President Donald Trump speaks with supporters of Andrews Joint Base before boarding Air Force One for the last time as president on January 20, 2021 at Andrews Joint Base, Maryland
Pete Marovich | Swimming pool | Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a keynote address to close the Conservative political action conference in Orlando, Florida, next weekend, sources familiar with the plans told NBC News.
Trump is expected to talk about the future of the Republican Party and the Conservative movement, according to sources familiar with the plan.
Full training has not yet been announced and is subject to change.
The event would be the first public appearance on Trump’s camera since he left office last month.
In recent weeks, Trump has continued to rage with the top Republicans who have pushed him, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell; Senator John Thune, No. 2 Republican in the Senate; and longtime political official Karl Rove, according to people familiar with the matter.
Trump spokesman Jason Miller responded to CNBC’s request for comment on the issue by emailing it: “False news. We are focused on getting the House and Senate back in 2022.”
The former president said he plans to support several primary candidates who support his “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Advisers have told Trump Republican voters do not want to see a full-scale war in the Republican Party, according to their own strategists. Instead, voters prefer to see Trump focus his attacks on Biden and top Democrats, advisers say.
Representative Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, Trump’s advocate in Congress, he tweeted that Republicans will be rejected by the party base if they do not accept the former president’s agenda.
Meanwhile, while Trump avoided conviction in his second impeachment trial, he now faces several serious criminal and civil investigations that could be harder to beat. At least one investigation carries the possibility that Trump will be sent to jail if convicted. As of January 20, he lost protection against prosecution by holding the presidency.
“There are a lot of balls in the air in the potential criminal scene, and if I were Donald Trump, I wouldn’t be quiet,” said Joseph Tacopina, New York City’s top criminal defense attorney.
Trump spoke at the CPAC several times during his presidency, often delivering some of his longest speeches, and used his statements to energize his conservative base.
Organizers of the event last year were criticized for their Covid-19 screening precautions after a New Jersey man who attended the CPAC tested positive for coronavirus.
This year’s event will run from Thursday, Feb. 25 to Sunday, Feb. 28, and Trump is expected to close out the weekend’s events.
– CNBC’s Dan Mangan and Brian Schwartz contributed to this report