Trump Doral to host political fest with Trump, Jr., Sarah Sanders and Corey Lewandowski
Amid a scandal over diplomacy with the Ukraine, an impeachment inquiry in Congress and conflict in northern Syria, Trump advocates, former campaign and administration officials will gather for a three-day political conference starting Thursday at the Trump National Doral resort west of Miami.
The list of speakers at the conservative American Priority conference includes first son Donald Trump, Jr., former 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. Among the celebrities appearing will be actor Robert Davi, known for his roles in Die Hard and Goonies.
In an interview Wednesday, Davi praised the president for his first two years in office, and said President Trump is uniquely qualified to address trade inequities and infrastructure problems facing the nation.
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“Let him finish his agenda. Let him continue to clean house,” Davi said.
The conference begins on Thursday with a full slate of election and campaign workshops on topics such as digital fundraising and effective mailings. There are built-in socializing events, including a pool party, and Thursday night’s performance of Frank Sinatra songs by Davi.
The actor said he was not concerned about identifying himself with the Trump administration during the polarizing impeachment inquiry, dismissing the investigation as a “political maneuver.”
“I believe that the impeachment is going to backfire,” he said. I’ve never seen anything in my life so absurd.”
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One of few outspoken conservatives in Hollywood, Davi said supporting the administration has blacklisted him and cost him acting roles, but he knows of actors who agree with his views.
“I get a silent nod from the most interesting people, stars that you would not imagine,” he said. Davi said they tell him, “‘Hey man, I appreciate your courage.’”
The 68-year-old actor said he accepted the offer to perform at the event in hopes that singing from the Great American songbook, and from a more romantic time of American music, will inspire unity at the conference.
Davi insisted that Trump needs to be re-elected in order to finish his agenda and root out the corruption that has plagued both parties.
“I believe the left and the right are the same coin, that’s why he’s taking fire from both ends,” he said. “He’s getting underneath the corruption in our government.”
He added that in a partisan political landscape, Trump is rising above the party fray.
“He’s a guy that’s about this nation, raising this nation up, not a political party,” Davi said of Trump.
The American Priorities conference will run through Sunday at the Trump National in Doral. The resort and golf club drew attention earlier this year when Trump expressed his interest in hosting next year’s G7 summit of global leaders at the location.
That drew criticism from government ethics watchdogs who claimed the president is trying to profit off the presidency.
The resort has seen other drama during the trump presidency.
In May 2018, a gunman opened fire in the lobby of the Trump National resort. Police said the shooter shouted anti-Trump statements while firing gunshots at the roof and chandeliers. The gunman was wounded in a gunfire exchange with police, and one officer broke his arm in the confrontation. No employees or guests were injured in the early morning incident.
In July of this year, the Trump Organization canceled The Shadow All Star Tournament organized by a Hialeah strip club.
Trump purchased the resort and golf club in 2012.
During an October 2015 campaign appearance at the Doral property, the president told hundreds of supporters that the original price was to have been $170 million.
On the day of the closing, Trump said he balked at the purchase price and demanded a reduction or he would walk away from the deal. To cheers from the crowd, Trump said he got his way.
Reporting by Palm Beach Post reporters Christine Stapleton and Wayne Washington was used in this story.
