A group of conservative world leaders, business executives and wealthy donors are gathering this weekend for an exclusive, off-the-record conference.
One person who did not make the guest list: former President Donald Trump.
The American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank, is holding its annual World Forum at the private Sea Island Resort off the coast of Georgia. The gathering is described as a "secretive" event "where industry titans and GOP megadonors [mingle] with mostly Republican power players at an exclusive, 'off-the-record' retreat," according to CBS News.
The event brings together policymakers, business executives and scholars from around the world to discuss emerging issues in politics, economics, and foreign policy in an informal setting. Journalists and media personalities may be invited to the closed-door event, but are prohibited from reporting about what happens.
Based on this year's guest list, it appears the Republican party and their allies are increasingly eager to move past the Trump era, CBS reported. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who wants to see a more traditional GOP, is a keynote speaker.
The forum is also expected to feature appearances by a handful of Trump critics, according to The Hill, including Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council and top economic adviser to President Joe Biden.
Trump won't be totally unrepresented, though. Several of his allies are expected to attend, including Representative Elise Stefanik of New York and Senator Rick Scott of Florida, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, CBS reported.
It's not necessarily a huge surprise that Trump wasn't invited to the ultra exclusive event. In 2016, the main topic turned into a strategy session on how to stop the GOP front-runner from getting the party's nomination, according to the Huffington Post.
Trump has not commented on his omission from the event. CBS notes that he is holding a rally of his own on Saturday in South Carolina.
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