Donald Trump lunches with JD Vance and wealthy Cincinnati donors

Former President Donald Trump didn't name Sen. J.D. Vance his running mate on Wednesday, but he did have lunch with him in Greater Cincinnati.

Vance is on the shortlist for Trump's vice presidential pick.

Trump and Vance held a lunch discussion with supporters who shelled out $50,000 a plate in the sprawling Indian Hill mansion of Peggy Gardner Johns, a member of one of Cincinnati's wealthiest families who founded the multibillion company Cintas, a uniform, cleaning supply and safety products company.

What was it like? Chris Bortz shares thoughts

Former Cincinnati City Councilman and businessman Chris Bortz is not exactly the person you would think of when you think of a Donald Trump supporter.

Back when he served on council from 2005 to 2011 he was known as a moderate. And he was a Charterite candidate, endorsed by Cincinnati’s unique third party that’s guided by the principles of good government. But Bortz was one of the supporters who attended the $50,000-a-plate fundraiser.

Bortz said the group ate Cobb salad at a long, conference room-like table with Trump at one end, with Vance seated at the table too. But make no mistake, he said: the event was about Trump.

Bortz said Trump was warm and engaging and funny.

“I have become a very passionate supporter of Trump and the platform he has articulated,” Bortz said. “I’m all in. What I have seen of the Democratic Party in recent years bears no resemblance to the party 20 years ago.”

Bortz is the son of Neil Bortz, one of the owners and managers of Towne Properties, which has developed residential and commercial properties across Cincinnati, Dayton, Lexington and Florida.

Trump didn’t talk about his criminal trial. And there was no mention of whether Vance might be Trump’s vice presidential choice.

Trump talked about bringing down inflation and securing the southern border as a way to prevent crime, things he often talks about on the campaign trail, Bortz said.

“This was a great opportunity,” Bortz said. “My opinion of him went up exponentially. What a warm, kind and genuine guy. It’s no surprise why he is so successful.”

“The setting we were in allowed us to talk without being interruptions,” Bortz said. “He took his time and articulated what he was thinking. I walked away thinking what a great man.”

Bortz had the chance to look Trump in the eye and shake his hand, he said.

“He reminded me of my dad,” Bortz said. “If you would have asked me that (before the event) I’d have said no. But President Trump was a storyteller with a dry sense of humor. I think he’s gotten a bad rap.”

Supporters greet Trump at CVG

Trump didn't hold any public events in the Cincinnati region. He flew into Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport where about a dozen supporters greeted him with American and "Trump 2024" flags.

Former Anderson Township Trustee Andrew Pappas organized a honk and wave at the private jet center where Trump's private plane landed.

With an American flag in one hand and a Trump flag in the other, he said he was thinking about how Trump might feel and wanted to ensure he knew he had supporters.

Trump made the trip on an off day in the hush money trial where the former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide reimbursement payments to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen for the money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

“Consider the fact that Trump has been kicked by everybody, everyday, by the media," Pappas said. "As a human being it’s helpful to show up and show there is support.”

Trump got off his plane, boarded a black Chevy Suburban SUV and traveled in a police-led motorcade. His motorcade drove through Cincinnati's East Side and Mariemont before turning up a wooded hillside to Indian Hill and John's estate.

Neither Trump's campaign nor local Republican officials released much information about the fundraiser.

Who attended the lunch?

The invitation obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau described it as a "lunch discussion" with Vance as a special guest. Attendees had to contribute $50,000 each or $100,000 per couple, which would go toward the Trump 47 Committee, which is a joint fundraising committee that includes Trump's campaign, the Republican National Committee and several state GOP groups including Ohio's.

The guest list included members of Cincinnati's wealthy Lindner family, Republican fundraiser from Lexington Nate Morris, former Ohio GOP Chairs Jane Timken and Bob Paduchik, former Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Bortz, JTM CEO Tony Maas, Carlene and Bob Robinson, and Robert Heidt. That's according to an NBC News reporter, who cited an unnamed source as he shared the list on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A source familiar with the fundraiser confirmed to The Enquirer the list was accurate.

People hoped to catch a glimpse

With little information ahead of time, people wanting to catch a glimpse of Trump had to guess the motorcade route. Barricades and police could be seen set up in Mariemont and Indian Hill.

The weathered tombstones and white brick chapel of Armstrong Chapel Cemetery in Indian Hill, a half-mile from the fundraiser, provided a gathering spot for a couple dozen people hoping to see Trump.

They left disappointed as Trump took another route about a block away.

Security at the Mexican border was the top issue for the Trump supporters in Indian Hill who talked to The Enquirer.

“I want illegal aliens to not infiltrate our society and be on our tax rolls, that we have to pay for all those people coming into our system,” said Elizabeth Bieser, of Indian Hill.  She lives a few blocks from where the fundraiser happened.

After he left Indian Hill, Trump was expected to travel to Lexington for a dinner fundraiser.

Democrats slam Trump and Vance

Local Democrats issued a statement noting that Trump and Vance only show up in Hamilton County "to collect checks from their multimillionaire donors." Vance actually lives in Hamilton County, in Cincinnati's East Walnut Hills neighborhood.

“While Republicans are charging donors $50,000 a plate to pay off Donald Trump’s legal bills, Democrats in Hamilton County are focusing on reelecting good public servants on all levels of government," said Hamilton County Democratic Chairwoman Gwen McFarlin in the statement. “From attending his trials to singing Trump’s praises on cable news, it’s clear that JD Vance is only working for Trump. Democrats are working for all of the people in Hamilton County – not just those who can afford to spend a year’s salary on a lunch.”

Hamilton County GOP thinks Vance would make a good VP

The Hamilton County Republican Party said in a statement about Trump's visit that Vance would make a "strategic and compelling choice" to be Trump's vice president.

The party praised Vance's background as a bestselling author, a venture capitalist and a U.S. Marine.

"His strong support for the former president's policies and his ability to articulate the frustrations of many Americans who feel left behind by the political establishment make him a strong advocate and ally," the group said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Wealthy Cincinnati donors lunch with Trump, Vance