President Trump has started his 2024 with stops in the first two primary states this weekend. On Saturday Trump visited New Hampshire and South Carolina as his 2024 campaign officially begins. On Saturday morning, he stopped in Salem, New Hampshire to make a keynote address at the New Hampshire Republican Party’s annual meeting. Then he headed to South Carolina, where he held his first campaign event. At both stops, Trump discussed a few of his plans for the states and the country if re-elected to office.
In New Hampshire
During Trump’s time in New Hampshire, he announced that the state’s GOP Chairman Steve Stepanaek, who co-chaired his first presidential campaign in the state, would be leaving his current position as Chairman and joining his campaign as senior adviser of his New Hampshire campaign. Trump also announced that if he were to be reelected he would insure that New Hampshire remained the first primary state in the country, coming after Biden’s attempts to change the primary state order.
President @realDonaldTrump announces that outgoing chairman of the New Hampshire GOP, Steve Stepanek, will be serving as senior advisor for Trump’s 2024 NH campaign.
Watch LIVE➡ https://t.co/tfCJIewSgV
Watch our coverage of President Trump’s NH speech: https://t.co/pQPI2fQLYV pic.twitter.com/wzIpDyGUPk
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) January 28, 2023
BIG energy in New Hampshire today for @realDonaldTrump! God Speed to all those who try to beat him in the First in the Nation Primary! 🔥🔥@TrumpWarRoom pic.twitter.com/pQ8xOUWPNT
— Karoline Leavitt (@kleavittnh) January 28, 2023
CNN reported that he also bashed media, as many mainstream and legacy outlets and networks like CNN have attempted to brand his campaign as being off to a “sluggish start,” as he has not held one of his trademark rallies.
“They said, ‘He’s not doing rallies, maybe he’s lost that step.’ I’m more angry now and I’m more committed now than I ever was,” Trump said, according to CNN’s Katie Sullivan, Gabby Orr, and Kristin Holmes.
Additionally, Trump has put forth a number of videos laying out strong policy platforms on many issues, including a comprehensive plan to protect free speech, a vision to take on drug cartels in a fashion similar to the Islamic State, and a plan to protect America’s economic “Crown Jewels” from communist China. These videos have coincided with a substantial 15-point surge in his favorability since December, which was documented in a recent Economist/YouGov poll.
In South Carolina
After his time in New Hampshire, Trump took off to South Carolina where he held his first official campaign event. He was joined by South Carolina’s Senator Lindsey Graham, Governor Henry McMaster, and Representative Russell Fry. He announced that Graham and McMaster would be heading his campaign leadership in the state, which was followed by the two speaking.
TRUMP: “We need a fighter who can stand up to the left, stand up to the swamp, stand up to the media, stand up to the deep state. Am I allowed to say stand up to the RINO’s, too?” pic.twitter.com/P9Z6K4AZYm
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) January 28, 2023
According to Breitbart, Trump stated:
“I’m thrilled to be back in the great state of South Carolina, we won it twice by record numbers, and it’s just a real honor. It’s an incredible place,” said Trump after being introduced by Fry, the only freshman congressman to serve on the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees. “The famous saying goes, ‘South Carolina picks presidents.’”
“This campaign will be about the future. This campaign will be about issues, ” he later said. “Joe Biden has put America on the fast track to ruin and destruction, and we will ensure that he does not receive four more years.”
“The 2024 election is our one shot to save our country, and we need a leader who is ready to do that on day one. We need a fighter who can stand up to the left, who can stand up to the swamp, stand up to the media, stand up to the deep state … am I allowed to say stand up to the RINOs too?” Trump laughed.
