At Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, the America First Policy Institute hosted its fourth annual gala on Thursday, November 14. President-elect Trump, the evening’s centerpiece, was poised to deliver remarks at around eight o’clock, but the anticipation was as much about the scene as it was about the speech.
Sixty round tables dotted the expansive ballroom, flanked by two bars at the back of the room. The backdrop reading “The Home of the America First movement” was set up on the stage. A lectern bearing the slogans “America First, Always” and “America First Policy Institute” stood ready for the line up of speakers.
Among the first to engage with the press was North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who dropped by during mic checks. Asked about the flurry of announcements from the president-elect in recent days, Burgum expressed enthusiasm for the movement’s momentum. “I love the pace,” he said.
Speculation swirled around Burgum’s potential role in the administration. When asked if he was in line for an “energy czar” position, he brushed off the suggestion, stating, “It’s not about any specific role.” However, he acknowledged ongoing conversations about various cabinet positions, including Secretary of the Interior.
Burgum also commented on Trump’s recent pick of Congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general, describing the decision as “very smart.” He praised Trump’s overall approach to selecting personnel, noting, “He’s picking people that will focus on driving real change, as opposed to incremental change.”
By 7:15 p.m., the Grand Ballroom at Mar-a-Lago began filling with a mix of political heavyweights, cultural icons, and influential figures, all converging for the fourth annual America First Policy Institute (AFPI) gala. The press, largely confined to a corner of the room with limited visibility, caught glimpses of notable attendees/
Among the early arrivals were former Congressman Doug Collins, Vivek Ramaswamy, and RFK Jr. and Cheryl Hines.
At the heart of the room stood a table that seemed to command its own gravitational pull. Elon Musk was locked in an animated conversation with Kash Patel. The anticipation in the air was almost tangible—President-elect Donald Trump was set to join Musk at that very table, a fitting emblem of bromance forged during the 2024 campaign. At Mar-a-Lago, Musk had slipped into the Trump orbit with uncanny ease, his presence so seamless that he even managed to appear in the family portraits, as if he’d been there all along.
Last night with @realDonaldTrump & @JMilei pic.twitter.com/8AjQ8QMAIM
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 15, 2024
At precisely 8:08 PM, Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage, his voice cutting through the gilded opulence of Mar-a-Lago’s ballroom. He recalled the room that he was at Mar-a-Lago on election night, which he called “the starting line” for the future of America.
He thanked Trump for putting Musk in a position to start the “mass deportations” of bureaucrats from the American federal bureaucracy. And he said January 20, 2025, the Inaguaration Day will be morning in America.
Argentina’s president Javier Milei was announced and took some time to enter but went on stage at 8:13 pm. Milei, standing at a podium that has a sign America First, Always – said in English he felt blessed to be here, then began to deliver his speech in Spanish with an interpreter.
He congratulated Trump on his “resounding victory” and said the world was a much better place. “Today the winds of freedom are blowing much stronger”
He called Trump’s win “proof positive that the forces of heaven are on our side.” He attacked the political class, claiming they have established a system that “forced the redistribution of wealth at gunpoint” by supporting a government that has two classes of people: those who pay taxes and those who live off them.
Milei took a moment to acknowledge Elon Musk, thanking him for what he called “the wonderful job he has been doing.”
Among the notable figures present was Matt Gaetz, Trump’s recently named pick for attorney general, as well as Stephen Miller, slated for the role of deputy chief of staff.
And then, the moment everyone had been waiting for—Trump entered the room.
Trump: We’re going to turn our country around
Sylvester Stallone took the stage. “We’re in the presence of a really mythical character,” he said, calling President-elect Donald Trump “the second George Washington.” He went to praise Trump for his election victory. “Nobody could have pulled off what he did,” Stallone added.
"When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was going to change the world. Because without him, you can't imagine what the world would look like. Guess what? We got the second George Washington." – @TheSlyStallone at last night's AFPI Experience & Gala pic.twitter.com/NLsLdV0Yi4
— America First Policy Institute (@A1Policy) November 15, 2024
The two men met at center stage, shaking hands at precisely 8:28 PM.
After standing on the stage idly while his walk-on God Bless the USA song played, Trump began speaking at 8:30.
The reception in Mar-a-Lago’s ballroom was more subdued than the roaring applause of his campaign rallies, where crowds sang along to Lee Greenwood’s anthem. Dressed in black tie with a black bow tie, Trump took the stage with a measured confidence, thanking Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight, who he noted was also in attendance. “The great fight movies,” he remarked, in a nod to their shared cultural legacy.
Trump reflected on the history of Mar-a-Lago, built in the roaring 1920s, and framed his election as a safeguard against another 1929. “We’re going to turn our country around,” he assured the audience.
Looking back on his victory, Trump said, “Nobody knew we were going to win it the way we won it.” He mentioned working with Mike Johnson to secure House support, commending Johnson for “beautifully” managing the Republican majority. Even as he criticized the “fake news,” Trump acknowledged the press’s presence, declaring, “As Republicans, we have nothing to hide.”
He said he told Mike Johnson “we wouldn’t be taking” too many more people from the House before voting started, adding that he just likes the people in Congress After thanking Elon Musk for his work in Pennsylvania, Trump said “He likes this place, I just can’t get him out of here” though he added that he didn’t mind. After pointing to RFK Jr., Trump said he wanted RFK to work on “things and ideas and what you’ve been talking about for a long time, and I think he’s going to do some unbelievable thing.”
“People like you Bobby,” he then said, adding with an apparent joking warning, “Don’t get too popular Bobby.” Turning to Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump teased, “You’ll learn something from Elon,” alluding to their upcoming collaboration in the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency.
“The American people have just delivered really something very amazing,” Trump said of his victory. He is reading from a piece of paper as he talks about winning the popular vote, which he said he won “by records” this year.
He said that he did not know if it was true that he lost the popular vote in past elections, including his 2016 victory. He claimed he had the biggest political victory in 129 years.
Trump talked a bit about the shift in the electorate, citing statistics that show his growing support among certain identity groups. Trump the broke the news that he would announce Burgum for Department of Interior.
I guess someone’s got to be the George Soros of the right.
Elon Musk
He said he asked Johnson to pass a bill that would “start my term from November 5” so he could get credit for a boom in the stock market. He claimed migrant caravans were breaking up as of his election. Trump said the country needed to tackle inflation, again saying that “the groceries are too high” and telling a story from the campaign trail about a woman who tried to buy 3 apples, thought they cost so much.
Trump concluded at 8:49 pm. After the Burgum news, he said he’d stop “child sexual mitigation” and bring an end to the war in Russia and Ukraine
With YMCA playing trump stepped off stage and stood for photos with Mike Johnson.
At 8:52 PM, Brooke Rollins invited Elon Musk to speak. Musk began with a provocative quip: “I guess someone’s got to be the George Soros of the right.” He emphasized the need for “common sense,” echoing Trump’s rhetoric, and expressed optimism about the future. “The public has given us a clear mandate,” Musk said.
@elonmusk speaks to @A1Policy gala at Mar a Lago! pic.twitter.com/vNc6sYwKSG
— Fred Fleitz (@FredFleitz) November 15, 2024
As the event drew to a close, one undeniable fact emerged: those once dismissed as “deplorables” and derided as “garbage” had risen to claim their place as the new darlings of American political culture—on the verge of redefining the mainstream itself.
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