Former President Donald Trump will attend the Republican National Committee's (RNC) Spring Donor Retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, aiming to close his fundraising gap with President Biden.
Former President Donald Trump will attend the Republican National Committee's (RNC) Spring Donor Retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, aiming to boost his fundraising efforts for the 2024 election. The closed-to-press gathering will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach and at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club.
The event is seen as an opportunity for Trump to close the fundraising gap with President Biden, with whom he is expected to rematch in 2024. According to Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks, there is a sense of urgency among major donors to support Trump, given concerns about the country's current trajectory.
Among those listed as "special guests" at the confab are a number of Republican politicians considered to be on Trump's shortlist for running mate. These include Sens. Tim Scott of South Carolina, JD Vance of Ohio, and Marco Rubio of Florida, as well as Govs. Doug Burgum of North Dakota and Kristi Noem from South Dakota. Two top Trump supporters in the House, Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Byron Donalds of Florida, will also be there.
It is unclear whether Trump will hold one-on-one meetings with the potential running mates during the weekend confab, but such encounters are not unlikely. However, according to a Republican strategist with ties to Trump world, the main focus of the gathering remains fundraising.
Trump's campaign senior adviser, Brian Hughes, emphasized that the event provides an opportunity for "dynamic leaders of our common sense movement" to convey their messages. The Biden campaign, on the other hand, criticized Trump's absence from the campaign trail and his association with controversial figures such as Noem, who has recently sparked controversy with an anecdote about killing a family dog.
The RNC's Spring Donor Retreat will also feature the recently installed leadership, including chairman Michael Whatley and Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who is co-chair of the national party committee. House Speaker Mike Johnson and several top GOP Senate candidates are also expected to attend.
The event is seen as a significant moment in the 2024 campaign, as Trump aims to bolster his fundraising efforts and potentially advance the discussion of potential running mates. While the appearance of potential vice presidential candidates will garner media attention, the emphasis remains on securing financial support to challenge Biden in the upcoming election.
