Barron Trump made his campaign rally debut Tuesday night, when former President Donald Trump invited thousands of supporters to his golf club in Doral, Florida, and made a big statement about the 18-year-old.
“This is the first time he’s done this,” the former president said, looking around at the front rows of the audience. “Where’s Barron? Stand up. Look at him! … You’re pretty popular. He might be more popular than Don and Eric. We’ve got to talk about this. Hey, Don, we’ve got to talk about this, right?”
The 78-year-old former president said “welcome to the sunshine, Barron” and laughed that his youngest son “had such a nice, easy life — now it’s changed a little bit,” drawing loud cheers.
But Trump led the meeting with a new challenge to President Joe Biden, 81, whose re-election campaign was in jeopardy after his poor performance in debates late last month.
The former president initially said he wanted to debate Biden again — “next week” — which would coincide with the Republican National Convention. Biden was already scheduled to debate Trump a second time, but on Sept. 10.
Trump also said he wanted to play a round of golf against Biden and bet $1 million on the deal.
Barron Trump stands and pumps his fists as the crowd cheers at Tuesday night’s Trump rally in Doral, Florida. Former President Donald Trump noted that the 18-year-old “may be more popular than Don and Eric”
Former President Donald Trump also challenged President Joe Biden to another debate — and asked for one next week — and a round of golf, saying he would donate $1 million to the president’s chosen charity
“I also officially challenge Crooked Joe to an 18-hole golf tournament here. On Doral’s Blue Monster, one of the finest tournament golf courses in the world,” Trump said. “It will be one of the most watched sporting events in history.”
Trump said it could be bigger than the Ryder Cup or the Masters.
“I’ll even give Joe Biden 10 strokes, 10 strokes, that’s a lot. That means 20 strokes in case you don’t play golf,” he continued.
“And if he wins, I’ll give the charity of his choice — any charity he wants — $10 million,” the ex-president added. “And I bet he won’t take it.”
Biden’s campaign quickly responded, calling Trump’s rally “insane.”
“Joe Biden doesn’t have time for Donald Trump’s crazy antics. He’s busy leading America and defending the free world,” said campaign spokesman James Singer.
Singer noted that Trump’s meeting included the ex-president “inviting fictional serial killers to dinner, teasing little Marco Rubio, praising Tom Homan, the architect of Project 2025, and challenging the president of the United States to a round of golf.”
Donald Trump Jr. was one of the opening acts at Tuesday night’s Trump rally in Doral, Florida. He noted that Democrats don’t want Americans to own an AR-15 ‘but they gave a vegetable the nuclear codes’
“Donald Trump is a liar, a convict, and a self-interested fraud — that’s normal.”
Trump has been on the campaign trail for 10 days, holding his final rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, the day after Biden’s debate. This allowed the Democratic presidential campaign to collapse as he remained unusually quiet.
The former president was seen attending festivities marking July 4.
During the rally on Tuesday night, Trump hurled a series of insults at his rival, surrounded by supporters and family members.
Donald Trump Jr. was among those in attendance who warmed up the crowd. He noted that Democrats don’t want Americans to own an AR-15, “but they gave a plant the nuclear codes.”
Trump Jr. was accompanied by his ex-wife Vanessa and three children — and his current fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle. Eric Trump was also in attendance.
Also in attendance: one of Trump’s leading vice presidential contenders, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a former rival from 2016.
Throughout the night, Trump continued to tease Rubio, who was sitting in the front row.
“I think they think I’m going to announce that Marco is going to be vice president,” the presumptive Republican nominee said.
Trump slammed Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming Biden had put her in position as an “insurance policy.”
“Maybe the best insurance policy I’ve ever seen, Marco,” Trump said. “If Joe had picked someone who was even halfway competent, they would have turned him down years ago, but they can’t do that because — that’s what they have to be, their second choice, doesn’t stand a chance.”
As the former president talked about his proposal to eliminate the tip tax — in a bid to boost support among service-sector workers, especially in swing states like Nevada — Trump rekindled speculation about the vice presidential nomination.
“Marco, I hope you’re going to vote for it. Well, you may or may not be there to vote for it. But you’re going to be involved,” Trump said, a nod to the fact that Rubio is no longer in the Senate.
However, vice presidents can cast a deciding vote in the Senate.