Former President Trump returned to the public eye on Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, where he delivered his first public speech since leaving office and since he was acquitted in his Senate impeachment trial. Trump outlined his vision for the Republican Party, calling on states to pass new electoral laws, teasing a possible 2024 term, and criticizing President Biden’s first month in office.
Trump said he remained active in Republican politics, saying that his “journey” that began during his first presidential run “is far from over.” The former president shot down rumors that he was considering creating a third party.
“We have the Republican Party. It will unite and be stronger than ever before,” Trump said. Wouldn’t that be brilliant? Let’s start a new party – let’s split our votes so you can never win. No, we are not interested in that. ‘
Mr Trump said he believes the GOP is united and the divisions within the party are “between a handful of political hacks in Washington DC and everyone else across the country.” He said he will “actively” work to elect Republicans who embody his vision for the party and told his supporters to donate to his PAC if they wanted to help select the candidates he supports in place of other GOP groups. .
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“We want Republican leaders who are loyal to the voters and who will proudly work for the vision I set out today,” said Mr. Trump, adding that this also includes such issues as supporting the military, advancing “law. and order, “” great trade and great education. “
Trump attacked some of his critics, including the seven GOP senators who voted to condemn him in his impeachment trial. He also called on the 10 House Republicans who voted in favor of his impeachment, including Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney from Wyoming, who Mr. Trump says is “a person who loves to see our troops fight.”
“Get rid of them all,” Mr. Trump said of the Republicans facing impeachment.
The results of a poll at the conference showed that 55% of those in attendance would vote for Mr. Trump for the Republican nomination if the election were held today. Nearly 7 in 10 respondents said they want Mr. Trump to run in the next presidential election.
Trump attacked President Biden, saying his successor had had the “most disastrous first month of any president in modern history” and sharply criticized his decisions on foreign policy, energy and immigration.
“In just a short month, we went from America to America first,” Trump said. “There is no better example than the new and terrible crisis on the southern border.”
The former president also called for schools to reopen and accused the Biden administration of catering to teacher unions.
“Their callous indifference to working families is as evident when it comes to the crucial issue of getting America’s children back to school,” said Mr Trump. “It’s the teachers’ union, it’s the voices and it shouldn’t happen.”
Mr Trump’s performance closed a conference with many Repubilcan party leaders, including potential 2024 presidential candidates, who said the former president should continue to play a role in the GOP. Several speakers said Republicans should not return to pre-Trump policies.
Attendees burst into applause after Trump falsely suggested he won the 2020 election, saying, “I may even decide to beat them for the third time.”
“With your help, we will take back the House, we will win the Senate, and then a Republican president will return triumphantly to the White House. And I wonder who that will be,” Trump later said.
During the conference, there were seven panels on the 2020 election, and some speakers echoed false claims about widespread election fraud. Mr. Trump in his speech called for a cessation of votes without excuse in absence, strong voter identification laws, and for the election to take place in one day. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 40 state legislatures have introduced bills that would limit voting rights.
“We need electoral integrity and electoral reform immediately,” Trump said. He went on to falsely state that the elections were “faked” and complained that the Supreme Court “did not have the guts or courage to make the right decision” in a case that contested the election results.
Trump and his allies lost more than 60 lawsuits after the election, and his own attorney general said there was no evidence of fraud at a level that “could have had a different outcome in the election.”
Earlier on Sunday, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, a staunch ally of the former president, said he wants Mr. Trump to run for president again in 2024.
“President Trump is the leader of the Conservative movement. He is the leader of America’s first movement. He is the leader of the Republican Party,” Jordan said. “And I hope that by January 20, 2025 he will be the leader of our great country again.”