Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference

On November 7, 2020, four days after the United States presidential election, Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and an attorney for incumbent president Donald Trump, hosted a press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a small business in the Holmesburg neighborhood of Near Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was held at the company's garage door and parking lot to discuss the status of the Trump campaign's legal challenges to the ballot-counting process in the state, where the president's early election lead over Joe Biden had shifted to a shortfall as mailed-in ballots were counted for Philadelphia, historically a heavily Democratic city.

Four Seasons Total Landscaping
press conference
Four Seasons Total Landscaping
DateNovember 7, 2020 (2020-11-07)
Time11:30 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
Duration37:21
VenueFour Seasons Total Landscaping
LocationHolmesburg neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates40.0262°N 75.0301°W / 40.0262; -75.0301
TypePress conference
MotiveDiscussion of the status of the Trump campaign's legal challenges to the ballot-counting process in the state
Organized byDonald Trump 2020 presidential campaign
ParticipantsRudy Giuliani
Corey Lewandowski
Republican poll-watchers[lower-alpha 1]
News media

The unexpected site of the press conference, a local landscaping business located near a sex shop and a crematorium, led to speculation that the Trump campaign meant to book the upscale Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, five city blocks from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where Philadelphia's ballots were being counted. Shortly after Giuliani began talking to the assembled reporters, the Associated Press projected Biden as the winner of the Pennsylvania vote and thus the presidential election. Several news outlets characterized the event as symbolizing the end of Trump's presidency, although he had not conceded the election and his campaign's legal actions continued.[2][3][4] The event was ridiculed by journalists and users of social media. Reportedly, it resulted in lawyers withdrawing from the legal team that the Trump campaign had assembled to challenge the election results. In response to the press conference, a Four Seasons-themed charity run was created, and the landscaping company capitalized on the newfound attention by selling T-shirts and other merchandise.

Background

After Election Day on November 3, 2020, Philadelphia election officials had set up absentee ballot counting efforts in the Pennsylvania Convention Center[5] in Center City, as downtown Philadelphia is known locally.[6] The streets in the area had been filled with demonstrators supporting each candidate.[7]

On November 5, campaign spokespeople Corey Lewandowski and Pam Bondi attempted to talk to the media just outside the convention center about a court ruling that allowed campaign observers to stand closer to the counting tables.[8] Pro-Biden demonstrators nearby played Beyoncé's "Party" so loudly that Bondi could not be heard.[4] Lewandowski decided the Trump campaign needed to find a venue where such disruption was less likely, in a part of the city where voters had been more supportive of Trump's candidacy.[9]

Early on November 7, Trump tweeted the location of the press conference as "Four Seasons". Shortly afterwards he issued another tweet, clarifying that the venue was Four Seasons Total Landscaping.[lower-alpha 2][9][10] According to The New York Times, Trump's team had intended to hold the press conference at the landscapers, but the president thought they meant the upscale Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia in Center City. "In reality, the mistake was not in the booking, but in a garbled game of telephone," The New York Times wrote.[11][12] At 10:45 a.m., the hotel verified that the event was at the landscapers.[lower-alpha 2][9]

PBS reporter Daniel Bush said an unnamed company representative told him the Trump campaign had called and said their location "was close to an exit on I-95, and was secure, and that's why they wanted to use it."[11] The local Republican ward leader told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he was not notified in advance and that neither Four Seasons' owner Marie Siravo nor anyone in her family were particularly involved in local politics. She had expressed support for Trump on a Facebook page in August, but was not exceptionally vocal, saying "we don't need to invite him for dinner."[9]

It was later revealed that an hour before the event was first announced, a Trump staffer had called the director of sales at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, Sean Middleton, to ask if the company would be willing to host a news conference. After agreeing to let the campaign take a look, Middleton drove to the venue to meet with Michael Siravo, director of operations and Marie Siravo's son. The meeting lasted around 10 minutes, at which point the venue was decided on.[lower-alpha 2][13]

Event
Businesses on State Road, Philadelphia

Journalists who arrived took note of the surrounding neighborhood. "It was in that part of town that every town has, where businesses which have no right being grouped together nonetheless gather due to one reason or another—usually the cheap rent" observed the British newspaper The Independent. Four Seasons is on the same block as a sex shop, across the street from a crematorium, and down the road from The Philadelphia Department of Prisons.[14] Giuliani did not offer any explanation as to why the news conference was being held at that location.[9]

In Four Seasons' parking lot, with help from Corey Lewandowski and Pam Bondi,[15] a lectern had been set up in front of a garage door papered over with Trump campaign signs in red and blue. Speakers and a microphone had been installed. Giuliani and Lewandowski came in with a group of people the former identified as poll watchers who they said had been prevented from properly observing the counting procedure.[4] In reference to the poll watchers, Giuliani stated "this is only two or three of about 50 people so far that have given us statements, affidavits, recordings. We're going to have many, many witnesses."[lower-alpha 1][16] Also in attendance was a personal friend of Giuliani's,[17] Bernard Kerik, who had recently received a full presidential pardon for offenses including tax fraud and lying to White House officials.[18]

