OXON HILL, Maryland — Former President Donald Trump‘s CPAC address doubled as a rallying cry for his supporters and most of the self-selecting crowd filtered out of the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center ready to make America great again.
But Trump’s escalated attacks, especially against establishment Republicans, did not convince everybody in the room before the 2024 presidential primaries.
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Trump’s CPAC speech “felt like 2016 energy,” according to Ryan Sanchez, a student from the University of California, Irvine.
“Me and my friends, we’re, we’re feeling fired up,” he told the Washington Examiner. “He’s definitely coming off more aggressive. He’s calling out the traitors in our midst and [I’m] very happy to see Trump, hopefully, bringing back that energy from 2016 that made us fall in love with him in the first place.”
Sanchez did not malign Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for deciding against attending CPAC, but said he is better positioned to run for president “after Trump’s done.”
Louise Baker, from Baltimore, Maryland, whose husband remains a DeSantis supporter, described Trump’s remarks as “amazing” and “perfect.”
Alex Blagojevic, a Serbian-French immigrant who now lives in Florida, had hoped to hear more about the economy since that is why he intends to support Trump again this cycle.
“President Trump was the first president not to bring a new war since [former President Jimmy] Carter in 40 years,” he added. “Whether you like his style or not, I like what he was doing internationally too.”
Trump used his 103-minute address to draw stark contrasts between himself and establishment Republicans, contending the party was once “ruled by freaks, neocons, open border zealots, and fools.”
“We’re never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove, and Jeb Bush,” he said. “People are tired of Rinos and globalists. They want to see America First. This is the final battle. Everyone knows it.”
He also voiced his frustrations with his critics, calling he and his supporters’ “enemies” “lunatics and maniacs” but promising that he “alone will never retreat.”
“In 2016, I declared: I am your voice,” he said. “Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution.”
Before Trump’s speech, Charles Hibbs, 61, donning a MAGA cap and an Americana-themed baseball jersey pinned with Trump buttons, encouraged the former president to be positive, as opposed to criticizing his rivals for the Republican nomination, both declared and undeclared.
Yes, @CPAC, like the GOP at-large, is dominated by Donald Trump. It’s not easy to show up and stand in that shadow, but you can’t compete if you don’t show up. Props to those like Nikki, Pompeo, Vivek etc who had the courage to show up and compete. https://t.co/hf2DxK3IwK
— Taylor Budowich (@TayFromCA) March 4, 2023
“I want to hear positive output. What he’s going to do for the nation,” the first-time CPAC attendee, who splits his time between Texas and South Dakota, said. “I don’t want to hear any negative stuff because we’ve had enough of that for the last two-and-a-half years.”
But like Baker’s husband, Hibbs has not dismissed DeSantis, pointing to how he has helped his state. Hibbs’ chief concern with DeSantis is his response to the FBI raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and office last year.
“I’m kind of disappointed that DeSantis didn’t show up,” he said of DeSantis and CPAC. “They’ll have to explain that and I’m not going to speculate.”
A Republican operative with Trump’s reelection campaign asserted DeSantis’ decision not to attend CPAC demonstrated “how nervous” he is about “facing off” against Trump.
“The worst thing he could’ve done would be to show up and lose in the straw poll,” the strategist said. “Now, he can pretend like he still has a chance, while scurrying around in President Trump’s backyard begging donors to support him.”
The operative’s opinion was amplified on social media by Trump campaign spokesman Taylor Budowich, who indirectly scrutinized DeSantis by applauding former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and one-time Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for having the “courage” to attend.
“Yes, CPAC, like the GOP at-large, is dominated by Donald Trump,” he tweeted. “It’s not easy to show up and stand in that shadow, but you can’t compete if you don’t show up.”
Another Trump supporter at CPAC, a woman wearing a cowboy-style hat emblazoned with the former president’s name, said she is “absolutely not” considering other candidates.
“I’m a Trump supporter, hardcore, from California,” she went on. “I’m in Latinos for Trump, Mexicans for Trump.”
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The woman’s conversation with the Washington Examiner, which started with her complaining about earlier coverage of CPAC, was ended by chants of “U-S-A!” from the group of supporters taking part in a “VIP” photo line with Trump. They then sang the national anthem before chanting about the Chinese Community Party, Ashley Babbitt, the Jan. 6 rioter shot by police, and repeated “Arrest Dr. Fauci.”
Trump averages 45% support in early polls, according to RealClearPolitics. DeSantis attracts 29% of the vote, former Vice President Mike Pence 7%, Haley 5%, Pompeo 2%, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) 1%.
