LOS ANGELES (CNS) - President Donald Trump traveled to the Democrat- heavy Los Angeles area today for an approximately four-hour visit to meet with organizers of the 2028 Olympic Games and attend fundraising events in Beverly Hills.
Trump arrived aboard Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport at roughly 4:15 p.m., about 40 minutes behind schedule. Among those traveling with the president were adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
He was greeted on the LAX tarmac by Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu and Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris.
After shaking hands with a group of supporters, Trump climbed aboard a helicopter for a short trip to Santa Monica Airport, from which a motorcade will carry him to the Montage Beverly Hills.
According to the White House, Trump will meet with the LA2028 Olympic Committee officials ``for an update on their efforts to prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.''
Trump is scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion with supporters and speak at a fundraising dinner later Tuesday at the Montage, after which he will return to LAX for a flight to Las Vegas.
After spending the night in Las Vegas, Trump will travel to Rancho Mirage in Riverside County Wednesday morning for a fundraising golf outing and reception hosted by Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison.
According to an event invitation, first obtained by The Desert Sun, tickets for Trump's appearance in Rancho Mirage range from $100,000 for a photo opportunity and golf outing for two, up to $250,000 for a roundtable discussion, photo opportunity and golf outing for two.
Trump is also expected to make a trip to the Bakersfield area with McCarthy, then head to Phoenix for a rally before returning to Las Vegas.
Democratic National Committee spokesman John Weber issued a statement calling Trump's fundraising swing ``shameful.''
``Just after proposing devastating cuts to California families' Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Donald Trump is spending time with the only Californians he's ever cared about: ultra-wealthy donors,'' Weber said. ``Californians deserve a president who prioritizes the needs of working families over the demands of a few powerful special interests, and this November, we'll send one to the White House.''
Trump most recently visited the Los Angeles area in September, attending a pair of fundraisers but making no public appearances. That trip also included a visit to San Diego, where he attended another fundraiser and traveled to Otay Mesa to view construction of the border wall.
Trump also visited the Southland last April, attending a fundraising event in Beverly Hills and a private dinner at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf club.
The visit will be Trump's fourth to the Los Angeles area as president. He has spent little time in the Los Angeles area during his administration, compared to his Democratic predecessor and various Democratic presidential hopefuls. Trump has often sparred with Los Angeles and California leaders over immigrant-friendly ``sanctuary'' policies, while also blaming Democratic policies for the area's homelessness and housing-affordability issues.
Trump continued that tone Tuesday, lashing out at Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Twitter. Garcetti and Los Angeles police Chief Michel Moore posted a video online last week in response to news that elite U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers were being dispatched to cities with sanctuary policies, including Los Angeles. The video provides tips for immigrants on how to respond if federal agents show up at their homes, stressing that they do not need to open their doors unless the agents have a signed warrant. It also urges immigrants to speak to a lawyer before signing any document and to call the city's 311 information line to learn about available legal services.
Trump on Tuesday wrote on Twitter, ``The mayor's efforts to shield illegal aliens endangers the lives of the public and law enforcement who have to go into the field to apprehend those released. He shouldn't be urging illegals to beat the system, he should be urging them to safely turn themselves in.''
On the video, Garcetti and Moore stressed that the city is not cooperating with federal authorities on immigration issues.
``We believe that Los Angeles and the United States are places where every family should remain together, where everyone should feel safe and where everybody belongs,'' Garcetti said.
Barack Obama had made nine visits to the Los Angeles area as this stage of his presidency, six solely for political fundraising. Obama spoke at political fundraisers during eight of his first nine visits to Southern California as president.