By Abraham Kenmore
COLUMBIA — Former President Donald Trump will give the main speech at a gala of Black conservatives in Columbia the night before South Carolina’s presidential primary, the SC Daily Gazette has confirmed.
The former president’s address is the main event for a black-tie dinner Feb. 23 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center themed “Recognizing the American Dream.”
Results of the first-in-the-South GOP contest will come the next day.
Trump faces off at the ballot box with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who placed third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire but refuses calls to bow out, saying she can still win.
Trump has the backing of a long list of South Carolina lawmakers past and present, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a former presidential contender who dropped out in November.
Tickets for the Black Conservative Federation Honors Gala range from $150 to $500 per person, with sponsorship packages costing $2,500 to $25,000, according to the federation’s website.
The federation “is a millennial-aligned Black conservative organization with a mission to promote economic stability, educational opportunity, and community empowerment,” according to the event announcement. “Trump is sure to energize the audience as we head into one of the most important election seasons in our nation’s history. We couldn’t be more excited to have him.”
Ben Carson, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary in the Trump administration, will be receiving an award at the event. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, has also announced he will attend, according to the website.
Other honorees include conservative activist C.J. Pearson, who is running for a seat in the Georgia House representing a district outside Augusta.
Trump last visited the state for the Palmetto Bowl — South Carolina’s biggest rivalry game of the year — between Clemson (Haley’s alma mater) and the University of South Carolina. He attended the game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia as the guest of Gov. Henry McMaster, who first endorsed Trump ahead of the state’s 2016 presidential primary. They walked on the field at the start of halftime for an appearance lasting less than two minutes.
McMaster has said he looks forward to campaigning with Trump in South Carolina. He was among South Carolina lawmakers who flew to New Hampshire to be on stage with Trump ahead of that state’s primary.
Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the SC Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.
