SAN DIEGO — President Trump was greeted with chants of “U.S.A., U.S.A.” when he arrived at MCAS Miramar Wednesday morning. The president held a fundraiser at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown before visiting the U.S., Mexico border at Otay Mesa.
Chabad of Poway Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and Poway Mayor Steve Vaus greeted the president as he descended from Air Force One. Trump was accompanied by hostage negotiator Robert O'Brien, whom he named his new national security adviser Wednesday morning.
Trump signed MAGA hats, autographed books, and took selfies with military members and supporters who he also briefly met upon his arrival on Air Force One.
From there, President Trump traveled to Downtown San Diego for his fundraiser at the US Grant. Cameras and cell phones were not allowed inside the pricey luncheon but one attendee did manage to snap a photo of the president. During the event, he spoke from a podium on a range of topics from unemployment to the economy and auto emissions rules in California.
Following the fundraiser, President Trump headed to the U.S.-Mexico border for a tour of the border wall. After about a half an hour at the Otay Mesa border, the president traveled back to Miramar by helicopter before departing San Diego just after 5 p.m.
Trump’s visit to San Diego was part of a two-day trip to California in which he also held fundraising events in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The San Diego fundraiser was expected to generate roughly $4 million for the campaign, while the trip as a whole was estimated to raise upwards of $15 million for the Trump Victory Fund, a joint committee of the Republican National Committee and the campaign.
At Horton Plaza, crowds of both protesters and supporters held signs and remained mostly peaceful despite some taunting between the two sides.
Supporters at the plaza celebrated Trump's arrival by chanting "Trump 2020" and calling for another four-year term. On Tuesday, county Republican Party Chair Tony Krvaric suggested in a statement that local opposition to Trump is understated.
"We are excited to have President Trump in San Diego on Wednesday for a sold-out fundraiser to keep America great," he wrote in a Twitter post. "There is a lot more support for our great president here than angry Democrats will have people believe."
The president’s visit to California came with his criticism of the state and how leaders have handled the homeless crisis.
During his rare visit to the Los Angeles area, Trump suggested he may take a more active role in combating the homelessness problem in the Southland and around the state. Trump told reporters he was looking "very seriously" at creating some type of "individual task force" to address the homelessness issue.
PHOTOS: President Trump in San Diego
Also on Wednesday, the Trump administration announced it would revoke
California's federal waiver to set its own standards of vehicle emissions,
arguing it will lead to marginal differences in emissions and lower costs.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday the White House has "abdicated its
responsibility" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
On Wednesday, county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher concurred.
"A petty and petulant president is not only attacking California environmental standards, but the auto manufacturing industry that supports our efforts,'' Fletcher said. "This is all a Trump-driven effort to increase greenhouse gas emission, gasoline consumption and air pollution -- it makes no sense."
Tuesday and Wednesday mark Trump's fourth visit to the state during his presidency.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is expected to follow Trump to California, one day behind the president, with visits to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.