ASPEN, USA — Former President Donald Trump is facing criticism following the release of a recording in which he reportedly turned a grieving widow’s sorrow into a source of amusement for a group of wealthy dinner guests at a private event.
The recording, obtained by The Guardian, captures Trump making light of his meeting with the widow of Corey Comperatore, a man killed at one of his rallies in July during an attempted assassination.
The controversial remarks reportedly took place during a private dinner Trump hosted on August 10 at the $38 million Aspen home of art collectors John and Amy Phelan.
The event, which had an elite guest list including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Rep. Lauren Boebert, gambling mogul Steve Wynn, and billionaire Thomas Peterffy, required couples to donate up to $500,000 to serve on the host committee, with general attendance starting at $25,000.
During the dinner, Trump recounted meeting Comperatore’s widow, who expressed her appreciation for a check Trump had given her.
According to the recording, Trump made light of the widow’s comment that she would have rather had her husband than the money, quipping, “Now I know some of the women in this room wouldn’t say the same.”
He continued, “At least four couples here would have been thrilled, actually.”
Mocking Widow Sparks Outrage
Trump’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism, with many calling the comments insensitive and disrespectful.
Comperatore was killed when shots were fired at Trump by a man named Thomas Crooks during a rally in Pennsylvania.
While Trump has publicly expressed condolences for Comperatore, calling him a “great guy” and a “great firefighter,” his reported remarks at the Aspen dinner have sparked anger, particularly among those who viewed the comments as trivializing the widow’s grief.
A source who attended the dinner told The Daily Beast that Trump was “funny” and “disciplined” during the event, but the content of his remarks has overshadowed that assessment.
Critics argue that turning the grief of a widow into a joke for wealthy donors reflects a lack of empathy and decorum.
Trump’s Views on Immigration
During the same dinner, Trump reportedly launched into an expletive-laden tirade about undocumented migrants, claiming that political leaders around the world are deliberately sending criminals to the United States to destabilise the country.
He also described an alleged incident involving prisoners from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the Congolese government denying such claims.
“They said, ‘Where do you come from?’ They said, ‘Prison.’ ‘What did you do?’ ‘None of your f—ing business what we did,’” Trump reportedly said, adding, “These are the toughest people. These people are coming in from Africa, from the Middle East.”
After recognising his language might have been too strong for his audience, Trump reportedly added, “I hate to use that foul language,” before continuing to claim that the criminals being sent to the U.S. “make our Hell’s Angels look like the nicest people on Earth.”
Criticising Kamala Harris and the State of the Nation
Trump also used the event to attack his 2024 opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, portraying her as a threat to the nation.
He reportedly warned the high-roller attendees that this election could be the last one in American history if Harris were to win.
“We gotta win, and if we don’t win, this country’s going to hell,” Trump said, according to the recording. “This could be the last election we ever have, and it’s an expression that I really believe.”
Wealthy Guests and the Event
The dinner was attended by a who’s who of Trump donors and loyalists. Among the attendees were Texas billionaires Mindy and Jeff Hildebrand, former hedge fund manager Duke Buchan, and Drew McKnight, a prominent backer of the failed No Labels movement.
The event was one of several fundraisers held to bolster Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, as he ramps up efforts to secure wealthy donors.
Trump’s Campaign Response
In response to inquiries about the reported remarks, a spokesperson from the Republican National Committee (RNC) pointed to past instances where Trump praised Comperatore and expressed sympathy for his family.
However, the campaign did not directly address the recording or the backlash stemming from the widow-related comments.
As the 2024 election draws nearer, Trump’s polarizing comments continue to spark both support and criticism, keeping him at the centre of political discourse.
