Staff Reports
Donald Trump Jr. has been busy mixing business with pleasure in Utah, that great stronghold of the Latter-day Saints, all in an effort to boost his father’s 2024 campaign. It seems that Trump Jr. is positioning himself as a key player in the Republican realm, channeling his inner common-sense strategist while plotting how to appeal to the faithful Mormons in surrounding battlegrounds like Arizona and Nevada.
During a recent hunting escapade at the ranch of Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, Trump Jr. rubbed elbows with around 20 local political leaders. The agenda was clear: figure out what really matters to “people of faith,” which, in the eyes of the Utah Republican Party Chairman, is a pretty broad net that includes anyone who believes in some traditional values, LDS folks included. Hunting may have been part of the agenda, but the real quarry was votes.
Trump announces Latter-day Saints coalition in push for battleground voters https://t.co/ufex0Wx69l
— Karoline Leavitt (@kleavittnh) October 9, 2024
It’s no secret that Trump Jr. has a soft spot for Utah and its culture, frequently spotted in the state indulging in some outdoor hobbies. His connection to the local community is evident. When he jokingly lamented about being “Mormon” because of his large brood—it’s five kids if anyone lost track—that could only have endeared him further to the crowd. The buzz around town is that he and his fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, have become genuine fans of Utah’s lifestyle, and that’s no small feat in a state where backyard barbecues likely come with a side of strict religious adherence.
The timing of this Utah visit wasn’t just coincidental; that infamous “Latter-day Saints for Trump” initiative is set to launch imminently, and Trump Jr. is clearly leading the charge. With a firm grasp on his father’s accomplishments during his presidency, he’s expected to outline how those achievements benefit people of faith—an audience that, let’s be honest, could be a significant boost for Trump’s campaign. Given the political landscape, showcasing the tangible benefits of a Trump presidency is vital in the quest for votes.
Despite historically being a Republican stronghold, Utah is just a warm-up act for convincing the Mormon population in swing states. Polling shows that Trump is narrowly leading Vice President Kamala Harris in Arizona, a state that slipped away from him last election cycle by a razor-thin margin. Meanwhile, Nevada, the quirky neighbor that hasn’t voted Republican in nearly two decades, has Harris barely pulling ahead. With Mormons making up a solid percentage of both electorates, they represent a potentially game-changing voting bloc.
Interestingly enough, while the GOP typically holds favor with LDS voters, Democrats have eyed this community like a hawk, even running specific campaigns targeting Mormons. With Joe Biden better resonating with these voters than Hillary Clinton in 2020, it’s clear that Democrats are not simply going to sit back and watch the GOP secure these votes without a fight. Thus, the upcoming “Latter-day Saints for Trump” initiative could very well be more than just a cute tagline; it might be the lifeline Trump needs as he aims to reclaim the precious ground lost in recent elections.
All eyes will be watching to see if this strategy pays off and whether these visits can turn Hunter’s luck into electoral victory.
