OXON HILL, Maryland — Former President Donald Trump took on establishment Republicans, telling CPAC he is ready to “complete the mission” he started when he was elected to the White House in 2016.
“The Republican Party was ruled by freaks, neocons, open border zealots, and fools,” Trump told CPAC, closing the four-day conference on Saturday. “We’re never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove, and Jeb Bush.”
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“We are going to finish what we started,” he said. “We are going to complete this mission, we are going to see this battle through. We are going to make America great again.”
While criticizing Republicans who have proposed raising the eligibility age for Social Security and Medicare, Trump indirectly referenced Ukraine as he tries to distinguish himself from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who has solidified his position as Trump’s chief opponent for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Trump is attempting to portray DeSantis as being closer to former President George W. Bush than his own “MAGA” base.
“We are never going back to a party that wants to give unlimited money to fight foreign endless wars, but demands we cut veteran benefits and retirement benefits at home,” he said.
“I’m the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent, and very easily, World War III,” he added, after which there were chants of “No more war!”
Trump also took on Democrats and his critics, describing them as people who “hate” the country and are seeking to “destroy it,” while contending they are “coming after” his supporters “and I’m just standing in their way.”
“Our enemies are lunatics and maniacs, and they cannot stand that they do not own me, they cannot shake me, they cannot control me,” he said. “I alone will never retreat.”
“In 2016, I declared: I am your voice,” he went on. “Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution.”
Trump’s 103-minute remarks were warmly received by the crowd, gathered at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland for the first time post-pandemic. He was introduced to the audience, which comprised roughly 85% of the ballroom, as “the next president of the United States.” He was interrupted only once by a protester who appeared to be carrying a boombox while it played “FTD (F— Donald Trump)” by rapper YG.
During the speech, Trump promoted some of the policies that will be the focus of his second term in office, should he become the 2024 standard-bearer and clinch reelection. His platform includes building as many as 10 next-generation “freedom cities” and baby bonuses, though his loudest applause lines tended to relate to transgender individuals.
Trump, too, underscored crime policies he pitched last year during his first address in D.C. since the end of his administration. He again called for tent cities for homeless, drug addicted, and “severely deranged” people, for gang members to be rounded up and deported, and for federal resources to be deployed to cities dealing with crime. He additionally said he would advocate for term-limits and Republicans becoming “masters of ballot harvesting.”
Trump was this year’s centerpiece of CPAC, which he first came to in 2011, marking his highest profile campaign event since announcing his reelection bid last November at his Mar-a-Lago private club and resort. Simultaneously, the absence of likely rivals, such as DeSantis, gave Trump a built-in advantage.
Instead of risking a lukewarm reception from the pro-Trump crowd, DeSantis, who is amid a national book and fundraising tour, opted to speak to the Club for Growth and potential donors in Palm Beach, Florida. Others, including Trump Vice President Mike Pence, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH), and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), made the same decision. Trump U.N. Ambassador and former Gov. Nikky Haley (R-SC) appeared at CPAC and the Club for Growth retreat, while Trump Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo and multi-millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy only delivered remarks at CPAC. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) did not take part in either.
Trump’s dominance at CPAC was demonstrated in his winning the conference’s straw poll, earning 62% support to DeSantis’ 20%. That is a decrease in DeSantis’ support after Trump last year notched 59% of the vote to DeSantis’ 28%. Yet the crowd did cheer this year when DeSantis showed up in a video that was rolled out before Trump walked on stage.
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Trump’s return to the Washington area coincides with developments regarding the federal and state investigations into him and the 2020 election, as well as increased activity from his campaign for president. Trump this week reached out to Nevada Republicans, who host an early nominating contest.
Trump averages 45% support in early primary polls, according to RealClearPolitics. DeSantis attracts 29% of the vote, Pence 7%, Haley 5%, Pompeo 2%, and Scott 1%.
