Donald Trump will make his first visit to Iowa this caucus season on June 10, to be the headline speaker at the Iowa Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines.
When he takes the stage, “one of two things is going to happen: either he’s going to be the keynote speaker as a Republican candidate for the presidency, or as the world-famous Donald Trump,” said Michael Cohen, a top adviser to the real-estate tycoon-turned-reality TV star.
The appearance, initiated by Iowa GOP Chair Matt Strawn after he saw Trump speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, is just one of several that “The Donald” has recently announced in states that will be holding next year's early presidential contests. Trump has said repeatedly that he will decide on making a presidential bid by June (once the ongoing season of The Celebrity Apprentice wraps on May 22) -- hence the intense interest in his schedule.
Last week WMUR’s Political Scoop reported that a Trump colleague reached out to Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., with the hope of scheduling a meeting between the two. Bass's office did not return a call on Wednesday, and Cohen said he was unaware of a Bass-Trump get-together in the works. The aide says that no one should overinterpret Trump’s lineup of curiously stump-like events.
“He’s gotten more than a thousand requests for meetings, interviews, and keynote speeches—from presidential stops to local high schools and universities, and everything in between,” Cohen said. “I don’t know what he’s intending on doing -- other than I know he’s very seriously thinking about [running].… But everyone’s just going to have to wait until June.
“I wouldn't try to read into Mr. Trump," Cohen said. "I certainly don’t.”
In the meantime, Trump seems to be having fun. Tom Surber, media manager for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, confirmed to National Journal that Trump has been invited to drive the pace car at the Indy 500 on May 29.
Talk about some funny helmet hair.
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