Trump Campaign Seeks to Replace Delegates Over Convention Disturbance Concerns

Trump Campaign Addresses Concerns Over Delegates

In a bid to avoid potential disruptions at the upcoming GOP convention in Milwaukee next month, Donald Trump's presidential campaign took action this week to address concerns related to the loyalty of certain delegates. The campaign sought to replace six delegates amid fears that they might cause "unnecessary distractions" during the event.

Efforts to Replace Delegates

John Findlay, the Trump campaign’s convention delegate selection director, reached out to six "alternate delegates" in Arizona and requested that they challenge the status of six delegates over concerns about their loyalty to Trump, according to correspondence obtained by NBC News.

Change in Decision

Although the Trump campaign initially pursued the replacement of the delegates, it later decided to withdraw their challenges. James Blair, the Trump campaign’s political director, explained that the decision to pull back on the request for challenges came after "clearing the air" with the concerned delegates.

Statement from the Campaign

Blair’s statement reads, “As true MAGA patriots, [the alternate delegates] challenged several AZ delegates to the Republican National Convention to prevent unnecessary distractions from being organized during President Trump’s formal nomination. Given AZ delegation chair [Shelby] Busch’s public clearing of the air and commitment to following the campaign’s lead, we feel it is appropriate for the six to withdraw their challenges.”

Resolution

By Friday morning, all six alternate delegates had withdrawn their challenge. One of the anonymous alternate delegates clarified that the initiative to challenge the delegates was presented to them by someone on the Trump team, and they were aiding the campaign.

Trump Campaign's Control Over the Convention

The move to address the delegates reflects the Trump campaign’s determination to maintain strict control over the July convention and minimize potential distractions beyond the planned programming. Trump secured 92% of the total delegates to the convention following a dominant performance in this year's primaries and caucuses.

Speculation about Michael Flynn

The episode unfolded against a backdrop of online speculation about the possibility of Michael Flynn, the retired lieutenant general and former national security adviser, being nominated as Trump's running mate in 2024. This speculation arose following Flynn’s pardon by Trump in late 2020 and his subsequent involvement in promoting Christian nationalism through nationwide conferences.

Rumors and Chatter

There were rumors and online chatter suggesting the potential consideration of Michael Flynn as Trump’s vice president in 2024. Patrick Byrne, a close ally of Flynn, took to X to express his views on the matter, emphasizing the need for a vice president who would not overshadow Trump, particularly in light of potential legal challenges faced by Trump. Byrne advocated for Flynn to be the choice, citing the need for a figure like him in the current political climate.

Delegates' Perspective

The alternate delegate who preferred to remain anonymous revealed that the Trump delegate selection director had conveyed a rumor about some delegates aiming to nominate Flynn for the vice presidential position. While expressing skepticism about this possibility, the delegate acknowledged the uncertain nature of current political dynamics.

Campaign's Concern

Two other alternate delegates disclosed that the Trump campaign's decision to address the delegate issue was linked to concerns about the potential nomination of Flynn for the vice presidential role. They indicated that discussions within the GOP community made it evident that such suspicions prompted the campaign's actions, citing a perceived credible threat to the convention.

Response from Arizona Delegation Chair

Shelby Busch, the Arizona convention delegation chair, did not provide a comment to NBC News when contacted regarding this week’s challenge. However, in an internal statement among Arizona’s convention delegates, Busch assured that neither she nor anyone under her influence intended to participate in any disruption to the convention, including challenging the rules, platform, programming, or any other aspect of the event.