Romney & Paul Ryan Host Closed Door Meeting With Haley, Pence, & Christie
Two prominent Republicans, Senator Mitt Romney and former Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, have organized a closed-door event in Park City, Utah this week. The two-day summit, known as the E2 Summit, has the goal of finding an alternative to former President Donald Trump winning the GOP nomination in 2024. However, some notable names are noticeably absent from the lineup.
The summit, now in its 11th year, brings together well-connected Republicans to discuss foreign policy, tech, and business. But this year, the main focus appears to be on finding a viable alternative to Trump for the 2024 presidential election. The organizers and attendees of the summit reject the assumption that Trump will automatically be the nominee and are genuinely interested in finding a candidate they can get excited about and rally behind.
The lineup for the summit includes former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Other speakers include Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and former Attorney General Bill Barr. While Haley consistently polls towards the top of the pack, the other three candidates are considered longshots for the GOP nomination.
Notably absent from the lineup are popular GOP figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. For a while, DeSantis was seen as the front-runner in the race to challenge Trump for the nomination, but his polling has since dropped off, and he is now trailing behind other potential candidates. Ramaswamy expressed his frustration with the closed-door event, stating that voters should decide the nominee rather than Super PACs or donor summits.
The absence of DeSantis and Ramaswamy from the summit highlights the ongoing divide within the Republican Party. There are still many within the party who refuse to accept Trump as the future of the GOP, and they see this summit as an opportunity to find a different candidate who can potentially unite the party. However, Trump remains the top contender for the nomination, with no signs of him stepping aside or losing his strong hold on the party.
Despite the ongoing debate over the future of the Republican Party and its nominee for 2024, the E2 Summit continues to be a powerful gathering of influential Republicans. It is a place where potential GOP candidates can network and get their name out there as they begin to consider a run for the presidency. While Trump may still hold a tight grip on the GOP, it is clear that there are many within the party who are determined to find a viable alternative to challenge him for the nomination.