COLUMBIA — Former President Donald Trump will be the keynote speaker at one of the South Carolina Republican Party’s biggest yearly events in August.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, June 10, 2023.
“The Silver Elephant Gala is the premier annual fundraising event for South Carolina Republicans and we’re thrilled to welcome President Trump to the Palmetto State and have him come and support our party,” a statement from the party announced June 17.
The announcement comes as Trump seeks to become the first former president to return to office since Grover Cleveland in 1893. Trump remains popular in South Carolina and with Republicans nationwide in polling, but faces a series of legal challenges including a 37-count federal indictment over his handling of documents containing top secret information.
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While polling shows Trump is the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination, he faces a diverse field of challengers including two South Carolinians — former governor and UN ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.
The Aug. 5 gala in Columbia featuring Trump will be the first of several events connected to presidential candidates at locations across the state in support of the party’s fundraising efforts for the 2024 election cycle, according to the party statement.
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Trump will also be in South Carolina’s Upstate on July 1 for an Independence Day celebration in Pickens.