Trump tells GOP officials and donors he's 'not into golden showers' and Melania didn't 'believe that one'


Former President Donald Trump closed out a National Republican Senatorial Committee's (NRSC) donor retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday with a private speech that focused on his false claims of election fraud, took credit for reviving the GOP's "dying party," slammed Republican senators who had criticized him, and relitigated other grievance he has been nursing since losing the 2020 election, if not earlier, The Washington Post reports, citing a recording of the speech it obtained.
Trump extensively praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and touted his good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but called his two impeachments and the investigations into his ties with Russia "all phony sh-t," the Post reports. And then, "unprompted, he brought up an unsubstantiated claim he had interactions with prostitutes in Moscow before he ran for president," the Post adds, quoting Trump: "I'm not into golden showers. ... You know the great thing, our great first lady — 'That one,' she said, 'I don't believe that one.'"
Trump also returned to his windmill fixation, criticizing President Biden's new plan to pepper the U.S. coastline with offshore wind farms and claiming — falsely — that windmills emit carbon emissions. "More goes into the air than if you ran something for 30 years," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, it was Trump's continued insistence on making upcoming elections about him and his false complaints about the 2020 election that has GOP strategists worried, the Post reports. Trump's threats that he will urge Republicans not to vote if the party doesn't "solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020," as he said Wednesday, gives "everyone cold sweats," one top party strategist told the Post, pointing to the GOP's 2021 Georgia Senate losses. At the same time, the NRSC and its House counterpart use Trump liberally in their fundraising efforts — like, say, at this week's donor retreat.
It's "one thing for NRSC to send out fundraising emails using Trump's name," New York Times political reporter Jonathan Martin tweeted. "But inviting him to a fundraiser where he discusses golden showers is really maximizing the humiliation."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The Week Unwrapped: How did Japan become a space superpower?
Podcast Plus, why on earth are Labubu dolls so popular? Will buy-now-pay-later cause a new financial crisis?
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A tomato fight, painting behind bars, and more
-
Mountainhead: Jesse Armstrong's tech bro satire sparkles with 'weapons-grade zingers'
The Week Recommends The Succession creator's first feature film lacks the hit TV show's 'dramatic richness' – but makes for a horribly gripping watch
-
Trump may team with a tech company to create a database of Americans
In the Spotlight A recent report indicated that Trump is partnering with the tech company Palantir
-
Trump hits Africa, Middle East with new travel ban
Speed Read The travel ban bars visitors from 12 countries and restricts entry from seven
-
'The bilateral relationship has eroded'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Elon Musk slams Trump's 'pork-filled' signature bill
speed read 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,' Musk posted on X
-
'We need solutions that prioritize both safety and sustainability'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
A running list of all the celebrities Trump has pardoned
IN DEPTH Reality stars, rappers and disgraced politicians have received some of the high-profile pardons doled out by the president
-
'The pattern is similar across America'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day