Former President Donald Trump took a break from his ongoing hush money trial on Friday to headline a Republican fundraiser in Minnesota a state that has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972. Trump who narrowly lost Minnesota to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and to President Joe Biden in 2020 declared his appearance to be “an official expansion” of the electoral map and predicted “We’re going to win this state.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I am here tonight to declare that we are officially expanding the Electoral Map!
President Trump is going to WIN Minnesota for the Republican Party for the first time in 52 years, since 1972. pic.twitter.com/EGHgNc0Ko5
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 18, 2024
Speaking at the state GOP’s annual Lincoln Reagan dinner in St. Paul Trump said “This November the people of Minnesota are going to tell Crooked Joe Biden – right? ‘The Apprentice’? ‘You’re fired!'” referencing his former reality television show catchphrase.
Trump’s visit to Minnesota came after attending his son Barron’s high school graduation in Florida a day off granted by the trial judge. Republican Party of Minnesota chairman David Hann said Trump believes he can win the state and the party agrees.
However Democratic Sen. Tina Smith a Biden ally said the Trump campaign is “grasping at straws” if it thinks he can win Minnesota. “The Biden campaign is going to work hard for every vote,” Smith said. “We’re going to engage with voters all over the state. But I think Minnesota voters are going to choose President Biden.”
Crooked Joe Biden is all about DISINFORMATION.
Pilots come in; he says, "I used to fly a plane."
Truckers come in; he says, "I used to drive a truck."
People come in from Minnesota; he says, "I used to live in Minnesota."
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 18, 2024
The dinner which coincided with the state GOP convention drew roughly 1400 attendees including prominent Trump supporters such as former Sen. Rudy Boschwitz and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell. Tickets ranged from $500 to $100000 for a VIP table with photo opportunities with Trump.
Trump in Minnesota in rare form.
I want to debate this guy but I’m going to demand a drug test.pic.twitter.com/4pmoZurVqF
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) May 18, 2024
While Trump came close to flipping Minnesota in 2016 falling just 1.5 percentage points short of Clinton he lost the state by over 7 points to Biden in 2020. No Republican has won Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972. Nevertheless Trump’s visit underscores his determination to expand the electoral map and his belief that he can turn historically blue states red in November.
