Former President Trump returned to the public spotlight on Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando and delivered his first public speech since leaving office and since being acquitted in his Senate hearing. Mr. Trump outlined his vision for the Republican Party, called on states to pass new election laws, teased a possible 2024 run and criticized President Biden’s first month in office.
Mr. Trump has indicated he will remain active in Republican politics, saying his “journey” that began during his first presidential election “is far from over.” The former president has dismissed rumors that he is considering forming a third party.
“We have the Republican Party. It is going to be united and stronger than ever before,” he said. Trump said. “Wouldn’t that be brilliant? Let’s start a new party – let’s split our vote so you can never win. No, we are not interested in that. ‘
Mr. Trump has said he believes the GOP is united and that the divisions within the party are “between a handful of political hacks in Washington DC and everyone across the country.” He said he would “actively work” to elect Republicans who embody his vision for the party, and urged his supporters to donate to his PAC if they want to choose the candidates he supports, rather than other GOP groups.
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“We want Republican leaders who are loyal to the electorate and who will work proudly for the vision I set out today,” he said. Trump said, adding that it includes issues such as supporting the military, promoting ‘law and order’, ‘wonderful’. trade transactions and good education. ‘
Mr. Trump has attacked some of his critics, including the seven GOP senators who voted to convict him. He also called on the ten House Republicans who voted for his accusation, including Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who according to Mr. Trump is a person who likes to see our troops fight. ‘
“Get rid of everyone,” he said. Trump said about the Republicans who supported the accusation.
Results from a conference straw man found 55% of participants would for Mr. Trump is voting for the Republican nomination if the election were held today. Nearly 7 out of 10 respondents said they want Mr. Trump must run in the next presidential election.
Mr. Trump attacked President Biden, saying his successor 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 one short month, we first went from America to America,” he said. Trump said. “There is no better example than the new and horrific crisis on the southern border.”
The former president has also called for schools to reopen, accusing the Biden administration of providing for teachers’ unions.
“Their insensitive indifference to working families is equally evident when it comes to the critical issue of getting America’s children back to school,” Trump said. “It’s the teachers’ union, it’s the votes and it should not happen.”
Mr. Trump’s appearance concludes a conference in which many leaders in the Repubilcan Party appear, including potential 2024 presidential candidates, and says the former president should continue to play a role in the GOP. Several speakers said Republicans should not return to the policies of the era before Trump.
The participants erupted in applause after Mr. Trump falsely suggested he would win the 2020 election, saying, “I might even decide to beat them a third time.”
“With your help, we will take back the House, we will win the Senate, and then a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House. And I wonder who it will be,” he said. Trump later said.
During the conference, there were seven panels on the 2020 election and some speakers reiterated false allegations about widespread fraud in the election. Mr. In his speech, Trump called for an end to absenteeism, strong legal provisions and that the election should take place in one day. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 40 state lawmakers have introduced bills that would restrict access to votes.
“We urgently need electoral integrity and electoral reform,” he said. Trump said. He further falsely said that the election was ‘knee-jerk’ and complained that the Supreme Court ‘does not have the courage or the courage to make the right decision’ on a matter which disputes the election results.
Mr. Trump and his allies lost more than 60 court cases after the election, and his own attorney general said there was no evidence of fraud at a level that “could have led to a different election result.” ‘
Earlier on Sunday, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, a permanent ally of the former president, said he wanted to see in 2024 that Mr. Trump re-elected president.
“President Trump is the leader of the Conservative movement. He is the leader of the American First Movement. He is the leader of the Republican Party,” Jordan said. “And I hope that on January 20, 2025, he will be the leader of our great country again.”