Griffin skipped a signing ceremony for the phase-one trade deal with China at the White House creating an awkward moment with President Donald Trump saying "Ken Griffin, Citadel. What a guy he is. Where are you, Ken? Where the hell is he? He’s trying to hide some of his money. Look, he doesn’t want to stand up. Where the hell is Ken? See, Steve, you’ll stand, and he’s very quiet about it. He’s in here someplace; he just doesn’t want to stand." A Citadel PR rep later said that Griffin was invited but confirmed he was unable to attend.