Former President Donald Trump will deliver his opening speech at a Black conservative dinner in Columbia the night before South Carolina’s presidential primary, the SC Daily Gazette has confirmed.
The former president’s speech will be the centerpiece of a black-tie dinner on February 23 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, themed “Recognizing the American Dream.”
The results of the first-in-the-South GOP contest will be announced the following day.
Trump will face former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who finished third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire but has refused to withdraw, claiming she can still win.
Trump enjoys the support of a large list of former and current South Carolina officials, including U.S. Senator Tim Scott, a previous presidential candidate who dropped out in November.
Tickets for the Black Conservative Federation Honors Gala cost $150 to $500 per person, with sponsorship packages ranging from $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 galvanize the audience as we enter one of the most pivotal election seasons in our country’s history. We could not be more thrilled to have him.”
Ben Carson, the Trump administration’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will receive an award at the event. According to the website, US Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida, has also confirmed his attendance.
Other honorees include C.J. Pearson, a conservative activist vying for a Georgia House seat in a district west of Augusta.
Trump last visited South Carolina for the Palmetto Bowl, the state’s largest rivalry game of the year, between Clemson (Haley’s alma mater) and the University of South Carolina. He went to the game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia as a guest of Gov. Henry McMaster, who first supported Trump ahead of the state’s 2016 presidential primary. They strolled on the field at halftime for less than two minutes.
McMaster has stated that he looks forward to campaigning alongside Trump in South Carolina. He was one of several South Carolina politicians who flew to New Hampshire to appear on stage with Trump ahead of the state’s primary.