Republican power players' bar chat with comic complicates oilman's Trump ties

A viral Instagram post by comedian Suzanne Lambert has complicated oilman Harry Sargeant's efforts to improve his strained relations with the Trump administration, after she alleged he made disparaging remarks about President Trump during an August 18 encounter at a Washington, D.C. hotel bar. Sargeant, who was meeting with Pete Marocco and Gentry Beach at the Four Seasons, denies the allegations through his attorney, calling them false statements from a "self-proclaimed liberal content creator." The video, which drew 2 million views before being taken down following a cease-and-desist letter, circulated among Trump advisers and was brought to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's attention. The incident adds to Sargeant's existing troubles, including a challenging history with Rubio dating back to 2010 and his past business dealings with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. His company was sanctioned by the Treasury Department on August 7, and he was publicly rebuked by Trump in a Truth Social post, with insiders viewing his ordeal as a cautionary tale about staying in the administration's favor.