Trump will be making an appearance in Tampa. | Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP Trump gets 'surprise' convention role

The Donald is gearing up for Tampa.

When the Republican National Convention kicks off next Monday, Donald Trump will have a “surprise” role on its first day, people familiar with the matter said Sunday evening.


Convention organizers won’t say what he’ll be doing in Tampa or whether he’ll address the delegates there. But they promise the controversial billionaire and prominent anti-President Barack Obama provocateur will be part of their opening day schedule.

The move will undoubtedly generate headlines given the real estate mogul’s star power and his flair for the unconventional.

But it will also give Democrats an avenue to pound the GOP for giving a platform to a man who has relentlessly questioned Obama’s citizenship.

Mitt Romney has embraced Trump this campaign season, including attending a Las Vegas fundraiser in May thrown by the reality TV star.

Trump has generated some buzz with recent posts on Twitter saying he was planning a “big surprise” at the convention next week. But for the first time sources are confirming Republicans will indeed enlist Trump to be part of their opening day act.

Trump’s appearance will come on a day with a theme titled, “We Can Do Better,” which appears likely to amount to a coordinated attack on Obama’s time in office.

“We are going after Obama,” said Kyle Downey, a convention spokesman. “If he doesn’t want to talk about his failed record, we will. The American people expect and deserve better.”

More details of the first day’s schedule will be released Monday on the party’s convention mobile app, called Tampa 2012.