Before the press conference began, a journalist present announced that CNN had just projected Biden's victory.[2] During the event, while Giuliani was stating how strong their case was,[16] a reporter interrupted to say that all of the major news networks were now joining in projecting Biden's victory. Giuliani asked "Who was it called by?" Sky News correspondent Mark Stone replied by saying "All the networks."[19] Giuliani then responded by looking heavenward and striking a pose of mock crucifixion,[20] saying:

All the, oh my goodness, all the networks. Wow! All the networks! We have to forget about the law. Judges don't count. All the networks, all the networks. All the networks thought Biden was going to win by 10%. Gee, what happened? Come on, don't be, don't be ridiculous. Networks don't get to decide elections, courts do.[1]

Giuliani also expressed in reference to Trump that "Obviously he's not going to concede when at least 600,000 ballots are in question."[21] As he spoke, some reporters began packing their equipment and leaving, before he had finished and the poll watchers had spoken.[4]

Allegations

Giuliani said that Philadelphia "has a sad history of voter fraud" including ballots submitted by dead people, specifically mentioning boxer Joe Frazier and actor Will Smith's father.[22] The claims, which potentially originated from a pro-Trump blog the day before the event,[23] were quickly dismissed by Philadelphia city officials.[24] After looking into the cases of Frazier and Smith as well as a list of others, Republican City Commissioner Al Schmidt[25] told White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins that "Not a single one voted in Philadelphia after they died."[26]

Without mentioning a specific amount, Giuliani also stated that "[t]here certainly is enough evidence to disqualify a certain number of ballots."[11]

Lewandowski cited one case of what he said was a documented deceased Pennsylvania voter, Denise Ondick, of Homestead in Allegheny County, near Pittsburgh.[27] According to her online obituary, she died on October 22.[28] Voting records show a mail-in ballot was sent to her two days later; on November 2, the ballot was recorded by the Pennsylvania Department of State's tracking system. The Inquirer said it was unclear whether that meant it had actually been counted.[16][27]

Ondick's family confirmed that she had received an absentee ballot application; her daughter said she had helped her mother, who planned to vote for Trump, fill it out two days prior to her death and the state records show the application was received the day after Ondick died. But she had not mailed the ballot in after her mother died, and she said her father could not recall doing so. She did not believe her parents would willfully violate the law.

Lewandowski said that his cited evidence was not empirical or anecdotal, and that it was hard evidence,[lower-alpha 3] one of many exhibits that would be filed with the court.[16] Election officials in Allegheny County said they would investigate.[27] An official complaint was never filed; the county referred the matter to its police department.[30]

Aftermath

One journalist likened it to an appearance by Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi driving a golf cart and carrying a large umbrella as NATO forces began bombing the country to support a 2011 rebellion. "It was intended to project perseverance and strength—it had the opposite effect."[2] Adam Gabbatt of The Guardian reported that the company's name "swiftly became a byword for politicians' incompetence".[31]

The event was also criticized for including Daryl Brooks, a New Jersey-based perennial candidate and convicted sex offender, although Giuliani later told the New York Daily News that he was unaware of the man's history.[32]

On November 12, CNN reported that Corey Lewandowski, one of the speakers at the press conference, had tested positive for COVID-19. While Lewandowski was present at the Trump election night party, possibly making him a part of the White House COVID-19 outbreak responsible for at least three other diagnoses, he said he may have caught it while in Philadelphia, without specifying Four Seasons Total Landscaping as the site of his infection.[33]

On November 14, Politico reported that many of the lawyers the Trump campaign had spent months recruiting prior to the election decided to withdraw as a result of the press conference. The event reportedly undercut the Trump campaign's legal strategy for challenging the election results that they had meticulously planned for months.[34]

According to a review of Trump campaign financial disclosure reports by NBCLX, there was no payment made to Four Seasons for facility rental based on expenses for October 15 through November 23 reported by the campaign or related political action committees (PACs), Trump Victory and Save America.[35]

Olivia Nuzzi, of New York magazine, published an extensive report about the event that involved "more than 37 sources spread throughout the White House, the Trump campaign, the president's network of advisers both formal and informal, the Republican Party, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."[36]

