Donald Trump Visits Minnesota Friday

For the first time during the 2016 presidential campaign, Republican nominee Donald Trump will visit Minnesota.

He won't be addressing supporters at one of his uproarious rallies we've come to know this campaign season, however. The Star Tribune reported that while in Minnesota, Trump will attend a private audience with wealthy Republican donors, including Twin Cities broadcasting executive Stanley Hubbard.

Meanwhile, regular Trump supporters in Minnesota, disappointed with the private nature of Trump's visit, are pushing for the candidate to hold a public rally in the state before Election Day.

"There’s an effort among his grass-roots supporters here to try to bring him to Minnesota," said State GOP Chairman Keith Downey.

"Whether that’s for the State Fair or something else remains to be seen. But we’d definitely like to try to get the candidate here."

Trump's visit to Minnesota is taking place on the same day that Paul Manafort, the embattled campaign chairman for Trump, is resigning.

"This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign," said Trump.

"I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process. Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success."

In recent days, Manafort has been the subject of several reports about the work he did for a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party, in which he is accused of receiving more than $12 million in off-the-books cash payments — something he vehemently denies.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr /Creative Commons