Former President Donald Trump vowed to remain in the 2024 contest even if he winds up getting criminally indicted.
“Oh, absolutely, I won’t even think about leaving,” Trump told reporters when asked at a gaggle before his Conservative Political Action Conference address. “Probably, it’ll enhance my numbers, but it’s a very bad thing for America. It’s very bad for the country.”
CPAC 2023: GOP BASE EMBRACES TRUMP’S ‘AGGRESSIVE’ CONFAB SPEECH, BUT SOME WANT DESANTIS
Trump is facing a string of investigations or legal challenges, including a civil lawsuit over alleged business fraud from the New York attorney general, a sprawling criminal inquiry from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, an investigation from Fulton County, and special counsel Jack Smith’s two-pronged Justice Department investigation.
At CPAC, where Trump drew an enthusiastic crowd, Trump decried the litany of investigations against him, contending “they’ve weaponized justice in our country.”
He also declined to commit to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s call for 2024 Republican candidates to make a pledge to back the eventual nominee.
“There are probably people that I wouldn’t be very happy about endorsing that are running, so we’ll see. I think some of them — I won’t use names, I don’t want to insult anybody — but some of them, I would not be very happy about,” Trump told reporters.
McDaniel has sought to corral all Republican 2024 contenders to commit to backing the eventual nominee in exchange for gaining access to the debate stage. However, in addition to Trump, a handful of candidates or potential 2024 hopefuls, such as former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), have been noncommittal.
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Trump won the CPAC straw poll at the confab, which appeared to have lower attendance levels than in the past. During his fiery speech, he presented himself as “retribution” for his loyal followers.
“In 2016, I declared: I am your voice,” Trump proclaimed. “Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution.”
