“Larry said don’t worry about it, when I drop out, you’re the guy and I love you and I love him,” Trump said. Former NFL stars Mike and Maurkice Pouncey were also seen at the event.
It was estimated that around $6 million was brought in for Trump’s 2024 efforts, according to figures announced at the event, an amount that would make Tuesday night’s fundraiser one of the biggest single night hauls of his 2024 campaign. A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign did not comment.
In a speech that went over an hour and a half, Trump touted his lead in the polls, taunted his opponents including Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and talked about his record in the White House.
“His speech was very forward, very focused on how bad things are and what he would do to fix all of it in short order,” said Bill White, CEO of Constellations Group and former CEO of the Intrepid Museum in New York City, as well as a longtime friend of Trump. White attended with his husband, Bryan Eure, who is senior vice president of Willis Towers Watson.
White said Trump boasted of his foreign policy chops, insisting that as president he would rein in Iran, North Korea, China and Hamas and promising to reduce the price of gasoline.
“While his polls have gone up, he said gloves are off with Biden,” he added, noting Trump insulted Biden’s intelligence by comparing him unfavorably to former President Jimmy Carter.
The fundraiser comes days after three lawyers aligned with his efforts following the 2020 election pleaded guilty in Georgia. Over a dozen other people are charged with aiding the former president in what prosecutors have described as an attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Trump also spent two days in court this week defending his company in a civil fraud trial in New York.
This coming weekend, Trump will be appearing with his 2024 challengers in Las Vegas at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference.