Former President Trump held a private lunch at his Mar-a-Lago club over the weekend, which hosted many major Republican Party donors and high-profile party leaders.
Fundraising was largely seen as an audition for Trump’s vice president within the Republican Party. The guest lists included many of those who were supposed to be on that list, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R), Governor Doug Burgum (RN.D.), Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R), the conference House GOP Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.).
The weekend kicked off with Stefanik, along with Trump’s daughter-in-law and RNC co-chair Lara Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnsonoffering a welcome reception on Friday, according to CNN.
Trump reportedly called some of the members of his vice presidential list to the stage, except for Noem, who left early, NBC reported. She has been under controversy after an anecdote in her book about killing her dog went viral.
Trump, however, singled out Stefanik, praising her as “an incredible talent, according to CNN. He also said Rubio was doing a great job.
Other high-profile Republican leaders also attended the private event, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Ind.), Rep. R-Texas) and Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Florida)
Dave McCormick, a Republican running for Senate in Pennsylvania, Bernie Moreno, the Republican candidate for the Senate election in Ohio, and technology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were also in attendance.
During the event, Trump attacked his main presidential competitor, Joe Biden, and compared the current administration to Nazi Germany’s secret police force.
“These people run a Gestapo administration,” Trump said, according to NBC News, which has audio of the lunch. “And it’s the only thing they have. And it’s the only way they can win, in their opinion.”
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