At a private luncheon held at his Mar-a-Lago club on Saturday, former president Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Democrats. Three people who were there heard him say that Democrats were “running a Gestapo administration”—comparing Joe Biden’s administration to Nazi Germany.
As part of a longer outburst, the ex-president blamed the Biden administration for the four criminal charges against him.
The centerpiece of the Republican National Committee’s yearly Palm Beach retreat was the fundraiser. Several donors contributed $40,000 or more, and the event drew hundreds of guests, according to AWN’s sources.
According to others in attendance, Trump used profanity on multiple occasions during his speech, particularly while criticizing special counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors who have filed criminal charges against him.
During his over 90-minute speech, he boasted about his latest fundraising figures and gushed over his vice-presidential candidates, stating that numerous individuals were “begging” to be his running mate, according to two participants. These remarks were included in his speech.
Several individuals imprisoned for their roles in the 2021 attack on the Capitol were included in a January 6 anthem that Trump stepped onto the stage to on Saturday. This song is routinely played at his rallies by his campaign.
During the ceremony, Lara Trump—the former president’s daughter-in-law and a co-chair of the Republican National Committee—presented the former president with a Billboard Music award for the song “Justice for All,” which had the highest digital sales according to Billboard last year.
The three people who were there at the resort alleged that Trump had previously approached them and promised them $1 million to speak from the platform. They added that two contributors eventually made it to the stage, with one of them claiming that Trump was chosen by God to lead the country from the podium.
As reported by AWN’s sources in attendance, Trump also praised RNC chairman Michael Whatley’s attempts to curb electoral fraud. The New York Times reports that Trump made the statement while also making fun of his former AG, William Barr, and saying he needs a “courage” attorney general. Even though Barr has been Trump’s harshest opponent since departing his government, he recently gave his endorsement to the former president.
According to many in attendance, Trump also spent a good chunk of time praising Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois who was ousted from office in 2009 following accusations of corruption and subsequent impeachment. In 2020, President Trump commuted Blagojevich’s prison term. In an interview with AWN, Blagojevich characterized himself as a “Trumpocrat,” a term for a Democrat who backs Trump.
In a statement released on Sunday, James Singer, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, stated that Trump’s address “underscores what we already knew: Trump’s campaign is about him”). He was vengeful, full of falsehoods and retaliation.
“Trump is once again attacking law enforcement, celebrating political violence, and threatening our democracy, while simultaneously making despicable and insulting comments about the Holocaust,” he concluded.
Several witnesses reported that Trump celebrated the birthday of Texas Representative Ronny Jackson, who was one of Trump’s presidential doctors, at Mar-a-Lago later that day. The former president spoke about his bid to unseat Joe Biden at the event, which doubled as a fundraiser.
On Sunday, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum—who was among the vice presidential candidates present at the Mar-a-Lago event—disregarded Trump’s remarks.
During an appearance on “State of the Union” with AWN’s Jake Tapper, Burgum clarified that Trump’s comment was brief and “wasn’t really central” to the about 90-minute speech delivered by the former president.
The Republican governor defended the former president and later asserted that Trump was not making reference to his New York hush money prosecution.
“I get that he feels treated unfairly, and it’s understandable that someone who isn’t allowed to campaign as the supposed nominee would be frustrated about that.”
