Former President Donald Trump mocked a possible 2024 race and attacked the Biden administration at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Sunday as he delivered his first public speech since leaving the White House less than six weeks ago.
Trump was greeted with a standing ovation when he took to the Orlando stage to declare that “our movement … is just beginning.”
“I stand before you today to declare that the incredible journey we began together four years ago is far from over,” Trump told the enthusiastic crowd.
“Our movement of proud and patriotic American workers is just beginning,” he said. “And in the end we will win!”
While making it clear that he intends to remain a force in the Republican party, Trump hinted at a possible 2024 presidential candidacy.
Referring to Democrats, he said, “I can even decide to beat them for the third time,” attracted by some deafening attendees.
Trump dispelled rumors that he planned to start a new political party as “fake news.”
“We have the Republican Party,” Trump said. “It will unite and be stronger than ever.”
“We don’t start new parties. You know, they kept saying, “a new party will begin.” We have the Republican Party, it will unite and be stronger than ever. I don’t start a new party. That was fake news. False news. No, wouldn’t it be brilliant? We start a new game and split our vote, so you can never win. No, we are not interested in that. “
He also received success from his successor, claiming that President Biden has had “the most disastrous first month than any president in modern history.”
“We all knew the Biden administration would be bad, but no one knew how bad they would be,” Trump said.
“There is no better example than the horrible new crisis on our southern border,” he continued. “In just a short month, we’ve gone from America first to America last.”
Trump argued that Biden’s immigration policy would cost Democrats the next two federal elections.
“We are a country. We can’t afford the world’s problems, “he said. “As much as we would like, we would love to help. We can’t do that. Therefore, they come because of foolish promises and words. ”
The former president also called for the reopening of the country’s schools, accusing Biden of having “sold American students to teachers’ unions.”
“Joe Biden has shamefully betrayed American youth and keeps our children cruelly locked up at home, for no reason, they want to leave,” Trump said.
“They are fooling the next generation of Americans of the future who deserve and do deserve that future,” he continued. “They will grow up and have a scar … the physical and mental health of these young people is reaching a breaking point.”
“On behalf of America’s mothers, fathers and children, I ask Joe Biden to open schools and open them now,” Trump said, amid applause.
He also announced the task of his administration to prepare a coronavirus vaccine, saying, “Never let them take the credit, just follow our plan.”
Trump criticized the Biden administration for claims it “started from scratch” to develop a national vaccine distribution plan because the former president had left them with nothing.
“Biden said we did not have the vaccine. Now, I think he said it because he didn’t know what the hell was going on, “Trump joked.
Trump returns to national spotlight to end the four-day annual conference in Orlando as Republicans hope to regain a majority in the House and Senate in the 2022 midterm elections and win the White House in 2024.
Ahead of Trump’s long-awaited statements, a parade of potential Republican presidential candidates – including Mr. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz – served as opening acts over the weekend to dismiss the CPAC crowd for the commander in cap.
Since leaving office on Jan. 20, Trump has been at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, meeting with former campaign officials and Republican lawmakers as he lays the groundwork for a political return for he and the Republican Party.