President Donald Trump will speak at the National Association of Realtors annual legislative meetings and trade expo on Friday, the association confirmed in an email.
“As thousands of Realtors descend on Capitol Hill to highlight our support of the housing industry, private property rights and policies that ensure the American Dream is accessible to everyone in this country, we know there are countless opportunities for collaboration between NAR and the Trump administration,” NAR President John Smaby, said in a statement. “While we hear how we can work together to secure these priorities and promote real estate in America, Realtors also look forward to showing the President ‘Who We R’ and what we care about as Realtors.”
The annual expo held yearly in Washington D.C., gives Realtors and local associations an opportunity to attend educational sessions, participate in forums and meet with members of Congress and regulatory agency officials to discuss issues related to housing.
Trump will speak Friday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Last year, Trump did not attend the conference but Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson spoke on behalf of the administration. Carson spoke broadly about affordability housing, millennial homeownership, credit scores and even service animals.
Trump’s scheduled appearance has not been without debate in the real estate community since the announcement was made Sunday.
“Lawsuits, fair housing violations, bankruptcies, billions in losses…. is he going to be the ‘what not to do’ example on a panel,” Anthony Clark, a market center administrator with Keller Williams, posted on Inman Coast to Coast.
“For all of you who are benefiting from the fantastic job Trump has done for the economy of which every Realtor is the beneficiary, I find it appalling that your hatred for conservative views to distort your ability to be fair in your judgments,” Jeff Messer, a RE/MAX real estate agent posted, in response to some of the comments.
Every sitting president is invited to speak at the annual conference and the last to do so was President George W. Bush, according to a fact sheet released by NAR. That doesn’t mean that presidents from both political parties don’t attend, however, as Bill Clinton spoke at the conference four times while president.
The president does not receive a fee for speaking at the conference and his appearance won’t directly lead to a donation from the association’s political action committee.
