Donald Trump was spotted at Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati airport. Why? Who was he with?

During a day off from his hush money trial, former President Donald Trump was spotted on Wednesday at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, where he flew in his private jet to attend a fundraiser with supporters, including special guest Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Trump and Vance had lunch with several other prominent figures, including former Cincinnati City Councilman and businessman Chris Bortz, in the Indian Hill mansion of Peggy Gardner Johns, who founded the multibillion dollar company Cintas, a uniform, cleaning supply and safety products company.

“This was a great opportunity,” former Cincinnati City Councilman and businessman Chris Bortz said. “My opinion of him went up exponentially. What a warm, kind and genuine guy. It’s no surprise why he is so successful.”

He was also greeted by supporters at the airport when he arrived. Former Anderson Township Trustee Andrew Pappas organized a honk and wave at the private jet center where Trump's private plane landed.

“Consider the fact that Trump has been kicked by everybody, every day, by the media," Pappas said. "As a human being it’s helpful to show up and show there is support.”

Trump in Ohio: Donald Trump lunches with JD Vance and wealthy Cincinnati donors

Here is everything you need to know about Trump's visit to the Cincinnati region:

Why was Trump at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport?

He was flying in for a $50,000-a-plate lunch with supporters and prominent people, including Vance, at John's mansion.

Trump got off his plane, boarded a black Chevy Suburban SUV and traveled in a police-led motorcade. His motorcade drove through Cincinnati's East Side and Mariemont before turning up a wooded hillside to Indian Hill and John's estate.

What did Trump say during the lunch?

Bortz, who attended the lunch, said Trump talked about bringing down inflation and securing the southern border as a way to prevent crime, which he often talks about on the campaign trail.

He said Trump did not mention his criminal trial or whether Vance would be his vice presidential choice.

Why is Trump on trial?

Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide reimbursement payments to his former lawyer Michael Cohen for the money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

More: Trump trial recap: Listen to clip of Trump, Michael Cohen allegedly talking hush money

Who attended the lunch?

The invitation obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau described it as a "lunch discussion" with Vance as a special guest.

Attendees had to contribute $50,000 each or $100,000 per couple, which would go toward the Trump 47 Committee, which is a joint fundraising committee that includes Trump's campaign, the Republican National Committee and several state GOP groups including Ohio's.

These are the people the guest list included, according to an NBC News reporter, citing an unnamed source, shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

• Members of Cincinnati's wealthy Lindner family

• Republican fundraiser from Lexington Nate Morris

• Former Ohio GOP Chair Jane Timken

• Former Ohio GOP Chair Bob Paduchik

• Former Cincinnati City Councilman and businessman Chris Bortz

• JTM CEO Tony Maas

• Carlene and Bob Robinson

A source familiar with the fundraiser confirmed to The Enquirer the list was accurate.

Did Trump go to Lexington?

Trump was expected to attend a fundraiser on Wednesday evening, part of a series of dinners sponsored by a newly formed committee called Trump 47. The Kentucky dinner was organized, in part by Joe and Kelly Craft, The Courier Journal previously reported.

Tickets started at $25,000 per couple and ranged up to nearly $845,000, according to a report from the National Review.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt posted a video from his motorcade in Lexington.

"President Trump’s motorcade rolling through God’s Country," she said on a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Who is J.D. Vance?

Vance is a Senator from Ohio who won in 2022 after former U.S. Sen. Rob Portman retired from office.

Vance was not keen on Trump before running for his current position, but he secured his endorsement in the GOP primary.

"One thing that seems clear is (Trump) doesn’t really care if people have admonished him or criticized him in the past," said Justin Barasky, a political strategist who advised Ryan's campaign. "In fact, he seems to relish in winning people over and getting people who said really bad things about him to bend the knee and become a supporter."

Now, Vance is rumored to be one of Trump's potential vice presidential picks. Vance's name has come up in multiple reports about Trump's shortlist, and he recently attended a donor retreat in Florida with other contenders.

A Trump campaign adviser said "anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump," The Cincinnati Enquirer previously reported.

Others are reading: As Trump mulls VP pick, he dines with JD Vance in Indian Hill on Wednesday

Rebecca Grapevine contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Donald Trump seen at Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati airport. Why?