WILDWOOD, N.J. — After a grueling week in a New York courtroom, Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail with a vengeance on Saturday.
The newspaper joined Trump and his campaign staff on a “Trump Force One” trip to the Jersey Shore. There, tens of thousands of supporters gathered on the sands of Wildwood for a rally to welcome him, the largest campaign to date for Trump’s 2024 White House bid. .
Trump was one of the last passengers to board a 757 at LaGuardia Airport, greeting staff and guests along the aisle.
The plane, recently refurbished with white leather seats, glossy paneled walls, and a giant TV screen, was used by the presumptive Republican candidate at a rally filled with cheering Trump fans. Live footage from the venue was shown.
National spokeswoman Caroline Levitt explained the logic behind holding a rally in the blue state of New Jersey, which President Trump lost by double-digit margins in 2016 and 2020.
“In 2020, President Trump held a rally at this very location in Wildwood,” Levitt said.
“There was so much enthusiasm that he wanted to go back.”
“Large crowds are expected,” she said as a television screen panned over people gathered on the sand.
“We know there are already over 80,000 people on the ground,” she said.
“This is something the Biden campaign could never have done.”
Trump leaned over to look out at the large crowd and captured the wild cheers as television cameras caught the plane’s distinctive red, white and blue colors.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm in New Jersey and everywhere President Trump goes,” Levitt said.
“President Trump believes that New York, New Jersey, we will make a play,” she added.
“The great people of New Jersey are fed up with the Joe Biden administration.”
Trump spent the short flight preparing for his appearance with his speechwriters and advisers Chris Lacivita and Susie Wiles.
Also on the plane were North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, whose presence fueled speculation that a dark horse among the Republicans was on the shortlist for vice presidential nomination.
Trump’s longtime aide Walt Nauta, who is being indicted in the Trump secrets scandal in Florida, was also with him.
He stayed close to his boss the whole time and got off the plane just before his boss.
“New Jersey has the highest taxes in the nation because of Mr. Biden’s stupid and wasteful economic policies,” Levitt said.
“The people of New Jersey know they need President Trump to make their lives better.”