Public reaction

CNN reported that the event was "widely ridiculed".[37] It drew humor and parody on social media, where it was assumed the Trump campaign had simply made a mistake with the booking,[38] and it was compared to similar mishaps in the political satire series Veep and The Thick of It.[39] "Four Seasons Total Landscaping" became the 21st most-popular trending topic on Twitter;[40] the following day it was at number one.[41] Yelp users posted reviews, activating an "Unusual Activity" alert, which temporarily disabled the posting of content to the page pending investigation to determine the legitimacy of the views.[42] Visitors came to the building to take pictures of themselves with the company gates and logo in the background.[9]

The area was recreated in VRChat by furry YouTuber Coopertom,[43] while others created mock Lego sets.[44]

Two Philadelphia runners, Chip Chantry and Jeff Lyons of the Junk Miles with Chip & Jeff podcast,[45] announced the charity "Fraud Street Run" (a pun on the city's annual Broad Street Run) for November 29, covering the 11 miles (18 km) from the landscaping business to the hotel.[46] Later, the organizers decided to make it a virtual run, as they did not believe it was possible to maintain social distancing during the event. The 2,100 participants from around the world were to run anywhere they choose that day, including the planned course, and upload a picture of themselves running to social media.[47] The event had proven more popular than they anticipated,[48] eventually raising nearly US$63,000 for the food bank Philabundance.[49] The "Fraud Street Bike Ride" was organized by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia to provide additional donations and included a bike-friendly route using bike lanes and multi-use paths along the Delaware River.[50]

A Change.org petition that called for the location be added to the National Register of Historic Places was launched, [51] and it was jokingly suggested that if Trump were to create a presidential library then it should be built at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.[52]

Comedy writer Vinnie Favale set up a web portal devoted to the press conference.[53]

Reaction by Four Seasons Total Landscaping

Following the press conference, Four Seasons Total Landscaping posted on Instagram thanking police for their participation. "Would like to thank the fabulous Philadelphia men and women in blue making this event a safe place," they wrote.[54] The company's Instagram bio describes the firm as a "woman-owned, minority business... that does great landscaping & perfect snow removal" and is "trying to make America green again!"[54] Four Seasons Total Landscaping also clarified that they were not attempting to make a political statement by hosting the Trump campaign.[13] On November 8, Four Seasons announced it would begin selling T-shirts and other merchandise through its website the next day.[55] Some of the items for sale featured wording based on Trump slogans, such as Make America Rake Again and Lawn and Order!‍[56] Just three weeks later, over 30,000 shirts had been sold.[57] Merchandise sales, including T-shirts, ugly Christmas sweaters, and face masks, have totaled about US$1.3 million.[13] The profits will be used towards vendor payments, shipping costs, and other expenses.[13] The company also created a virtual background for use in the video conferencing software Zoom.[58]

Speaking at the start line of the Fraud Street Run, director of sales, Sean Middleton, said "We're from Northeast Philly, we can laugh at ourselves," and "For us to come out and make a political statement as Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Northeast Philly was never our intent."[59] In an interview with Business Insider a month after the event, Middleton said that they were still receiving calls from major media outlets around the world.[60]

On May 8, 2021, Four Seasons Total Landscaping will host a surf and turf gala to benefit four ALS related charities that were unable to do any fund-raising in 2020. The idea for the event came from Larry Kaplan, a West Chester-based volunteer who in 2016 raised nearly US$100,000 by doing the Ice Bucket Challenge.[61]

The event received broad coverage on American late-night talk shows with mentions on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Daily Show.[62] Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon mentioned Four Seasons in an appearance as Giuliani on the show's "Weekend Update" news segment,[63] and made another indirect reference to it a month later during the show's cold open.[64] Conan, on TBS, presented the video "Other Historic Moments That Took Place at Four Seasons Total Landscaping" acknowledging "Trump isn't the only public figure who likes to make historic announcements at this small landscaping company in Philadelphia."[65]

American comedian Tim Heidecker wrote a song about the event,[66] and British comedy writer Michael Spicer created a spoof advert.[67]

Artist Tracey Snelling created a multimedia diorama model of the site and neighboring businesses, which includes video from the event as well as clips of Guiliani's controversial appearance in the mockumentary Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.[68]

