'TrumpStock' Boat Parade Route Expanded Due To Thousands Expected

EAST END, NY — The route for a "TrumpStock" boat parade has been changed due to the large number of boats and participants expected to attend Friday, organizers said. The event is one of the festivities planned as President Donald Trump heads to the Hamptons for a series of fundraisers this weekend.

"Due to the amount of boats expected to attend, we needed to expand our parade," a post on the "TrumpStock Boat Parade/Flotilla/TieUp" Facebook page read.

The event will now kick off at Noyack Bay at 11 a.m. with the "Pledge of Allegiance" over VHF Channel 11, head to the Orient Point Lighthouse at 1 p.m. and then, to the Montauk Lighthouse at 3 p.m., then to Navy Beach for a tie-up for the remainder of the day.

"The Trump family will be attending," organizers said. "You don't want to miss out."

Reported preparations for Trump's arrival took place Wednesday, with military helicopters engaging in a "practice run" at Southampton High School.

According to a post by CNBC.com, Trump's fundraising visit to the Hamptons will begin with a dinner Thursday attended by Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, according to CNBC.com. Tickets are reportedly slated to cost up to $50,000.

On Saturday, tickets to the Hamptons fundraiser include a photo opportunity, roundtable and an event where tickets will fetch up to $500,000 per couple, with proceeds benefitting the Trump Victory Committee and Republican National Committee, the post said.

"We had over 3,000 boats along with at least 15,000 people attending on the water along with thousands supporting us on land on Long Island's Great South Bay on June 27," organizers said on the Facebook post.

The visit comes amid social distancing protocols and a statewide ban on gatherings of more than 50 people put in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Southampton was recently in the spotlight for a controversial Chainsmokers concert in Southampton, where a packed crowd was caught on video violating social distancing protocols. Guilfoyle tested positive for the coronavirus in July, according to an NBC report.

Thousands of boats are expected at TrumpStock, with at least 15,000 attending on the water and thousands on land, organizers said.

This is the second TrumpStock boat parade on Long Island in recent months; the first was held in June with separate routes in Patchogue and Massapequa.

"The best patriotic decorated boat along with the highest donator towards President Trump's campaign will have the honor to meet president Trump in person for a photo," the Facebook post said.

Boaters are asked to turn out to show their support not only for Trump but to "back the men in blue."

The event is hosted by Boaters for Trump New York, Businesses for Trump and others.

"For all of our Eastern Long Island boating enthusiasts, we are so excited to announce that we will be bringing the first Trump parade to the East End of Long Island called 'TrumpStock' with the Trump family in attendance to support President Trump in his home state," the post said.

Organizers added: "There will be two lead boats leading this very special parade, 'Team Deplorable' and the most well known boat in America, Carlos Gavidia's 'The Official Trump Boat' in which everyone attending the TrumpStock Parade will follow to the TrumpStock Flotilla to show everyone our support for our GREAT President, Donald J. Trump! Take your boat or get on your friend's boat, bring all of your flags and Trump gear to show everyone in NYC how much we love and support our President!"

Contest held to meet Trump

In addition, a contest was being held in advance of the fundraiser and dinner; the winner will fly to Southampton to meet and take a photo with the president. Donations will benefit the Trump Make America Great Again Committee.