From: allin
An exclusive look inside a presidential fundraiser highlights the elaborate preparations, the contrasting public sentiment, and the engaging persona of former President Donald Trump.
Event Preparation and Atmosphere
Hosting a presidential fundraiser involves an extensive level of preparation, primarily managed by the Secret Service and the president’s advance team. They meticulously work out every detail, including mapping out the host’s house [00:19:18]. The police shut down surrounding streets, making it a very involved process [00:09:21].
Public Reaction and Protests
Leading up to the event, San Francisco publications attempted to generate anti-Trump protests [00:10:08]. However, the actual turnout showed an overwhelming number of pro-Trump demonstrators, who waved flags and cheered his motorcade [00:10:20]. There was a noticeable “enthusiasm gap” with “almost no anti-Trump protesters” [00:10:17], while Trump supporters exhibited significant enthusiasm [00:10:40]. This suggests that being “against Trump for eight years” has been exhausting for some [00:10:50].
Trump’s Engagement and Persona
Attendees at the fundraiser were struck by Trump’s engaging qualities:
- Charming and Connecting Trump is described as “extremely charming” and capable of connecting with people in about five seconds, finding interesting or funny things to say [00:11:42].
- Hilarious and Extemporaneous He is considered “hilarious” and spoke extemporaneously for an hour, with every speech being different and no teleprompter used [00:11:51].
- Sharp and On the Ball His awareness was noted when he recognized and engaged with the Winlos brothers in the audience for a “hilarious routine,” despite never having met them before [00:13:13].
- Polite and Kind One attendee expressed surprise at how “very polite” and “kind” Trump was, disarming previous misjudgments [00:14:52].
- Incredible Energy Level His day started at Mar-a-Lago at 3:30 AM Pacific Time, included a rally in Arizona, a four-hour event in San Francisco, and further events in LA the next day, all while maintaining “amazing” energy [00:13:33].
Policy and Supporters
A notable observation was that many attendees and first-time donors did not identify as Republican and had previously voted or donated Democrat [00:11:00]. Their support stemmed from Trump’s policies on war, immigration, and crypto [00:11:15]. The campaign noted a higher number of first-time donors at this event than previously seen [00:11:23].
He conveyed a pro-America and pro-innovation agenda, supporting AI and crypto, and advocating for low regulation and low taxation [00:15:27].
Personal Anecdote
During a private conversation at dinner, Trump remarked to one host and his wife: “You guys are a really beautiful couple… you must be really rich.” This was met with laughter [00:16:25].
Roundtable Discussion
Trump fostered a roundtable discussion, inviting attendees to ask questions or share their thoughts. Topics ranged from Iran, foreign policy, and deficit to crypto regulation [00:17:00]. On deficit and debt, he aligned with the view that spending needs to be brought under control [00:17:30].
Political Strategy and Future Outlook
Trump’s political strategy involves “flipping his positions” on issues like EVs, abortion (woman’s right to choose), TikTok, and crypto to garner votes [00:17:47]. This tactic is seen as “pretty smart” [00:18:02].
There’s a strong sentiment that Democrats are not listening to people, leading to a potential loss in the election, with predictions of Biden being “demolished” [00:18:05]. The idea of a “hot swap” for the Democratic candidate is predicted due to Biden’s perceived cognitive decline [00:19:49]. Some believe the 2024 election will ultimately be Trump versus Kamala Harris [00:20:06].