See also

Notes
  1. The only people to speak out of the group of poll watchers were: Daryl Brooks, Matt Silver, and Lisette Tarragano.[1]
  2. Timeline of notable moments (all times are EST and begin in the morning of November 7, 2020):
    • 8:45 - Sean Middleton, director of sales at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, gets a call from a Trump staffer surveying areas along the I-95 corridor, asking if the company would be willing to host a news conference.[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]
    • 9:30 - Four Seasons Total Landscaping staff meet with the Trump team to assess the venue.[lower-alpha 5]
    • 9:35 - Donald Trump posts a tweet, but then deletes 5 minutes later at 9:41: "Lawyers Press Conference at Four Seasons, Philadelphia. 11:00 A.M."[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7]
    • 9:40 - The Trump team at the venue confirm that Four Seasons Total Landscaping is "the perfect location” for the conference.[lower-alpha 5]
    • 9:43 - Trump replies to the previous tweet with a clarification, but then deletes 1 minute later at 9:45: "Four Season’s Landscaping!"[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 8]
    • 9:45 - Trump tweets: "Big press conference today in Philadelphia at Four Seasons Total Landscaping — 11:30am!"[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 9]
    • 10:00 - Trump tweets, but then deletes 6 minutes later at 10:06: "Lawyer’s Press Conference at Four Season’s Landscaping, Philadelphia. Enjoy!"[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 10]
    • 10:45 - Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia tweet a clarification: "To clarify, President Trump’s press conference will NOT be held at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. It will be held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping— no relation with the hotel."[lower-alpha 11]
    • 10:55 - Rudy Giuliani arrives on site and sets up a war room in the front office.[lower-alpha 5]
    • 11:30 - The scheduled start time, based on the only tweet regarding the event that wasn't deleted.[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 9]
    • 11:50 - The press conference starts.[lower-alpha 12]
    • 12:19 - Giuliani is informed that the election has been called by "all the networks".
    • 12:27 - The press conference ends.
  3. Corey Lewandowski had previously stated under oath before a House Judiciary Committee, that he has "no obligation" to tell the truth to the media.[29]

