Both winners and losers emerged after a weekend of events during the RNC’s spring meeting at former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
During a welcome reception on Friday, Trump’s daughter in law (and RNC co-Chair) Lara Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson kicked off the meeting.
House GOP conference Chair Elise Stefanik also joined them on stage. She again appeared on stage with Trump during Saturday’s luncheon, where Trump praised her as “an amazing talent,” according to CNN.
He brought up her role in forcing the resignation of former Harvard University President Claudine Gay, who was accused of significant plagiarism in her academic work.
“You destroyed her,” Trump said. “’She did so well,’ everyone said … ‘she’s going to be the vice presidential candidate.’”
He also called out Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who he noted was not originally a supporter of Trump’s campaign.
“He was saying things like, ‘The guy’s a total disaster,’” Trump said, but he “turned out to be incredible.”
Vance is scheduled to hold a fundraiser alongside Trump later this month in Cincinnati.
Trump offered a seemingly concessionary shout out to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who reportedly left the event early according to two people in attendance.
Noem was widely criticized after an excerpt from her new book revealed she shot and killed a young dog on her farm after she deemed its personality unfit.
“She’s been with me, and a supporter, and I’ve been a supporter of hers for a long time,” Trump said.
After praising his potential vice presidential candidates, Trump reportedly announced he would allow anyone who donated $1 million on the spot to join him on stage.
Two people took him up on the offer. One of them was a woman who joyously declared, “Donald J. Trump is the person that God has chosen.”
The campaign said it had fundraised $76.2 million in April.
