The White House said Harleth, who oversaw more than 110 employees as director of rooms at the Trump International Hotel, will bring more than a decade of hospitality and leadership experience with him when he begins his new role on July 3.
Harleth, in the same statement, said he is “so honored” to serve the first family in the White House. “I look forward to applying my experience with hospitality, leadership, and political protocol in order to ensure the First Family's needs are met, while also protecting and preserving the rich history of the White House,” added Harleth, who has also held management positions at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington and New York.
Harleth will succeed Angella Reid, the first woman and second African-American to hold the position. The White House said last month that Reid left the administration “on very good terms,” despite reports that she was fired. Deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had said a deputy usher would replace Reid in an acting capacity.
President Donald Trump’s Washington hotel has emerged as a hot spot for Cabinet secretaries, allies and foreign diplomats. And while a Trump Organization spokesperson has said it intends to donate all profits from its foreign patronage to the Treasury Department, the Trump Organization has also told Congress it would be “impractical” to fully identify all patrons at Trump properties.
The president, who has handed over control of his business empire to his two adult sons, still has a financial stake in the company and receives profit reports from Donald Jr. and Eric Trump.
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