After a week-long presence in a Manhattan courtroom, Donald Trump is set to enjoy his weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his residence in Florida. He will be joined by a group of supporters, including individuals who are being considered for the role of vice presidency.
The Republican presidential candidate has organized a two-day retreat in Palm Beach, which is anticipated to bring together over 400 affluent donors and prominent politicians.
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The event aims to bolster Mr. Trump’s finances, which have been significantly impacted by his ongoing legal battles, and provide reassurance to donors regarding the status of his campaign. As per the invitation, obtained by Reuters, the retreat is exclusively available to individuals who have raised $25,000 for the former president or couples who have raised $100,000.
Among the potential contenders for the vice presidential position, some of the attendees stand out, including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, US Representative Elise Stefanik, US Senators Marco Rubio, JD Vance, and Tim Scott, as well as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
Both Mr. Burgum and Mr. Scott were initially in the race for the 2024 Republican nomination, alongside Trump. However, both of them eventually withdrew from the race. Since then, they have publicly expressed their support for Trump as the GOP candidate.
The majority of the event will take place at the luxurious Four Seasons hotel in Palm Beach. In addition, there will be a special fundraising lunch hosted by Mr. Trump at his esteemed Mar-a-Lago estate on Saturday.
During the event, guests will be provided with a comprehensive update on the current state of the race by Trump co-campaign managers, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, as well as his pollster Tony Fabrizio. Additionally, they will receive a briefing on “election integrity.” US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson is also scheduled to deliver an address, according to Reuters.
According to Ford O’Connell, a Republican operative in Florida, Trump is effectively leveraging his VP contenders as a valuable asset during these events. He is using this strategy to not only raise funds but also to shift the focus of media coverage.
On May 14, the former president has also planned to hold a high-dollar fundraiser in New York.
Mr. Trump is expected to go head-to-head with his former political rival, President Joe Biden, in the upcoming general election on November 5. However, his formal nomination will not take place until the Republican convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July.
In the past, presidential candidates typically announce their vice presidential running mate during the time of major party conventions. However, advisers close to the former president have indicated that he is not in a rush to select his running mate.
Amidst speculation about the suitability of the potential candidates, including South Dakota governor Ms. Noem, there has been a recent uproar online following the revelation of her attitudes towards animals in an upcoming memoir.
Over the past three weeks, Mr. Trump has predominantly occupied courtrooms in New York, as he confronts criminal charges linked to the hush money payments provided to the adult film star, Stormy Daniels.
He faces multiple charges of falsifying business records in order to hide the payments. The trial continued on Friday.
The former president is currently facing federal and state charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as a federal prosecution for mishandling classified documents. However, it remains uncertain whether any of these three cases will reach trial prior to the upcoming election.
