Kimberly Guilfoyle finally had to ask her audience at the Florida Republican Party’s annual dinner to applaud her after her awkward speech fell flat in front of an audience of allies.
The moment was reminiscent of Jeb Bush’s “please clap” during the 2016 campaign.
Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancee, was speaking at a dinner in Hollywood, Florida, when she expressed hope that Democrats would lose seats in Congress and be forced to relinquish control of the White House.
“I’m here to tell you not to lose hope. On a personal note, I can tell you that I’m more optimistic than ever. Because Americans of all walks of life are tired of the decline of the Democrats,” she told the audience.
“And we are ready, we are willing, and we are able to unleash a new era of American exceptionalism,” she added.
She stopped as a few people clapped and an awkward silence ensued.
“You can clap for that!” she said, prompting a few others to join her in applauding.
Montage of clips from Kim Guilfoyle’s embarrassing and humiliating speech tonight where she finally had to beg Florida Republicans to applaud her. pic.twitter.com/vNH1GiCAUt
– Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 8, 2024
In Hanover, Iowa, in February 2016, Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, also had to ask his audience to join hands.
“I’m not going to make a crass speech. I’m not going to be a chief divider or a chief agitator. I’m not going to be here to tout the merits of this speech without justifying it,” he said in remarks that appeared aimed at then-candidate Donald Trump. “I think the next president needs to be much more discreet but send a signal that we’re prepared to act in the national security interest of this country, to get back to work and create a more peaceful world.”
After a few moments of silence, Bush added: “Please applaud.”
The event held Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood to gather donors was dubbed a “victory dinner” ahead of the November election.
In recent years, Florida has gone from being a swing state to a Republican stronghold with a weak and disorganized Democratic Party.
Other speakers at the dinner included Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ran unsuccessfully against Trump in the 2024 primary, and Sen. Rick Scott, a former governor of the state.
With full control of the state government, speeches focused more on the presidential race than on winning congressional and state elections, according to the Miami Herald.
“Victory is in our hands. America’s future is in our hands. America’s destiny is in our hands and America’s prosperity is in our hearts and souls,” Guilfoyle told the crowd.
