Trump's visit to 'occupied territory:' President earns big bucks, some voter support — and protester ire

President Donald Trump paid the Golden State a visit this week — his fifth jaunt to California during his term — just two weeks before Californians head to the polls to cast their ballot for the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.

With stops in Los Angeles, Rancho Mirage and Bakersfield, Trump made time between meetings to mobilize his small but vocal California base — wealthy donors and MAGA hat-wearing voters — who showed up to see him, alongside crowds of critics who came to protest the presidential visit.

His official business in the state included a briefing with Olympics organizers on Tuesday in Los Angeles, site of the 2028 summer games. He also weighed in on California's controversial water wars at a forum in Bakersfield on Wednesday, where he's expected to try to make good on a campaign promise to farmers and deliver more pumping and irrigation to the state’s Central Valley, despite concerns from environmental scientists and advocates.

Much of the visit, however, was spent with donors, who are expected to line the president’s campaign coffers with cash.

Trump attended two big fundraisers in California: A Beverly Hills dinner on Tuesday night, followed by a golf event and round-table discussion at Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison's Rancho Mirage estate.Tickets sold for between $100,000 and $250,000 a couple.

Despite Trump’s vocal disdain for the progressive-run state (as Desert Sun reporter Sam Metz points out he has disparaged California in close to 100 tweets since taking office), the oft-neglected California conservatives have rallied behind him, contributing a whopping $15 million in 2019 — far outpacing fundraising in the state by the candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. While there’s little to no chance at flipping the very blue state, the dollars will go a long way toward winning battles in swing states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Trump bolstered his base and blasted local leaders

Beyond raking in millions for the “Trump Victory” fund, which finances both his reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee, the appearances also served to strengthen his support in across state — home to 5 million registered Republicans.

“It means everything to us (that the president is visiting us),” Bakersfield resident Diane Barnett told reporters from the Bakersfield Californian before Trump's appearance. “We (Republicans) feel alone here in California, but we’re not.”

Joy Miedecke, president of the East Valley Republican Women Federated club based in La Quinta, shared a similar sentiment. “I think it's wonderful he’s here," she told reporters from The Desert Sun. "He's not giving up on [California]. That's the good news, he has not given up on us.”

At each stop, the president was greeted by groups wearing his signature red MAGA hats; few elected officials were on hand to welcome Trump. The president did, however, take the opportunity call out the progressive policies he thinks are to blame for problems like the homelessness crisis and worsening wildfires.

“I see it, I see what’s happening to L.A., I see what’s happening to San Francisco, I see what’s happening to some great cities,” Trump said during a briefing with reporters in Los Angeles on Tuesday. “You have needles, you have things that we don’t want to discuss all over the streets,” he added, then quipping, “there’s no reason this should’ve happened.”

Dueling protests pitted critics against champions

Though thousands of Trump supporters came out to see the president, they were matched by critics who rallied on street corners with signs and speakers to loudly voice their opposition.

In Los Angeles, protesters lined the areas the president would pass in his motorcade, holding signs to voice their disapproval.

In the Palm Springs area, dueling demonstrations erupted with supporters and critics trading chants of “four more years” and “lock him up” across intersections near the site of the big-ticket fundraiser at Ellison's estate. While Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies idled in riot gear, the day ended peacefully.

“I’m tired of yelling at my television,” Pam Erwin of Palm Springs told reporters, “so I decided to come yell at his motorcade instead."

Others voiced opposition online. Oracle employees circulated a petition calling for their company’s chairman, Ellison, to cancel his event. The event went on as planned, even with more than 5,700 signatures against it. But, according to Vox’s Recode, some employees are planning a walk-out on Thursday. Described as “No Ethics/No Work,” organizers are hoping to rally their colleagues to spend the afternoon volunteering instead.

Trump also weighed in on California water wars

Trump’s final California stop was perhaps the most controversial aspect of his trip, and yet, was met with the least local resistance.

In Bakersfield, part of California's agricultural Central Valley where Trump enjoys strong support, Trump ceremoniously signed a new plan that will grant federal authorities more control over how California water is distributed, a move that will favor the farmers that are at the core of his base.

“As a candidate for president, I promised to help solve the water crisis that was crippling our farmers due to chronic mismanagement and misguided policies,” he told the thousands of people packed into an airplane hangar in Bakersfield to see him. "I am thrilled to be here today, as we take historic action on behalf of our incredible farmers, ranchers, growers and communities across the Central Valley.”

The move will allow the federal government to redirect more water to farm districts and is expected to greatly benefit the Westlands Water District, a former lobbying client of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt who championed the plan.

Opponents are concerned that the move, which will redirect large amounts of water from the San Francisco Bay Delta to Central Valley farmland, poses risks to endangered fish and threatens equitable water distribution in areas where there's not enough clean drinking water.

“The Trump administration has essentially decided to distribute California’s limited water to benefit its wealthy, well-connected friends. Everyday peoples’ livelihoods and futures —are being devalued by Trump and Bernhardt for political gain,” Kathryn Phillips, director of the Sierra Club’s California chapter, said in a statement. “Communities will suffer as the requirements to fulfill permanent contracts to special interests cuts access to drinking water. In the state’s rivers and Bay Delta, wildlife like endangered salmon and the Pacific whales who depend on them will be pushed further toward extinction.”

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has already vowed to take action.

But for those who crowded in to see the president in Bakersfield, this was just another reason to support him.

"I love this state like no place else," Trump told the cheering crowd. "You have the most potential of anywhere, but you need the right government."

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Desert Sun Staff writers Sam Metz, Melissa Daniels, Colin Atagi, Sherry Barkas and Omar Ornelas contributed to this report.

Gabrielle Canon covers California for the USA Today Network. You can reach her at gcanon@gannett.com or on Twitter @GabrielleCanon.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump earns big bucks, some voter support — and protester ire in California