He’s Shore big in NJ
Largest rally of ’24
WILDWOOD, N.J. — Donald Trump hit the campaign trail with a vengeance Saturday after another grueling week in a New York courtroom.
The Post joined Trump and his campaign staff on “Trump Force One” for his trip to the Jersey Shore, where tens of thousands of supporters crowded the sands of Wildwood to greet him for a rally, the largest of his 2024 White House run so far.
Trump was one of the last passengers to board his 757 at La Guardia, greeting staffers and guests along the aisle.
The plane, recently refurbished with white leather seats and shiny paneled walls, boasted a huge TV screen that played live footage of the rally site, filled with cheering Trump fans, as the presumptive GOP nominee winged his way toward them.
National press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained the logic behind mounting a rally in blue New Jersey, a state Trump lost by double digits in 2016 and 2020.
“In 2020, President Trump held a rally in this exact location in Wildwood,” Leavitt said. “There was such great enthusiasm, he wanted to go back.”
“We are expecting a massive crowd,” she said, as the TV screen panned over those gathered on the sand.
“We understand there are more than 80,000 people already on the ground there,” she said. “Which is something Biden’s campaign could never do.”
Trump leaned forward to catch sight of the huge crowd, as TV cameras captured their wild cheers when they caught sight of his distinctive red, white and blue plane.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm in New Jersey and wherever President Trump goes,” Leavitt said.
“President Trump believes that New York, New Jersey, we’re going to make a play,” she added. “The great people of New Jersey are fed up with Joe Biden’s regime.”
Trump spent the short flight prepping for his appearance with his speechwriter, and close to advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles.
On the flight were North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and wife Kathryn, whose presence heated up speculation that the GOP dark horse is rising up the short list of running-mate contenders.
Also along for the ride: longtime Trump aide Walt Nauta, under indictment in Trump’s classified-documents case in Florida. He stayed close to his boss throughout, exiting the plane right before him.
“New Jersey is the highest taxed state in the country because of Biden’s stupid wasteful economic policies,” Leavitt said. “The people of New Jersey realize they need President Trump to make their lives better.”