References
  1. "Trump Campaign Pennsylvania News Conference". C-SPAN. November 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. Hall, Richard (November 8, 2020). "I saw Donald Trump's presidency come crashing down at Four Seasons Total Landscaping". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  3. Markay, Lachlan; Suebsaeng, Asawin; Stein, Sam (November 7, 2020). "The End of the Line for Trumpland Is a Poorly Rated Sex Shop in North Philly". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  4. Burns, Katelyn (November 8, 2020). "The Trump legal team's failed Four Seasons press conference, explained". Vox. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. Brady, Jeff (November 2, 2020). "Philadelphia Gears Up For Unprecedented Attention To Its Vote Count". NPR. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  6. "Explore Center City Philadelphia". Visit Philadelphia. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  7. McDaniel, Justine; Orso, Anna; Melamed, Samantha; Whelan, Aubrey (November 4, 2020). "Protesters march in Center City amid election demonstrations and release of bodycam footage of Walter Wallace Jr.'s killing by police". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  8. Wilson, Kirby (November 5, 2020). "Pam Bondi throws herself into Trump effort to stop counting votes". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  9. Roebuck, Jeremy; Hanna, Maddie; Goodin-Smith, Oona (November 8, 2020). "No, not that Four Seasons. How Team Trump's news conference ended up at a Northeast Philly landscaping firm". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  10. Embury-Dennis, Tom (November 7, 2020). "Trump sparks confusion after announcing press conference at small landscaping firm". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020. President initially said the briefing would be held at major hotel — before correcting himself
  11. Bucklow, Andrew (November 9, 2020). "US Election 2020: Trump laywer [sic] Rudy Giuliani's Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference mistake goes viral". News.com.au. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  12. Karni, Annie; Korasiniti, Nick (November 7, 2020). "Which Four Seasons? Oh, not that one". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  13. Goodin-Smith, Oona (December 1, 2020). "Philly's Four Seasons Total Landscaping dishes the dirt on the news conference heard 'round the world: 'It was nothing we anticipated'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  14. Bryan, Miles (November 11, 2020). "From Obscure To Sold Out: The Story Of Four Seasons Total Landscaping In Just 4 Days". NPR. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020. It's still not entirely clear how the Trump campaign ended up holding a press conference in Northeast Philadelphia near a sex shop, a crematorium and a jail.
    "Directions [to the jail]". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved January 4, 2020. Distance: 1.2km [3/4 of a mile].
  15. Stone, Mark (November 9, 2020). "US election result: Pennsylvania - the state which reflects a divided America". Sky News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020. I spotted Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida and close to Mr Trump. She and Corey Lewandowski, Mr Trump's 2016 campaign manager, appeared to be helping other staff to rearrange the company's landscaping equipment to make way for a podium.
  16. "Rudy Giuliani Trump Campaign Philadelphia Press Conference November 7 (Transcript)". Rev. November 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  17. Powell, Michael (November 3, 2007). "Loyal to Kerik, Giuliani Missed Warning Signs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020. Mr. Giuliani defended Mr. Kerik, a friend and business partner
  18. Annese, John (November 9, 2020). "Disgraced NYPD commissioner Bernie Kerik attends Rudy Giuliani's widely mocked 'Four Seasons' election press conference". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020. Disgraced ex-NYPD commissioner Bernie Kerik was among the Donald Trump loyalists who confounded the world by standing in front of a Pennsylvania landscaping business Saturday
    Shanahan, Ed (February 18, 2020). "Bernard Kerik Was Pardoned by President Trump. Who Is He?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020. Mr. Kerik was granted a full pardon for his 2010 conviction on eight felonies, including tax fraud and lying to White House officials.
  19. Stone, Mark (November 9, 2020). "US election result: Pennsylvania - the state which reflects a divided America". Sky News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020. As he spoke, news came in that the American networks had called the election for Joe Biden. Mr Giuliani was asked for his reaction. "Which networks!?" he asked. "All of them," I replied.
    Mark Stone [@Stone_SkyNews] (November 7, 2020). "@RudyGiuliani provided a handful of witnesses to 'mass electoral fraud'... and I had a brief exchange with him..." (Tweet). Retrieved November 25, 2020 – via Twitter.
  20. Zak, Dan; Heller, Karen (November 8, 2020). "It began on a gold escalator. It may have ended at Four Seasons Total Landscaping". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020. About 30 minutes into his show, Giuliani was informed that the race had been called for Biden on television. He stretched out his arms, looked to the heavens and seemed to mock-crucify himself on the notion.
  21. Breuninger, Kevin (November 7, 2020). "Trump refuses to accept election results, says it's 'far from over'". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  22. "Rev Transcription Editor". Rev. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020. Joe Frazier is still voting here. ... Will Smith's father has voted here twice since he died.
  23. Cheung, Helier (November 10, 2020). "The late Smokin' Joe Frazier did not vote in 2020". BBC News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020. It’s not clear where this story came from originally, but an article about Mr Frazier and Mr Smith appeared in a pro-Trump blog on 6 November. The author claimed to have seen records not publicly accessible.
  24. Sadeghi, McKenzie (November 14, 2020). "Fact check: No evidence vote was cast in Joe Frazier's name". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General told the Associated Press in a statement this week that, “The court found no deficiency in how PA maintains its voter rolls, and there is currently no proof provided that any deceased person has voted in the 2020 election.”
  25. Harriet, Alexander (November 11, 2020). "Trump hits out at Republican election official whose work on tackling fraud his campaign previously praised". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020. Al Schmidt, the only Republican among Philadelphia’s three city commissioners
