Sun Valley Conference Security Incident
Sun Valley, Idaho – “Sir, please come with us, you can talk outside,” said one of the local officers, at that moment feeling like the fifth double espresso I’d had that day.
I rose from my table, surrounded by Austrian-themed pastries at this upscale mountain resort, wondering what the police wanted. I mean, since I got here this week, I really thought I was doing something significant.
I was attempting to cover the Allen and Company Conference, often dubbed a “summer camp for billionaires” at the Sun Valley Resort. This year’s attendees include notable figures like Sam Altman, Tim Cook, Anderson Cooper, and CBS Anchor Gale King.
These elite individuals may have hefty bank accounts, but they appear to have delicate sensibilities—or perhaps it’s their security personnel. It felt like the latter, as law enforcement seemed to have been summoned on my behalf.
“We received a complaint about you allegedly harassing guests, and you’ll need to leave the property,” another officer, who looked quite young, informed me.
Apparently, my offense was asking a few questions aimed at Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent, Ivanka Trump, and the luxurious setting of the resort.
In Ivanka’s case, I had mentioned my interactions with her security team. She came to address my inquiries, albeit politely, highlighting her unfamiliarity with the topic at hand.
As for Bescent, I first met him at a more relaxed Milken meeting in May. We exchanged pleasantries before I attempted to engage him further regarding his talks and remarks about Elon Musk’s connections with President Trump.
While the significance of his position might be noteworthy, don’t expect any dramatic reactions. Even if you’ve read the latest updates, the event organizers’ security certainly took an interest in our presence.
“Here’s the reporter—ask him questions!” one of the security personnel urged Bescent.
A different individual named Colby even followed me to my car, ensuring that there was no misunderstanding regarding the situation.
He seemingly was more of a fan of this publication than of Secretary Bescent. Perhaps it had something to do with my innocent inquiry about Ivanka’s coffee order that tangled up my relationship with the barista?
Not long after, a man identified only as “Randy” approached me in the parking area, warning that I was banned from the Sun Valley Resort for a year due to the incident. I refused to sign anything, but he insisted the ban would still occur.
Amidst these constraints, I felt overwhelmed, trying to navigate my inquiries about the attendees while caught between the officers’ presence and my coffee runs to a nearby café.
Before any legal justifications could be drawn, it struck me that the First Amendment didn’t really apply on private property like the one rented by Allen & Company for this conference.
However, given recent discussions about civil liberties, I had hoped for a more welcoming atmosphere in this emblematic location for freedom of speech.
A journalist from New York reported being directly told that if the key figures of the summit weren’t satisfied with our coverage, we would be promptly removed from the premises.
The Sun Valley security officer, “Randy,” even delivered a welcome speech, specifically referencing reports from earlier in the week. He wasn’t too pleased with the coverage around Sun Valley Lodge’s pricey wine list, as well as some extravagant habits attributed to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
As for my commentary, I reached out for a response regarding this article, but Randy didn’t provide any. To add some flavor, I suppose you could say a $648 bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne could have brightened the mood.
