INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — A record-breaking number of wealthy donors have gathered at conservative billionaire industrialist Charles Koch’s private weekend retreat, where leaders of the powerful political network have taken a decidedly different, more politically muted tone than in years past.
Though the Koches as GOP icons have been upfront about their strained relationship with Donald Trump, the network’s latest biannual meeting comes just as the president conceded his immediate border wall demand to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in history and Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the aftermath of the 2018 election.
On Saturday night, Charles Koch told the donors that attitudes against perceived adversaries and people with different beliefs were tearing the country apart but that his network was working to “unite with anybody to do right.”
“This network has taken its effectiveness to a whole new level,” Koch said.
The meeting held at a luxury resort in the California desert caters to donors who have committed to giving at least $100,000 annually to the sprawling Koch Network of political, policy, educational and philanthropic organizations. There are 634 donors attending the retreat, including 181 of them as first-timers.