  26. Bennett, Max (November 11, 2020). "Philly Officials Dispel Rumors Of Dead People Voting". Patch. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020. CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins tweeted that [City Commissioner Al Schmidt] said officials looked up each allegation of deceased residents voting. "Not a single one voted in Philadelphia after they died," Schmidt said.
    Kaitlan Collins [@kaitlancollins] (November 11, 2020). "Republican Philadelphia City Commissioner says they looked into a list claiming dead people voted. "Between everything else that we're doing, we looked it up — each one of them to see what their vote history was. Not a single one voted in Philadelphia after they died."" (Tweet). Retrieved December 1, 2020 – via Twitter.
  27. McCoy, Craig R.; Martines, Jamie (November 8, 2020). "Trump legal team vows to fight on, starting with fresh lawsuit Monday in Pennsylvania". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  28. "Denise Lynn (Ichenko) Ondick". Savolskis–Waskis–Glenn Funeral Home. October 22, 2020. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  29. Caroline, Kelly (September 18, 2019). "Lewandowski: 'I have no obligation to be honest with the media'". CNN. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said he has "no obligation" to tell the truth to the media while acknowledging that he had not told the truth when asked earlier this year about his interactions with President Donald Trump.
  30. Patkin, Abby (November 13, 2020). "Fact check: Claim that Pennsylvania case is proof of 'dead people' voting is under investigation". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020. In an email, Allegheny County Communications Director Amie Downs told USA TODAY that although no one has filed an official complaint or report regarding this particular instance of alleged voter fraud, the county has referred the matter to Allegheny County Police for investigation due to the attention Ondick’s story has received.
  31. Gabbatt, Adam (December 2, 2020). "Tourists flock to Four Seasons Total Landscaping after Giuliani debacle". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020. Four Seasons Total Landscaping, which is memorably located next to a sex shop, swiftly became a byword for politicians’ incompetence and a source of hilarity after the press conference
  32. Friedman, Matt (November 9, 2020). "Man featured at Giuliani press conference is a convicted sex offender". Politico. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
    Melendez, Pilar (November 9, 2020). "'Vote Fraud' Witness at Rudy Giuliani's Four Seasons Total Landscaping Presser Is a Convicted Sex Offender". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  33. Acosta, Jim; Collins, Kaitlan; Vazquez, Maegan (November 12, 2020). "Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski contracts coronavirus". CNN. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  34. Isenstadt, Alex (November 14, 2020). "Giuliani wrecks Trump campaign's well-laid legal plans". Politico. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
    O'Connell, Oliver (November 14, 2020). "Lawyers decided to quit Trump case after chaotic Four Seasons Landscaping press conference". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  35. Pransky, Noah (December 4, 2020). "Trump's Four Seasons Total Landscaping Bill: On the House". NBC Philadelphia. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020. An NBCLX review of the president’s post-election campaign filings, submitted to the Federal Election Commission Thursday night, revealed no payment to Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia
  36. Nuzzi, Olivia (December 21, 2020). "The Full(est Possible) Story of the Four Seasons Total Landscaping Press Conference". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  37. Stracqualursi, Veronica (November 14, 2020). "New York Times: Rudy Giuliani put in charge of Trump's election lawsuits after series of losses". CNN. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020. …after the former New York mayor held a widely ridiculed press conference last weekend at a Philadelphia landscaping company to make unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.
  38. Evans, Greg (November 9, 2020). "Four Seasons Total Landscaping flooded with joke reviews following Trump debacle". Indy 100. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020. Sure enough, Four Seasons Total Landscaping jokes and memes began to flood social media and they were undeniably amusing.
    Stolworthy, Jacob (November 8, 2020). "Trump team's Four Seasons blunder compared to The Thick of It: 'I can't get over how funny this is'". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020. Many people on Twitter found the error hilarious, especially considering it came on the same day that Trump was beaten at the 2020 presidential election by Joe Biden.
  39. Stolworthy, Jacob (November 8, 2020). "Veep and Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci reacts to Trump team's Four Seasons blunder". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020. As news of the mistake broke out, people immediately began comparing it to similar mishaps seen in [Armando] Iannucci's political sitcoms.
  40. Rosenberg, Adam (November 8, 2020). "Trump's 'Four Seasons Total Landscaping' debacle brought out all the Yelp comedians". Mashable. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020. …the Four Seasons Total Landscaping page on Yelp is currently adorned with an "Unusual Activity Alert" warning.
  41. Fenlon, Wes (November 9, 2020). "That Four Seasons Total Landscaping debacle is already a VRChat hangout for furries". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
    Statt, Nick (November 9, 2020). "Four Seasons Total Landscaping becomes a VRChat hangout for furries". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  42. Zitser, Joshua (November 16, 2020). "Somebody has made a LEGO version of Trump's disastrous Four Seasons Total Landscaping conference". Indy 100. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020. A Reddit user, who goes by R/OrchreJelly, has mocked up a LEGO version of the infamous event.
    Owen, Gareth (November 22, 2020). "Four Seasons Total Landscaping - In LEGO!". eBay. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020. Build your own scene at home with these instructions, and remember this iconic (and ironic) scene in Lego style!
  43. "Junk Miles with Chip & Jeff". JunkMilesShow.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020. Chip and Jeff have a podcast where they chat about comedy, music, movies, running, pets, and other assorted nonsense. ... Chip Chantry is a professional comedian, writer, and grandson. Follow @ChipChantry. ... Jeff Lyons is executive producer of "Nephew Swap." Follow @usedwigs.
