Former Trump aide, frequent Fox News guest to speak at Laxalt's fifth annual Basque Fry
A former Trump White House aide and a frequent Fox News guest will speak at the fifth annual Basque Fry in September.
Morning in Nevada PAC — the political action committee founded by supporters of former Nevada attorney general and Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Laxalt — on Monday announced Mercedes and Matt Schlapp are scheduled to appear at the popular Basque-themed GOP barbecue and fundraiser.
Mercedes Schlapp served as the White House director of strategic communications under Trump, and is now an official with his re-election campaign. Matt Schlapp is the chairman of the American Conservative Union and a frequent guest on Fox News. He was deputy assistant and political director during President George W. Bush’s first term.
A spokesman for Laxalt said Corey Lewandowski, Trump's ex-campaign manager, will soon be announced as a third speaker at the event.
Laxalt said in a statement that other conservative speakers will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
“Nevada’s conservatives are highly motivated to take back our state, and our fifth annual Basque Fry will mark the first major step in Nevada’s comeback story," Laxalt said. "It’s crucial that we protect our state from an increasingly radical, left-wing Nevada Democrat Party – whose leaders would rather waste time on talk of impeaching the president while undermining law enforcement’s ability to protect citizens from criminal illegal immigrants than do what’s right for our state.
"National conservative leaders also recognize the importance of protecting Nevada’s future, and we are thrilled to have Mercedes Schlapp and Matt Schlapp joining us for this event."
The Basque Fry began as a series of informal family cookouts hosted by former U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt, but has since grown into one of the largest political events in Nevada.
Past event attendees have included rising GOP stars and eventual presidential hopefuls like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s 2016 campaign manager, and U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes spoke at last year’s event.
Adam Laxalt, who served one term as attorney general before launching a failed bid for the governor’s seat, in March announced he had been named partner at Cooper & Kirk PLLC, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm.
Laxalt said in a statement announcing the move that he would continue work in Reno, but maintain an office in Las Vegas and D.C.
He’s offered few hints about his political future after losing November’s grueling race against Gov. Steve Sisolak, who captured Nevada’s top elected office by a wider-than-expected 4 percentage point margin.
Tickets for Laxalt's Basque Fry are available online at morninginnevadapac.org. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Corley Ranch in Gardnerville.