Pence to keynote Koch brothers event in August

Vice President Pence will give the keynote address at a Koch brothers advocacy event this month, signaling what looks like a growing alliance between the Trump administration and the conservative donor network. 

Americans for Prosperity, which is financed by Charles and David Koch, announced on Friday the vice president would be headlining the Defending the American Dream summit on August 19 in Richmond, Va. 

{mosads}Pence will be joined by former presidential candidate and publishing executive Steve Forbes, as well as Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie. 

The move signals more closeness between the White House and the Koch brothers, who held off on offering their support to President Trump during the campaign. 

The Trump administration’s partnership with the Kochs centers around the issue of tax reform, which is at the top of the White House agenda. 

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made the case for tax reform last month at a Koch network event in Washington. 

However, Pence has long had close ties to the Koch network. 

The vice president held an unannounced meeting with Charles Koch in June one day before a donor meeting in Colorado Springs.