In Dentists

Trump forwarded letter from dentist pal at Mar-a-Lago to VA chief

After seeing President Donald Trump at his private Florida Mar-a-Lago club in 2017, golfing buddy Albert Hazzouri, DDS, left him with a letter that Trump passed to Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, according to The National Memo.

Dr. Hazzouri wrote the letter on behalf of the American Dental Association, but in an interview with The National Memo, he said he couldn't recall what he was proposing.

"I'm not involved in any politics; I'm just a small-time dentist" he told the publication. "I guess there's a lot of money spent on veterans' care and American Native Indians' care, and I guess they wanted to have a little hand in it, the American Dental Association, to try to guide what's going on or whatever."

The president, however, was intrigued, stamping the letter with a note to "send to David S at the VA."

Mr. Shulkin says he never saw the letter.

Throughout the letter, Dr. Hazzouri writes about creating an oversight committee, but doesn’t give any details. While a dental association spokesperson denied elaborating on the subject with The National Memo, the spokesperson said the organization is lobbying for the government to spend more on dental services.

"The ADA has been looking into how we can get involved in veterans' issues," the spokesperson said. "Lots of vets may not be eligible but need care."

Dr. Hazzouri and Trump have a noted history. In 2018, the dentist proposed developing a practice for the president and his family. But the Florida Board of Dentistry denied Dr. Hazzouri's request because he didn't complete the necessary requirements.

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