Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy was seated three seats from former President Donald Trump on Thursday evening at the Republican National Convention, in the first row of Trump’s designated box.
It’s a signal of the closeness in the relationship between the two political figures — a former and possibly future president and a second-term Republican Alaska governor. Dunleavy has been a strong supporter of Trump through thick and thin and was early to endorse him for president in 2023, after Trump announced his run. Dunleavy has said numerous times that Trump was the best president Alaska has ever had, when it comes to Alaska issues.
There would be dozens of other Republican governors or lawmakers who would jump at the chance to be three seats from the former president on the night when Trump is giving speech in which he will formally accept the nomination of the party.
Carmela Warfield, Alaska Republican Party chairwoman, said she snapped a couple of photos, one of Trump reaching over to shake Dunleavy’s hand. Then, Dunleavy turned and pointed straight at Warfield, who snapped another photo.
“Governor Dunleavy being seated in the President’s Box with President Trump, on the last night of our Republican National Convention, is a sign of great things to come for Alaska. There could not be a greater contrast between the Biden administration – which has levied more sanctions on Alaska than he has on the country of Iran – and what the future holds for Alaska with a united Republican Party under a Trump administration. Together, President Trump and Governor Dunleavy will make America energy dominant again. Let’s get to work!” said Warfield.
Rumors are swirling that Dunleavy will be tapped for a seat in the Trump cabinet, if Trump is elected president in November. Those rumors have been around for months, but are especially being discussed now, and the seating arrangement at the convention has fed further speculation about a possible position as Secretary of the Interior.