Club, a New York City restaurant, an hour after his spokeswoman had called a “lid,” signaling to the reporters following him that he was in for the night.

Spokeswoman Hope Hicks said she “wasn’t aware of this movement,” adding she wouldn’t do anything to “leave the press in the dark.”

Hicks added the president-elect’s protective pool hasn’t yet been set up, but once it is, reporters will have “all of the access that they have ever had under any president.”

After reporters arrived at the restaurant, police let those with New York City press passes stand outside, while others were told to move down the block.

Several reporters criticized Trump for leaving without notifying his press pool.

.@ABC confirms Trump is having dinner with his family in NYC at 21 Club. Left Trump Tower without his traveling press.

— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) November 16, 2016

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

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

Again, Trump does not bring the protective press pool – or even notify them of his movements https://t.co/TRnwCXAjk3

— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) November 16, 2016

So Trump ditched his press pool tonight to grab a steak dinner– a terrible violation of protocol that his defenders will probably cheer

— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) November 16, 2016

The Trump team’s explanation for the president-elect bailing on the press pool, per @wpjenna pic.twitter.com/yBYavITT1R

— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) November 16, 2016

Hicks told Politico last week the president-elect planned to implement a traditional press pool in his White House.

“We fully expect to operate a traditional pool and look forward to implementing our plans in the near future,” campaign press secretary Hope Hicks said. “We appreciate your patience as we navigate the transition process.

But reporters have been frustrated by Trump’s disregard for the usual press procedures for an incoming president, worries exacerbated by his harsh rhetoric toward the media, sometimes directed at specific reporters, during his campaign.