Trump hits the links out of public view with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Members of President Trump’s press pool on Saturday said they were kept from tagging along as the president golfed with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Trump and Abe are at the president’s Jupiter, Fla., golf club for the weekend after a meeting and press conference Friday at the White House.

Trump tweeted photos of the two from the golf course, but reporters in both his and Abe’s press pools shared photos from inside the golf club, where they were left during the golfing session.

One pool reporter tweeted that the pool reporters were staying in a basement suite where windows were covered with black plastic to keep the journalists from seeing out onto the course.

A White House pool report said that photographers were instructed not to take pictures on the grounds of the “private club.” 

Trump’s press corps has been placed in a basement suite at Jupiter golf club. Black plastic over windows to give Trump privacy as he golfs. pic.twitter.com/8zbqi5HGSD

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 11, 2017

Japanese press are holed up with us at Trump Jupiter, no better access to their leader. Not clear if US side or Japan side vetoed golf pix. pic.twitter.com/cER07VSN1N

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 11, 2017

Trump high-fives Japan’s prime minister.
Administration took pains to keep press from shooting pix of them, but Trump tweeted one he likes. https://t.co/tWwA9VRq6f

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 11, 2017

Trump has bucked tradition with his press pool, which is supposed to be on hand to track his every move. He ditched his press pool to golf back in December and left his press pool to go out to dinner last November.

The White House said in a read out later in the day Saturday that Trump “enjoyed hosting Prime Minister Abe on the golf course today, which was both relaxing and productive.”

“They had great conversations on a wide range of subjects, and the President looks forward to further discussions with the Prime Minister at dinner this evening,” it read.

Updated: 6:20 p.m.