Donald Trump Returns to the Trail

May 23, 2016

By CANDACE SMITH and JOHN SANTUCCI

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Eugene, Ore., May 6, 2016

After a hiatus from the stump, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump hits the trail again this week, making several stops across the West Coast.

He begins his trip in New Mexico, traveling next to California, North Dakota, Montana and ends in San Diego. Though he has no remaining opponents, Trump has not yet clinched the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination.

“He’s not going to take one vote for granted,” one campaign official told ABC News.

His last visit to California was an acrimonious one; he was met by so many protesters outside of San Francisco that he was forced to avert them by walking around fencing up a grassy hill.

"That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made... it felt like I was crossing the border actually," Trump joked at the beginning of his remarks.

While his campaign is prepared for the protests, officials stress that his supporters will see the same Trump they’ve always supported, noting that the themes that have accounted for his ascent to the top of the ticket will remain, including building a wall separating the U.S. from Mexico.

Trump’s public schedule in past weeks has been noticeably light. Last week, he held a fundraiser in New Jersey to pay off Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign debt. Trump then traveled to Kenutcky where he spoke to the NRA's annual convention, receiving the endorsement from the gun rights group. But before that, he hadn’t held a public event in over a week.

Officials say that he was “building party unity” in the time off; indeed, in the past month, he’s met with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, the Chair of the Republican National Committee Reince Preibus, the Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell and, on Monday, met with Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN, on foreign affairs. Corker is widely considered a possible selection for Trump’s VP, though he told reporters on Monday, "I have no reason to believe I'm being considered."

And aside from his rallies, Trump will also begin to fundraise more, abandoning finally his pledge to “self-fund” his campaign.

He’ll attend a fundraiser in Los Angeles Wednesday night that benefits both his campaign and the RNC. And officials say that his fundraising efforts will greatly increase after voting ends on June 7.

But for now, albeit technically, he’s still a candidate; officials say that Trump’s public schedule will remain vigorous until then.

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