Former President Donald Trump is expected to hold a large rally in Virginia on Friday, a day after facing President Joe Biden on the debate stage for the first time in the 2024 cycle.
The move is intended to exude confidence, as Biden beat Trump in Virginia in 2020 by 10.2 points, while Trump now appears to be within striking distance.
It’s also fueling rumors about the vice president, as Trump will reportedly be joined by popular Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who was pressured by some GOP donors to run against Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, an opportunity the governor in his first term rejected.
CBS News first reported Friday’s rally, as the Trump campaign seeks to hold it in the Virginia Beach or Chesapeake area, where there is a large military population.
Trump held a successful sand rally last month in a blue-leaning state, drawing tens of thousands to the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey.
Former President Donald Trump is expected to hold a large rally in Virginia next Friday, immediately following his first general election debate against President Joe Biden.
Popular Republican Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is expected to join him. Some Republican donors wanted Youngkin to run against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary.
Biden beat Trump in New Jersey by nearly 16 points, but Wildwood is also in the important media market of Philadelphia.
Trump is expected to announce his pick for vice president as part of next month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He’s been teasing potential candidates in front of MAGA audiences for weeks.
In Wildwood, Trump brought North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is reportedly on the short list.
Last Friday, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio spoke openly about Trump at his birthday event in West Palm Beach, where another vice presidential hopeful, Rep. Byron Donalds, also spoke.
Politico reported earlier this month that the Trump campaign was vetting eight vice presidential candidates: Rubio, Donalds, Burgum and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Ohio Senator JD Vance, New York Representative Elise Stefanik, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, and former HUD Director Dr. Ben Carson.
But Trump’s alleged inclusion of Youngkin at next Friday’s rally hints that the Virginia governor could also be in the race.
Trump’s campaign is considering holding a rally in Virginia Beach. Trump held a successful waterfront rally, also in a blue-leaning state, last month in Wildwood, New Jersey.
The two Republicans met last week for the first time in Trump National Golf Club in Loudon County, Virginia.
A source familiar told DailyMail.com that Trump and Youngkin did not discuss the interests at stake, but rather how Trump could move Virginia into the Republican column.
Youngkin successfully won the governorship of Virginia in 2021 over the state’s former Democratic governor, Terry McAuliffe.
Trump and Youngkin are likely to meet again on Saturday when they both appear at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s 2024 Road to a Majority Conference, taking place at the Washington Hilton.
The former president was confirmed as speaker on Thursday.
Youngkin has a privileged position: being the last speaker on the Saturday morning program.
The conference is a large gathering of evangelical Christian voters.
While Trump’s post-debate rally in Virginia has not been officially announced, President Joe Biden indicated what he plans to do after the contenders face off on the debate stage Thursday night in Atlanta.
The White House said Friday that the president and first lady will travel to New York City next Friday for a campaign and fundraising event.
On Saturday they will head to the Hamptons to raise more funds, as well as Red Bank, New Jersey.