Trump to speak at FreedomFest in Vegas Saturday
Donald Trump, a famed real estate tycoon turned GOP presidential candidate, will visit Las Vegas on Saturday to speak at FreedomFest.
Trump will give a 40-minute speech followed by a press conference, a producer of the annual FreedomFest event said Monday. FreedomFest bills itself as a place for liberty-loving individuals of all political stripes to meet, socialize and exchange ideas.
It’s Trump’s first public event in Las Vegas since he announced he’s jumping into the race. Trump’s speech is at Planet Hollywood, not the golden-colored Strip tower that bears his surname.
A nontraditional candidate, Trump is better known for firing people on his reality television show, “The Apprentice,” than he is for crafting public policy. His name recognition has helped him stand out in some polls, despite being in a crowded field with more than a dozen GOP hopefuls.
Trump placed second among Republican candidates in a CNN/ORC poll last week, with 12 percent support. He was second only to former Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush, who had 19 percent support.
Trump’s foray into presidential politics hasn’t been an easy ride. He recently drew criticism after he described Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug dealers.
In the aftermath, NBCUniversal severed its business ties with Trump, dropping its contract to air the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants.
The attention on Trump is unwanted among much of the Republican establishment, which fears his long-shot run will harm the GOP brand. It’s also forced other Republican candidates to respond to Trump’s comments and distance themselves from his remarks.
Trump isn’t the only presidential candidate who will be at FreedomFest. Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida will also speak there — at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
FreedomFest is a four-day event that starts Wednesday. For information on registration and purchasing tickets, visit www.freedomfest.com.
Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.
