Elections

Will Donald Trump give keynote speech at RNC convention?

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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He flirted with a run for president of his own when polls showed him competitive. He has since raised money for Mitt Romney and has served as a surrogate for the presumptive Republican nominee on the campaign trail.

But will Donald Trump be tapped to give a speech before the delegates at the Republican National Convention in Tampa this summer? (RELATED: More on Donald Trump)

A close adviser to Trump suggested to The Daily Caller that the New York real estate mogul would welcome the opportunity to give a prime-time speech.

“Mr. Trump’s massive popularity is just one of the many reasons he is being sought as a keynote speaker at the Tampa RNC Convention,” Michael Cohen, special counsel to Trump, told The Daily Caller.

A spokesman for the convention said it’s too soon to know who will be speaking.

“Speakers will not be selected until later this summer when the program is set,” spokesman James Davis told TheDC. “This normally happens closer to the event.”

The Tampa Bay Times on Monday shed light on the delicate balancing act of choosing of speakers and how it’s “one of the trickiest and most important elements of the convention.”

“It’s a matter of juggling monumental political egos, precious little time for maximum TV exposure, appeasing people whose help is needed, and ensuring the best message comes through to win over swing voters just starting to focus on the presidential contest,” the paper wrote.

Referencing a past speech given by Trump to conservatives, Cohen suggested that the businessman can draw a crowd.

“If last years attendance at CPAC is any indication on turnout, this convention will also be a record breaker,” he said.

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