Trump trial Fort Pierce: Which other presidents, candidates have visited Treasure Coast?

Presidents and presidential candidates are no strangers to the Treasure Coast. Throughout the years, those serving in and vying for the highest office in the nation have made their way to the area.

Visits have ranged from campaign stops to fishing trips and golfing vacations.

Sooner than later, 45th President Donald Trump is expected to come to Fort Pierce for his criminal trial at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse at U.S. 1 and Orange Avenue.

Trump has not been to the Sunrise City, but will be expected to attend the court proceedings. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has scheduled hearings to begin Aug. 14, but prosecutors have asked for a delay until December.

Here are the presidents and presidential candidates who have visited the Treasure Coast:

Grover Cleveland

The 22nd and 24th President Grover Cleveland was a Martin County property owner.

Yes, Cleveland stumbled upon Stuart by accident in 1899 after his train cart stopped at the station. But that wasn't his first visit to the Treasure Coast. He went on fishing trips in Hobe Sound in the 1880s and 1900s.

After exploring and vacationing for months at a time in Stuart, he eventually bought land in 1905, presumably to build a residence where Stuart City Hall is today. However, he died in 1908, before he could build on the property.

William Taft, Chester Arthur, Warren Harding, Theodore Roosevelt

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, these four U.S. presidents have enjoyed fishing in Stuart:

• Chester A. Arthur in 1883

• William Howard Taft in 1909

• Theodore Roosevelt in the1910s

• Warren G. Harding in the 1920s

Harding frequented the Treasure Coast, specifically Vero Beach, for golfing in the 1900s. In 1921, the Vero Press reported he played golf at the Riomar Golf Course.

Gerald Ford

After his presidency, the 38th President Gerald Ford frequented the golf course at John's Island in Indian River County. Ford also visited Vero Beach in 1989 where he was photographed with ormer Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser.

Jimmy Carter

After his presidency, 39th President Jimmy Carter visited the Treasure Coast on at least two occasions.

Carter autographed copies of his book "Sources of Strength: Meditations on Scripture for a Living Faith" at the Vero Beach Book Center in December 1997. Over 2,500 people attended.

He returned to the Treasure Coast nearly 13 years later.

Carter and his family chartered a fishing trip on the St. Lucie River on Feb. 27, 2010, ahead of the Winter Weekend Auction fundraiser to support The Carter Center peace and health programs. The auction, held at the former Club Med in Port St. Lucie, raised over $1.33 million.

George H.W. Bush

41st President George H.W. Bush frequented the Treasure Coast much of his life, including his presidency.

Bush often visited Martin County to visit his mother, Dorothy Walker, at their Jupiter Island home. His father, Prescott Bush, purchased the family's winter retreat in the 1960s.

Bush also visited Dodgertown in Vero Beach on July 7, 1994. He spoke to hundreds of young athletes with the East-West Ambassadors, a national organization offering touring opportunities to young baseball players. This was Bush's last public appearance on the Treasure Coast.

Bill Clinton

During his second term, 42nd President William "Bill" Clinton flew into Whitham Field airport in Martin County on March 16, 1999. Clinton attended a Democratic National Convention fundraiser at the Stuart mansion of controversial attorney Willie Gary.

Clinton also spoke at a 2008 rally for Barack Obama in downtown Fort Pierce, where he was introduced by St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara.

George W. Bush

Like father, like son. 43rd President George W. Bush visited Vero Beach at least twice and came to St. Lucie County during the aftermath of Hurricane Frances in 2004.

Bush and his brother, then-Gov. Jeb Bush, toured Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie and distributed supplies to affected families.

Bush's most recent visit in 2017 was to promote his book, “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors,” at the Vero Beach Book Center.

Bush also visited on Feb. 3, 2014. He flew into the Vero Beach Municipal Airport for a speaking engagement at the Riverside Theatre, where he headlined the Distinguished Lecturer Series.

Mitt Romney

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney stopped at Tradition Town Square on Oct. 7, 2012. He addressed supporters a month before he lost the election to 44th President Barack Obama.

Romney held a three-day Florida tour visiting St. Petersburg and Apopka before coming to the Treasure Coast.

Barack Obama

Treasure Coast golfing made Obama a frequent visitor to the area throughout his two terms.

The 44th president visited the Floridan National Golf Club in Palm City, where he stayed on numerous occasions between speaking events and golf trips. On multiple occasions, Obama flew into Treasure Coast International Airport in St. Lucie County on Air Force One.

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton made a campaign stop in Fort Pierce when she ran against Trump in 2016.

The Democratic Party nominee held a campaign rally at the Sunrise Theatre on Sept. 30, 2016, nearly two months before the election.

The former first lady and then-presidential hopeful flew into the Vero Beach Municipal Airport and stayed at the Vero Beach Hotel and Spa on Ocean Drive.

What to expect: Fort Pierce courthouse tapped for Donald Trump's criminal trial

Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who in May announced he's running for the Republican presidential nomination, has visited the Treasure Coast at least a dozen times since 2018.

Most recently, he signed the $117 billion state budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year at the Pelican Yacht Club in Fort Pierce on June 15.

DeSantis and 2022 gubernatorial opponent Charlie Crist held a televised debate at the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce on Oct. 24, 2022.

During the debate, Crist asked DeSantis if he'd serve a full, four-year term if reelected, alluding to his 2024 presidential bid. DeSantis ignored the jab and quipped, "The only worn-out, old donkey I'm looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist."

TCPalm columnist Ed Killer and TCPalm freelancer Janet Begley contributed to this report.

Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Trump trial: 10 presidents, candidates who have visited Treasure Coast