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In his first public address since leaving, former President Trump told the audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that he would not create a third party because “we have the Republican Party.”
Why is this important: The former president aims to consolidate himself as the Republicans’ “presumed 2024 candidate” as his top candidates – including former members of his administration – face the challenge of running against the GOP’s most popular politician.
- Trump made it clear that he was not going anywhere and treated his CPAC speech as one of his MAGA gatherings, bouncing off topics, denigrating political opponents and listing long-standing grievances.
- After predicting that President Biden “would lose the White House decisively in four years,” Trump said he could run again in 2024, while repeating the false claim that he won the 2020 election: “Actually, as you know, they just lost White House. Who knows, I might even decide to beat them a third time, okay?”
- “This election was rigged,” Trump falsely claimed, before calling for heavy restrictions on postal and postal voting.
- Unable to do so on Twitter anymore, Trump spent much of his speech casting doubt on the election and stoking the same anger among his base that led to the violence on Capitol Hill on 1/6.
What to watch: 2024 contenders like Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley and Mike Pence – two of whom have skipped CPAC this year – will need to throw their hats in the ring sooner than their potential opponents in office.
- Former Trump administration officials no longer have the public platform they need to stay relevant day to day.
Trump’s derisory language and the refusal to take a back seat also contributes more to the factions we see taking shape within the GOP.
- Mitch McConnell must have eaten raven after being beaten by Trump following his scathing remarks about the former president’s role in the Jan.6 attack on Capitol Hill. The Minority Leader has said he will “absolutely” support Trump if he is the 2024 Republican candidate.
- Mitt Romney, arguably Trump’s biggest GOP critic in Congress, said this week that Trump would likely win the 2024 nomination if he runs.
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