No former or former US President has ever sponsored clubs until the arrival of Donald J. Trump. MAGA’s loyal voters encouraged by the combination of the former president’s ideas, his ideas in your face, and his magnetism united in his name and formed many “Trump clubs” – especially in Florida.
“Trump has come up with new powers and new people – many have never trusted the Republican superiors,” explains Roger Stone, a former colleague and activist. “These suspicions led to the birth of Trump factions from the Georgia border to the end of Key West. And so far, in almost every state of Florida, Trump’s club is bigger, more inclusive, more active, and more fun than the Republican party. . “
Influenced throughout the country and known by various names, Trump’s clubs operate independently and are not aligned with the GOP. However, most of the participants are Republicans. The largest and most influential club in the country – officially named “Club 45 USA” – located in Palm Beach County in Florida, home of 45th The President, who lives in Mar-a-Lago Club.
The Club 45 website boasts that “meeting attendance often exceeds 2,000 people.” The group was formed in 2018 by Joe Budd, who is also President. Budd’s a group of four members There are also three top brokers of the Palm Beach County Republican Party who, in 2016 or 2020, were state chairmen or co-chairs with Trump.
Budd himself holds the position of GOP elected governor of Palm Beach County and is a member of the Republican Party in Florida. As a result, while not directly related, Club 45 and GOP are closely related. Through an email, when I asked Budd if the growing organization was affiliated with the party, and if so, what the group was, he replied, “Trump’s plan for Making and Keeping America Great!”
Central to this answer is Budd’s relationship with the former president. I asked if he knew what Trump thought of the club. By e-mail, Budd replied: “The president called me and thanked me for doing well for the club. I’ve talked to him about it several times.”
I was waiting for Budd’s response, when I saw Facebook posts that his members wrote four years ago. Every time an Air Force One plane arrives at Palm Beach airport, the Buddan chief greets the president “on the road and drives the car,” he confirmed. When I asked if he saw Club 45 USA as a “Trump-loving club,” he simply said, “Yes.”
A political activist who attended the club meetings but was asked not to be identified also said: in this crowd, people would put their arms around him and have fun. ”
And now, the fall season of Club 45 USA begins. This week I received an email addressing speakers at the next three meetings – all of which are regular Fox News Channel. The September 13 meeting was attended by Bernie Kerik, New York Police Commissioner when the 9/11 threats took place. October brings in “King of CPAC” Matt Schlapp and his wife Mercedes, who were Trump’s campaign bosses and White House director general. The November visitor is former House President Newt Gingrich (who told me, “I don’t know anything about them unless they seem to be attracting a good crowd”).
In testifying that the group has been strong with its predecessors, the list includes World A-lists such as Rep. Jim Jordan, Corey Lewandowski, Michael Flynn’s senior, and Fox News’s Dan Bongino, whose appearance “sold for 15 minutes,” complained Budd. “Keefe, Reps of Florida. Michael Waltz and Byron Donalds. When Ron DeSantis was a gubernatorial representative in 2018, he spoke at the event.
As for the Florida ambassador, his name was mentioned when I asked Budd: In other words, will Trumpism continue Trump’s? ”He replied,“ Yes, for now, our goal is [2022] re-election of Governor DeSantis. ”
Later, Budd’s comments became more interesting. First, I asked if those in attendance always wanted Trump to run again in 2024. He replied, “I think most of those in attendance would like to see President Trump run again.” No wonder there, based on voting. Then I asked, “Do you think Trump and DeSantis can argue over the GOP election in 2024?” – and I was amazed at Budd’s honest, consistent response:
“No. I don’t think the President will sing again. I hope the President will be satisfied with his role as king and provide all the support behind Governor DeSantis. Without President Trump, DeSantis would have had a much harder time defeating Adam Putnam [in the gubernatorial primary]. This study completely changed DeSantis when approval came out. President Trump knows for sure who the pirates are, and he knows that Ambassador DeSantis is not one of them. The president can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that DeSantis will fully represent the Trump talks. ”
Budd’s response came the next day at Politico topic appeared: “Trump is building a ‘turnkey’ campaign for 2024.” The report also said that the former President “is showing a keen interest in success in a rematch with Joe Biden – and is laying the groundwork for the right process.”
Future discussions could be held between Budd and the former President, who the club leader thinks will speak to his club “this winter” as “his approaching team looked at our place twice.”
It is unlikely that the conference will be sold out immediately, beating Bongino’s 15-minute record. However, Budd’s belief that “Trump is satisfied with his monarchy” contradicts Trump’s resolve not to back down.
But if DeSantis goes up, the club sign it needs to change. Trump’s face appears inside a shield made of flag with “Club 45 USA” on the ground and “MAGA” on the ground. Budd’s modified logo can be read “Club 47 USA.”
In the mind of the leader, DeSantis may “fully represent the Trump administration,” but protesters are firing a billboard, wearing red hats that arrive each month to stand up and shout in a “safe haven” and “one-minded people” you know there is a true MAGA-man m only one.