Published 13:35 IST, September 17th 2019
California: Trump's fundraising trip likely to meet with protests
US President Donald Trump is making a two-day rare visit on September 17 to the state of California where he is expected to collect millions of dollars.
US President Donald Trump is making a two-day rare visit on September 17 to a democratic stronghold state California where he is expected to collect millions of dollars during a series of fundraisers for his reelection campaign that is certain to meet with huge protests. President Trump has frequently mocked California for its liberal culture, policies, and politics. His two-day visit on Tuesday and Wednesday indicates that despite the state's inclinations towards leftward swing in recent years, there are still a lot of wealthy Republicans who support him. According to the Federal Election Commission records, Trump continues to gather a huge amount of cash more than a year out from the November 2020 contest with his campaign and the Republican National Committee pulling in over $210 million since the start of 2019. According to a Republican official, the California events will be held for two days in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego which is expected to bring an additional USD 15 million.
California is major fundraising unit
California was an incubator for the modern conservative movement that swept the state’s former governor, Ronald Reagan, into the White House in 1980. Certain demographic changes and an influx of new residents to rework on the political contours of the nation's most populated state with the former GOP stronghold of Orange County now home to more registered Democrats than Republicans. For Republicans, who have resigned to political irrelevance at the state level, a donation to Trump can amount to its own form of protest. California is a major fundraising unit for both the political parties which have trusted in the entertainment industry and wealthy industry heads to finance their political aims and ambitions. But under the Trump government, the fundraising trip has taken on a complicating dimension due to his strong criticism of everything from the state's immigration laws to its forest management policies, which he blamed for fatal wildfires.
Trump lashing out
Earlier this month Trump showed his anger to “Will and Grace” TV star Debra Messing after she tweeted that attendees of the Trump’s California fundraisers should be publicly highlighted. Also in August, he aimed at the state's massive film industry calling Hollywood dangerous for the country. The surrounding trip will see heightened security concerns. Trump referred to California a couple of times and not in a good way. He noted his administration is not so good with the state over fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. He clarified to end California's clout in setting mileage standards and on Monday he said he wants heavier cars because they are cheaper and safer even if they are fuel-efficient. He also joked about moving part of the border wall in San Diego to where it would be more appreciated.
(With AP inputs)
Updated 15:14 IST, September 17th 2019