The Moscow Times reports that Trump’s White House Ballroom Commissioner will attend Putin’s speech at St. Petersburg Economic Forum Rodney Mims Cook Jr. - overseeing new ballroom, DC arches etc - will be first American official to attend forum in 10 yrs Per RIA Novosti Cook is a Russia specialist at NYC-based non-profit World Monuments Fund, and was involved in restoration of a replica of The Church of the Holy Sepulchre located outside Moscow. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/22/trumps-white-house-ballroom-commissioner-to-attend-putins-speech-at-st-petersburg-economic-forum-a92820