  44. Cunningham, Caroline (November 10, 2020). "And Now, a Charity Run From Four Seasons Total Landscaping to the Four Seasons Hotel". Philadelphia. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
    Farr, Stephanie (November 10, 2020). "Philly's Fraud Street Run will go from the 'famous Four Seasons Total Landscaping' to 'the lesser-known Four Seasons Hotel'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  45. Farr, Stephanie (November 29, 2020). "From Philly to Germany, thousands participated in the virtual Fraud Street Run, inspired by the Four Seasons Total Landscaping news conference". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  46. Farr, Stephanie (November 12, 2020). "Too popular, the Fraud Street Run inspired by the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference goes entirely virtual and raises more than $19k". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  47. Chantry, Chip; Lyons, Jeff (December 7, 2020). "Lowest-Rated Hallmark Movies and Non-Denominational Holiday Songs". Junk Miles with Chip & Jeff. Episode 36. Event occurs at 15:18. Retrieved December 17, 2020. Final tally, the incredibly generous people who donated directly to Philabundance have raised $54,471 ... and t-shirt sales proceeds, we are going to chip in another $8,200. So the final campaign total donation by the amazing people supporting the Fraud Street Run; $62,671
    "Junk Miles Podcast and Friends Raising Funds for Philabundance". Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020. $54,631 Raised
  48. Randy LoBasso (November 23, 2020). "Bike the 'Fraud Street Run'!". Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  49. Gunts, Edward (November 16, 2020). "Petition calls for Four Seasons Total Landscaping to be named to the National Register of Historic Places". The Architect's Newspaper. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020. Should the Four Seasons Total Landscaping be added to the National Register of Historic Places? More than 2,000 people apparently think so, because they've signed a petition recommending that the landscaping company's home in northeast Philadelphia be recognized for the brief but significant role it played in the 2020 presidential election.
  50. Smith, David (December 6, 2020). "Could the Donald Trump presidential library – or theme park – lie ahead?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020. Last month Michael Beschloss, a presidential historian, invited his Twitter followers to suggest potential locations for a Trump presidential library. The responses included a federal prison, North Korea, Moscow, an outdoor toilet and Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia.
  51. "Rudy Giuliani's "Four Seasons Total Landscaping" press conference gets its own web portal thanks to Writer/Producer Vinnie Favale" (Press release). Lincroft, NJ. PR Newswire. November 9, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020. According to Favale, the level of comedy was so high in all of the tweets he was seeing, and the news coverage kept on uncovering fascinating new details, that he needed to memorialize all of this great content with a dedicated portal.
    Favale, Vinnie (November 9, 2020). "Rudy Giuliani & The 4 Seasons Depress Conference!". VinnieFavale.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  52. Gillespie, Eden (November 8, 2020). "Trump campaign appears to mistakenly book car park outside landscaping firm 'Four Seasons' for press conference". Special Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  53. Akim, Tanya (November 8, 2020). "Four Seasons Total Landscaping Just Dropped Branded Apparel". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  54. Bekiempis, Victoria (November 9, 2020). "'Make America rake again': Four Seasons Total Landscaping cashes in on Trump fiasco". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020. “MAKE AMERICA RAKE AGAIN”, read one sticker on sale on the company website on Monday. It also featured the phrase “LAWN AND ORDER!” The stickers were selling for $5 each.
  55. Farr, Stephanie (November 29, 2020). "From Philly to Germany, thousands participated in the virtual Fraud Street Run, inspired by the Four Seasons Total Landscaping news conference". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020. And so far, the company has sold more than 30,000 shirts with its catchy "Lawn and Order" phrase on them.
  56. Therrien, Alyssa (November 10, 2020). "Host your next Zoom conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020. The landscaping company took to Twitter to announce that they were creating merch before releasing a Zoom background that'll have you feeling like you're a part of the Trump administration.
  57. Farr, Stephanie (November 29, 2020). "From Philly to Germany, thousands participated in the virtual Fraud Street Run, inspired by the Four Seasons Total Landscaping news conference". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020. Sean Middleton, director of sales for Four Seasons Total Landscaping ... "We're from Northeast Philly, we can laugh at ourselves," Middleton said. "For us to come out and make a political statement as Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Northeast Philly was never our intent."
  58. Ankel, Sophia (December 6, 2020). "Business is booming at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, now a landmark on the Philadelphia tourist trail thanks to Rudy Giuliani's bizarre post-election press conference". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020. Middleton told Business Insider over the phone. "We are still getting called by all the major media outlets all over the world. Our office line has been going off the chain. On the day after the press conference, we probably had 600 or 700 calls to our office line, all of which we dealt with personally," he added.
  59. Seidman, Andrew (December 27, 2020). "Next up for Four Seasons Total Landscaping: A surf and turf 'gala' to raise money for ALS awareness". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  60. Yahr, Emily (November 10, 2020). "After four years of skewering Trump, the late-night TV hosts delight in his loss to Biden". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020. Here are just some of the topics the hosts covered — and yes, they had a field day with Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
    Bendix, Trish (November 10, 2020). "Seth Meyers Celebrates Election Results Coming Up Biden". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020. The Punchiest Punchlines (Four Seasons Edition)
  61. Ciavaglia, Jo (November 8, 2020). "What we know about Four Seasons Total Landscaping, the most famous business in Philly today". Bucks County Courier Times. Levittown, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
