In former President Trump’s first speech since leaving office, he assailed President Biden’s record, called for primary challenges to Republicans who voted to impeach him, and declared he will not be starting a new political party. Reporters on the left sounded their usual, tired alarms.
Summary
Former President Donald Trump addressed the crowd at CPAC in Florida, pledging to work with party leaders to regain the majority in Congress and winking at the possibility of another run for the White House in 2024.
- Trump criticized President Biden’s first month in office, saying he “had the most disastrous first month of any president in modern history.”
- Debunking earlier news reports, Trump said he is not going to start a separate political party, saying “we have the Republican party.”
- The fabled CPAC straw poll showed majority support for Trump, garnering 55% of the vote, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a distant second with 21%.
- Trump also took aim at incumbent Republicans who voted to impeach or convict him, calling each out by name and declaring voters need to “Get rid of ‘em all!”
- CNN’s analysis of Trump’s speech called it “unhinged conduct” and said its purpose was to “further radicalize followers” who are willing to become violent in his name.
- The New York Times emphasized how the crowd’s most fervent response was to Trump’s comments about replacing GOP incumbents who either opposed his efforts to contest election results or impeached him.
- The Daily Beast ridiculed the speech, saying it was “lazy” and “predictable”, and claimed there’s no need for Trump to start a third party given party faithful are still supportive, which the author says disapprovingly.
- Conservative blog RedState highlighted reaction to Trump’s speech and the future of the Republican Party, saying there is plenty of room for “Trumpism”, with one report saying the party’s future strength lies in a “polished populism”.
- Newsmax noted the difference between 2021 and 2016, saying Trump canceled his 2016 CPAC speech after it was reported a large number of attendees would boycott his speech compared to 2021 in which the conference “bore his undeniable imprint.”
- OANN highlighted Trump’s call for election reform, saying the process is “very sick and corrupt”, demanding nationwide voter ID requirements and limitations on mail-in voting processes.
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© Dallas Gerber, 2021
