President Trump touched down in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening and headed directly to his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course to headline a fundraiser for the Republican Party.
Though the visit was for a standard campaign benefit in the run-up to November’s elections, it was not without drama.
While the president was en route to California, authorities announced the arrest of an armed man who had been spotted suspiciously documenting security preparations at the golf course Sunday.
Sheriff’s deputies discovered the man had brought a gun and ammunition to the golf course. On Monday, they uncovered an alarming weapons stash, including an illegally modified AR-style rifle, a .45-caliber pistol and high-capacity magazines, at his Downey residence.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, a group of more than two dozen protesters gathered outside the Trump National Golf Club entrance in anticipation of the president’s arrival.
The demonstrators chanted “Impeach Trump”and waved signs with slogans such as “Save our democracy” and “Pretti good time to resist,” referencing ICU nurse Alexander Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal agents in January, as passing cars periodically honked in approval.
“There are so many things that have happened [during the Trump administration] that are so disgusting, and I’m so worried for my children, my grandchildren and future generations,” said Redondo Beach resident Jeanette Boston. “They deserve better.”
A group of around 15 counter-protesters gathered along Palos Verdes Drive wearing MAGA gear and carrying American flags. Several yelled “We love you Trump” as Marine One landed at the golf course carrying the president just after 5 p.m.
Tensions began to rise between the two groups after the president’s arrival, with Trump supporters chanting “USA! USA!” and protesters yelling “F— Donald Trump.”
The campaign fundraiser was closed to members of the media. However, a White House spokesperson said Trump would use the event to tout his administration’s achievements and “draw a sharp contrast between his commonsense agenda and the radical policies of Democrats like Gavin Newsom.”
Tuesday marked Trump’s second visit to Los Angeles during his second term in office. He last visited the region in January 2025, when he toured the fire damage in the Pacific Palisades and signed an executive order intended to expedite rebuilding efforts.
Since then, there has been a standoff between California leaders and the Trump administration over federal disaster aid.
California has submitted more than $1.5 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement claims for emergency response and infrastructure repairs stemming from the Eaton and Palisades fires, but only $37 million in funding has been approved thus far, according to the governor’s office.
Newsom criticized Trump for using his trip solely to raise money at his golf course while wildfire survivors were still waiting on federal funding.
“After more than 18 months of delay, I hope President Trump’s visit brings long overdue federal recovery funding directly to the families rebuilding after the L.A. wildfires,” Newsom said in a statement Tuesday. “This is an opportunity for the President to honor his commitment to provide these survivors with the funding he promised them.”
Trump, for his part, ignored criticism around the wait for wildfire relief Tuesday.
On Wednesday, he will head to Las Vegas to deliver a speech on the economy at Red Rocks Casino. While his California visit is focused on replenishing campaign coffers, the Nevada stop is more closely tied to election strategy as the swing state could play a key role in deciding who controls Congress after the November midterms.
The address comes as his administration runs out of time to address stagnant wages and steep inflation before election day. A recent AP-NORC poll found that only 3 in 10 American adults approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while about 7 in 10 describe the economy as poor.
Trump has continued to maintain that the economy is strong. He wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday that investments in the U.S. economy and more “factory activity” were evidence of how well the country was doing. He also wrote that the stock market was at an all-time high, while American exports are “on FIRE.”
“The Fake News and the Dumocrats are doing everything they can to distract people’s thoughts from these MASSIVE Successes, but it’s getting harder and harder for them to do,” Trump wrote. He added: “This is the GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA, and we’re just getting started.”
