Republicans flock to Florida for donor retreat headlined by Trump

Republican leaders and donors are descending on Palm Beach this weekend for a private donor retreat headlined by former President Trump. Despite Mr. Trump's electoral loss, and his role in inspiring a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol just three months ago, the former president remains a central figure in Republican politics, and the weekend's events are emblematic of his continued hold on the party.

The Republican National Committee's spring donor retreat, hosted at a hotel just a few miles from Mr. Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, features a roster of prominent GOP politicians, including several potential 2024 presidential contenders. As Mr. Trump himself mulls another presidential bid, other possible 2024 candidates may be in the awkward position of defending and promoting someone who could be their rival. On Saturday, Mr. Trump will deliver a keynote speech for the event, which is expected to raise millions. Although the Republican Party has yet to cohere around a set of organizing principles after its loss of the White House and Senate in 2020, Mr. Trump remains a central figure in GOP politics. The former president also delivered an address at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, where he was hailed as a returning hero. In that speech, Mr. Trump said his "journey" that began during his first presidential run is "far from being over."