Former President Donald Trump is set to make his first appearance in a battleground state since his recent conviction in a hush money scandal. Trump will be speaking at a town hall event in Phoenix organized by Turning Point, a conservative youth organization that has gained influence alongside Trump's leadership of the GOP.
Following his conviction in a New York court for a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment, Trump has not directly addressed swing-state voters crucial for the upcoming November election.
Turning Point, led by Charlie Kirk, has become a significant force in Arizona, where its members have assumed key roles within the state GOP. Despite their influence, the group faced setbacks in the 2022 midterms, with their slate of conservative candidates, including Kari Lake, failing to secure victories.
Looking to expand its reach to other battleground states, Turning Point received a boost when Trump replaced former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who has expressed a willingness to collaborate with the organization.
Arizona, a state won by President Joe Biden in 2020 by a narrow margin, is expected to be fiercely contested once again in the upcoming election. Arizona Republicans have embraced Trump's false claims of election fraud, leading to controversial actions such as a partisan recount and criminal charges against officials who refused to certify election results.
Prior to Trump's scheduled appearance, a Republican state senator and Turning Point consultant will be arraigned for his alleged involvement in a plot to overturn Trump's loss in Arizona. Trump's former chief of staff is also set for arraignment in the same case.
Despite Arizona's significance on the electoral map, Trump has not campaigned in the state since 2022, when his endorsed candidates suffered defeats in the midterms. Trump's upcoming trip includes private fundraisers and a rally in Nevada, another battleground state where he narrowly lost in 2020.
