Trump to highlight party unity in speech in Phoenix on Aug. 31

• Trump representatives initially said the candidate would deliver a policy speech
• They later backtracked, saying he would talk about party unity

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech in downtown Phoenix on Aug. 31, The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com has learned.

The Trump campaign, which had been scouting locations in Mesa and in other states, has made arrangements to hold the event at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, according to people familiar with the plans.

Representatives of the Trump campaign on Wednesday afternoon initially said Trump would take the stage to outline his policy positions on illegal immigration. But late Wednesday evening, they backtracked, saying the nominee’s remarks would instead focus on “post-primary unity,” but could also include remarks on illegal immigration. Trump’s appearance, if it holds, will occur the day after the Arizona primary election.

Brian Seitchik, Trump’s Arizona state director, said late Wednesday: “Mr. Trump looks forward to returning to Arizona for the GOP unity event … but there will not be a new policy speech.”

Earlier in the day, Robert Graham, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, confirmed the date and location of the event. He said officials are still working out event details.

Unlike the candidate's previous Arizona appearances — rallies that drew thousands — the Trump campaign will only allow about 500 people to attend the speech.

Trump was scheduled to deliver remarks on immigration in Colorado this week, but canceled the event. If the Phoenix event comes off as planned, it would mark Trump's fifth stop in Arizona as a candidate.

The celebrity billionaire's hard-line rhetoric on illegal immigration helped propel him to the Republican presidential nomination, but he is now saying he is open to "softening" his stance. The planned Phoenix speech would offer him an opportunity to explain his shift on the issue, which appears to have contributed to his poor showing in the polls.

Trump has previously called for deportation of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. His new campaign manager, however, recently said it was unclear if such a mass deportation force would be created by a Trump administration.

Illegal immigration was a prominent topic during Trump's previous Arizona campaign appearances.

At a July 2015 event, the business mogul claimed repeatedly the Mexican government was deliberately sending criminals to the United States. He has vowed to build a border fence and force Mexico to pay for its construction.

Trump also said at the event that as president he would charge Mexico $100,000 for every undocumented immigrant who crossed the border.

If Trump indeed discusses party unity, his decision to deliver remarks in Arizona is notable.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, one of the highest-profile Republicans who does not support Trump, has warned that the Republican ticket risks losing Arizona, a traditional red state, unless Trump dramatically changes course.

And U.S. Sen. John McCain, whose record as a prisoner of war in Vietnam has been mocked by Trump, is the target of a television attack ad funded by Robert Mercer, a billionaire well-known as a political benefactor of Trump. Trump has explicitly endorsed McCain’s bid for re-election.

It’s unknown whether Flake or McCain would participate.

Republic reporter Dan Nowicki contributed to this report. Follow the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Reach her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4712.