Former President Donald Trump, amidst a fervent crowd chanting his name at Cipriani’s flagship location on New York’s Wall Street Saturday evening, rallied his supporters and issued a stern warning to President Biden. Trump cautioned that indicting a former commander-in-chief would have far-reaching consequences, likening it to opening a Pandora’s box that would irreversibly alter the fabric of the nation.
Addressing approximately 1,000 guests indulging in a lavish menu of wild mushroom risotto and filet mignon, sponsored by the New York Young Republican Club, Trump expressed his concerns about what he perceived as politically motivated actions. “I am being indicted for you,” declared the 77-year-old, emphasizing that these were not conventional indictments but rather politically charged maneuvers by the Biden administration against their political adversary.
Undeterred by the legal challenges ahead, Trump asserted his commitment to securing the GOP primary and the White House in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. He even proclaimed his intention to win the traditionally Democratic stronghold of New York, citing concerns about issues like homelessness and illegal immigration.
In a characteristic fashion, Trump took aim at political opponents, deriding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as “DeSanctimonious” and referring to his former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley as a “birdbrain.” New York Attorney General Letitia James was not spared either, as Trump labeled her “peekaboo James” and a “vicious lunatic.”
The event, which featured speeches from Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), unfolded after Trump enjoyed a pre-speech dinner at a reserved table. He engaged in discussions with New York Young Republican Club President Gavin Wax and received a personal serenade from Hungarian violinist Zoltan Maga.
Master of Ceremonies Alex Stein injected humor into the evening, making light of Trump’s legal challenges with a jest about hoping the former president went to jail to boost “the black vote.”
Notable figures spotted during the VIP cocktail hour included Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Col.), and Andrew Giuliani. Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon also secured his own table for the event, where individual tickets commanded a price tag of approximately $700 each.
