Trump didn't host veterans groups at VA listening session

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President Trump held a listening session Tuesday on problems at the Veterans Affairs administration
People from the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars say they weren't invited
A planned photo of the event was cancelled at the last minute
The White House announced that unnamed health experts, the wife of a wounded vet, and Isaac Perlmutter, chairman of Marvel Entertainment attended
Perlmutter has a condo near Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach and agreed to donate $1 million when Trump raised funds for veterans by skipping a debate

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.s. Political Editor For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:32 EST, 8 February 2017 | Updated: 22:11 EST, 8 February 2017

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A White House 'listening session' on chronic problems in the Veterans Affairs department didn't include representatives from the most prominent veterans groups – though the chairman of Marvel Entertainment was among attendees.

The White House did not release a complete list of those who were there when Trump held a meeting on the VA at the White House Tuesday. Representatives of American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars told Military Times they weren't invited.

Someone who was included was Marvel Entertainment chair and former CEO Isaac 'Ike' Perlmutter.

Perlmutter has a condo in West Palm Beach near Mar-a-Lago, and appeared with President Trump at U.S. Central Command Monday. He also met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago during the transition, and reportedly shared Thanksgiving dinner with him.

President Donald Trump held a 'listening session' on the Veterans Affairs Department, but representatives of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars weren't there

He serves on the board of trustees of the New York University's Langone Medical Center, and there is a cancer center there bearing the Perlmutter name.

He was one of the major contributors who stepped up when Trump famously skipped a planned Fox News debate after his spat with Megyn Kelly and held his own Iowa event to benefit veterans.

Trump hailed him as "One of the great, great men of our country in terms of business and talent.

Perlmutter immigrated from Israel and served in the 1967 Six-Day War. He is notoriously camera shy, although a photographer was able to snap him during his Mar-a-Lago visit.

It isn't know if that is part of the reason why the White House cancelled a planned 'pool spray' for White House photographers at the last minute on Tuesday. Photographs of a Trump sit-down with House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz also got canceled.

Isaac "Ike" Perlmutter, an Israeli-American billionaire, and the CEO of Marvel, walks down the steps of Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Monday, Feb. 6. He was in attendance at the meeting

Then-President-elect Donald Trump chats with Marvel Entertainment CEO Isaac 'Ike' Perlmutter in the lobby after their meeting at the Mar-a-lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. December 28

Tiffany Smiley, the wife of a veteran who was blinded by an IED, was among those attending the listening session

An oral statement by White House press secretary Sean Spicer revealed a few of the attendees.

'The President welcomed the group to the Roosevelt Room and expressed his intention to take whatever steps are necessary to improve health care access and quality for our heroic veterans,' Spicer said.

'Ms. Tiffany Smiley, the wife of a veteran who was blinded by an IED, detailed her family's difficulty and experience with the VA health care system, and offered suggestions to how it could be improved,' he said.

'The President, VA Secretary-designate Dr. David Shulkin, and a group of health care experts and veterans advocates, including Ike & Laura Perlmutter, engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on reforming the VA so that the needs of veterans come first,' he added.

Laura Perlmutter assisted Trump's transition team.

Forbes has estimated Perlmutter's wealth at $3.9 billion, and he oversaw the sale of Marvel to Disney for $4 billion in 2009.

He is considered self-made, having traveled to the U.S. with just $250.

The 74-year-old Perlmutter does not give interviews and reportedly showed up to the 2008 Iron Man premiere in a disguise to avoid being photographed.

Describing the meeting, Spicer said Tuesday that it was about how to best fix the VA.

'It's a top priority for the President and this administration to ensure that veterans get the care they need when and where they need it. Tragically, many of our veterans are being failed by a system that does not work. This administration will reform and modernize the VA under the leadership of Dr. Shulkin, creating a culture of accountability that puts our veterans first,' he said.

'The experts discussed private sector solutions and innovations that could be used to improve the VA,' Spicer continued. 'The President praised the Secretary-designate for his commitment to veterans and thanked the group for their willingness to serve and do what was best for our veterans. They plan to meet on a regular basis to discuss their collective efforts to improve the VA and its health care system.'