Trump’s Graduation Ceremony and Dinner Set for the Same Day

Former President Donald Trump has a busy day planned for May 17.

He is set to give the keynote address at the Minnesota Republican Party’s annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on the same day as his son Barron’s high school graduation.

The judge overseeing Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan has agreed to not hold court that day so Trump can attend the graduation in Florida.

After initially delaying ruling on Trump’s request to attend the graduation, Judge Juan Merchan faced criticism from Trump.

“I was looking forward to that graduation with his mother and father there,” Trump said on April 15. “It looks like the judge isn’t going to allow me to escape this scam. It’s a scam trial.”

The graduation ceremony starts at 10 a.m. Barron, 18, attends a private school near the family’s West Palm Beach home.

Trump faces charges of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to his former attorney Michael Cohen. The payment was to reimburse Cohen for hushing adult film star Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump denies the allegations.

The Minnesota GOP dinner will take place at St. Paul’s RiverCentre. The event was announced after Trump was granted permission to attend Barron’s graduation. The start time of the dinner is unknown.

“We are thrilled to welcome President Trump back to Minnesota to headline our Lincoln Reagan dinner, an annual tradition that reminds us of the roots of our Party and the leaders who have been most impactful in promoting our American values,” said Minnesota GOP chair David Hann. “I can think of no one more fitting to join us this year than President Trump.”

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., will be cohosting the fundraiser. In the 2020 election, Trump lost Minnesota to President Joe Biden by seven points. Minnesota has not voted for a Republican for president since 1972.

Trump will be using his private plane for travel. A nonstop flight from Palm Beach International Airport to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport takes approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes.

An official with the Trump campaign confirmed Trump’s ability to attend both events.