    Alter, Rebecca (November 8, 2020). "SNL's Rudy Giuliani Talks Four Seasons Total Landscaping on Weekend Update". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020. This blunder was so funny on its own that it was a Saturday Night Live comedy freebie
  62. Crump, James (December 6, 2020). "SNL mocks Giuliani with sketch about voter fraud claims". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020. McKinnon’s Giuliani then ended SNL’s opening sketch by reiterating that he will not give up the fight to overturn the election result and referenced his now infamous press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Pennsylvania.
    Pallotta, Frank (December 6, 2020). "'SNL' returns with 'Rudy Giuliani' and his witnesses contesting the election". CNN. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020. McKinnon's Giuliani said. 'And if you liked what you saw here today, we're giving a press conference right after this at the Ritz-Carlton... Plumbing and Heating Supply Company.'
  63. Other Historic Moments That Took Place At Four Seasons Total Landscaping, CONAN on TBS, November 9, 2020, archived from the original on November 15, 2020, retrieved November 13, 2020 – via YouTube
  64. Haddow, Alexandra (November 12, 2020). "Comedian Tim Heidecker's new song about Four Seasons Total Landscaping suggests that 2020 is looking up". NME. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020. And now comedian Tim Heidecker has blessed us with 'Rudy At The 4 Seasons'…
    Tanenbaum, Michael (November 11, 2020). "Comedian Tim Heidecker writes ode to Rudy Giuliani's visit to Four Seasons Total Landscaping". Philly Voice. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020. Comedian Tim Heidecker, an Allentown native, was inspired by the former New York City mayor's profoundly ridiculous press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
    Blistein, Jon (November 10, 2020). "Tim Heidecker Pens New Ode to Rudy Giuliani's Four Seasons Landscaping Press Conference". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020. Tim Heidecker has written a new song, “Rudy at the 4 Seasons,” memorializing Rudy Giuliani's already infamous press conference outside a landscaping business in Philadelphia…
  65. Zitser, Joshua (November 10, 2020). "Michael Spicer trolls Trump with 'genius' spoof advert for Four Seasons Total Landscaping". Indy 100. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020. A comedian has released a spoof video ad for Four Seasons Total Landscaping which, rightfully, has gone viral.
    "Michael Spicer's hilarious advert for Four Seasons Total Landscaping covers ALL of its services". The Poke. November 10, 2020. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020. Everybody's favourite Secret Political Adviser, Michael Spicer, has produced the advert that Four Seasons Total Landscaping must wish they'd put out.
  66. Henninger, Danya (December 12, 2020). "Four Seasons Total Landscaping becomes high-end diorama art in Berlin". Billy Penn. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020. 'Four Seasons Total Landscaping and Fantasy Island Adult Books 2020' (wood, plaster, paint, metal, lights, lcd screen, media player, speakers, transformer) ... Inside windows built into the Four Seasons’ parking lot wall, a video of the actual press conference plays, interspersed with scenes of “Borat,” the Sasha Baron Cohen movie that caught Giuliani shoving his hands down his pants. ... And now it’s been commemorated in a piece of conceptual artwork that will sell for up to $15,000 on the other side of the Atlantic.
    Kanik, Hannah (December 12, 2020). "Four Seasons Total Landscaping diorama will sell for $15,000 in Berlin". Philly Voice. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  67. Goodin-Smith, Oona (December 1, 2020). "Philly's Four Seasons Total Landscaping dishes the dirt on the news conference heard 'round the world: 'It was nothing we anticipated'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 3, 2020. The phone rang around 8:45 a.m. Saturday, interrupting Sean Middleton’s Bible study in Doylestown. A Trump campaign staffer told the director of sales they were surveying areas along the I-95 corridor, asking if the company would be willing to host a news conference.
  68. Mitchell, Thomas (November 12, 2020). ""Make America Rake Again!" In A World Exclusive, Icon Interviews The Manager of Four Seasons Total Landscaping". ICON. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020. “I got a call from Trump’s people on my cell phone at 8:45 am, and they asked me if they could visit our parking lot here to see if it might work for a press conference,” recalls Sean [Middleton]. ... “I met with Trump team members at 9:30 am, and within ten minutes, they confirmed with me that Four Seasons Total Landscaping was the perfect location.” ... Shortly before 11 am, Trump’s lawyer-turned-fixer-turned-Borat-star Rudy Giuliani arrived. “Rudy set up a war room in our front office, and he was going over his talking points,” says Sean.
  69. "Trump Twitter Archive V2". TheTrumpArchive.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  70. Donald J. Trump [@realDonaldTrump] (November 7, 2020). "Lawyers Press Conference at Four Seasons, Philadelphia. 11:00 A.M." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    "Deleted Tweet from Donald J. Trump". ProPublica. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020. Deleted after 5 minutes at 9:41 AM on 07 Nov.
  71. Donald J. Trump [@realDonaldTrump] (November 7, 2020). "Four Season's Landscaping! t.co/kZ6xTFOx6M" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    "Deleted Tweet from Donald J. Trump". ProPublica. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020. Deleted after 1 minute at 9:45 AM on 07 Nov.
  72. Donald J. Trump [@realDonaldTrump] (November 7, 2020). "Big press conference today in Philadelphia at Four Seasons Total Landscaping — 11:30am!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  73. Donald J. Trump [@realDonaldTrump] (November 7, 2020). "Lawyer's Press Conference at Four Season's Landscaping, Philadelphia. Enjoy!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    "Deleted Tweet from Donald J. Trump". ProPublica. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020. Deleted after 6 minutes at 10:06 AM on 07 Nov.
  74. Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center [@FSPhiladelphia] (November 7, 2020). "To clarify, President Trump's press conference will NOT be held at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. It will be held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping— no relation with the hotel" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  75. Richard Hall [@_RichardHall] (November 7, 2020). "Rudy Giuliani is here. "I'm here to describe to you the first part of a situation that is very troubling."" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.