Trump Attends Event to Bully Election Results and Highlight Strengths
Expected to be Nominated Right Before Convention
On the 3rd and 4th, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, held an event at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, inviting key figures from the conservative camp and high-profile donors. Particularly, the presence of all 7 contenders who were mentioned as Trump’s vice presidential candidate for the November election drew attention. As the election approaches, there is analysis that Trump is effectively utilizing the competition among the candidates in terms of fundraising and media cycle control.
Over the weekend, Trump hosted an event where only those who donated over $25,000 were able to participate, including figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson and “Wall Street Bigshot” John Paulson, who has declared support for Trump. Additionally, the potential vice presidential candidates J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, House Representatives Elise Stefanik, Byron Donalds, Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, and Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota all being present together captured attention. This event was seen as an opportunity for them to impress conservative donors ahead of Trump’s vice presidential nomination, with Axios stating, “Showtime has begun.” Trump reportedly labeled Joe Biden as the “worst president in history,” claiming that any criminal charges against him are “political persecution” and likening Biden’s administration to the secret police organization, ‘Gestapo,’ during the Nazi era.
The Republican Party is expected to nominate Trump as the presidential candidate at the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from July 15-18. Trump told local media that he will not make a decision too early, implying that he will enjoy the final rush surrounding the vice presidential pick, also known as ‘veepstake.’ A Republican official stated to the media, “Trump is effectively using the candidates for fundraising and controlling the news cycle.” Trump’s side announced in a statement on the 5th that they raised a total of $76.2 million last month by combining the RNC and the National Republican Congressional Committee, exceeding the $65.6 million raised in March.
Each candidate is highlighting their strengths to appeal to Trump and conservative voters. Scott, who is challenging in the presidential primaries and aligning with Trump, is focusing on fundraising from high-profile donors. On the other hand, Vance, a ‘hardscrabble’ Ohio native famous for the bestseller ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ is leading a small-scale fundraising system targeting grassroots voters. Vance is known to frequently exchange opinions on personnel and strategies with Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. Rubio, who competed against Trump in the 2016 presidential primaries and was ridiculed as ‘Little Marco,’ emphasizes his ‘moderate expandability’ by appearing on progressive media outlets such as CNN. He is also known as someone who leads the charge against Chinese trade companies like Alibaba and Tencent in Congress.
Christie Noem, Governor of South Dakota (right), embracing Donald Trump, former president, during a campaign in Ohio last March. /AP
Venture capitalist Burgum has been steadily mentioned following his brunch with Trump and his wife at Mar-a-Lago in early March. Noem, who gained attention for opposing vaccination and mask mandates during the pandemic, has a strong point as a woman, but her memoir released in line with the vice presidential nomination turned out to be a self-parody. Following the revelation of her dog’s euthanasia and the false claim of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the media in the U.S. generally analyzed that “the vice presidential nomination has slipped away.” Rolling Stone quoted four sources stating that Trump said, “Why on earth did she do such a thing?” immediately after the euthanasia news was revealed. Some candidates like Scott and Burgum appeared on a broadcast on the 5th and expressed the view that Trump’s refusal to accept the November election results was “not much of a problem.” The New York Times reported, “A fierce audition is unfolding toward Trump.”
Meanwhile, Trump is praising each candidate and engaging in a ‘push and pull’ strategy. During a luncheon hosted on the 4th at Mar-a-Lago, he mentioned Rubio, saying, “He’s being highly considered for vice president,” and about Scott, he praised, “He was great as a presidential candidate, and now he’s unbelievably wonderful.” Trump stated about Vance, “He initially didn’t support me and even called me a ‘disaster,’ but as I got to know him, he is one of the greatest Senators.” Regarding Burgum, he said, “I didn’t know he supported me during the 2016 and 2020 elections,” calling him “a very wealthy man.” Lastly, about Stefanik, he remarked, “She’s a very smart person” and added, “When I met her in New York, I had no idea she would become such a prominent figure like this.”
Senator Tim Scott (left) and former President Donald Trump. /Reuters