Trump family visits to Treasure Coast: rallies, court hearings, sheriff's appointment
Gianna MontesanoTime magazine named President-elect Donald Trump as its person of the year for 2024.
In 2024 and previous years, Trump and his family spent some time on the Treasure Coast, for reasons ranging from campaign visits to court hearings. Here are all those times:
Donald Trump Jr. campaigns for father in Indian River County
A few days before the 2020 election, Donald Trump Jr. campaigned for his father in Indian River County. He drew an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 people to an open-air pavilion at the Indian River County fairgrounds.
During his speech, the eldest Trump child spoke for about 40 minutes, driving home his father’s 2020 election points: free and uncensored speech, “Drain the Swamp” and constant digs at former Vice President Joe Biden (leading the crowd to chant “Lock him up.”)
TCPalm fact-checked his 2020 speech, which was riddled with exaggerations, inaccuracies and conspiracies.
During the 2020 election, Trump overwhelmingly beat President Joe Biden among Indian River County voters:
- Donald Trump: 60.23%
- Joe Biden: 38.72%
Donald Trump pretrial hearings
In 2023 and 2024, Trump's classified documents trial shined a spotlight on Fort Pierce, where Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon heard his case at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse on U.S. 1 and Orange Avenue.
Pre-trial hearings began July 2023, but Trump didn't attend a court appearance in Fort Pierce until February.
Throughout this year, Trump attended three pretrial hearings in Fort Pierce, where supporters waited outside the courthouse from morning through afternoon, hoping to see him or hear him address the crowd.
Trump never spoke to supporters, nor did he wave from his car. He was only slightly visible through the tinted window.
Eric Trump sworn in by St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson
Eric Trump was appointed as a St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office special deputy while on an Oct. 8 visit here, according to a social media post by then-Sheriff Keith Pearson. Donald Trump also was deputized as a special deputy, the post says.
"I have always wanted to become a Sheriff!" Eric Trump captioned his Oct. 8 Instagram post. "Thank you @sheriffkeithpearson and the incredible men and women of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. Truly an honor! #BackTheBlue #SheriffTrump."
The swearing-in garnered national attention, with Jimmy Kimmel saying he didn't know there was a "Make-A-Wish for grown-ups."
Eric Trump also filmed a YouTube video with Pearson. In it, he told Pearson he had been following him for a while and complimented him on how the law enforcement agency had been handling crime in St. Lucie County.
"We need this kind of policing in this country, honestly," Eric Trump told Pearson. "This country has gotten out of control."
The pair discussed immigration, fentanyl, education and crime in the United States.
Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene.