Trump’s political career should be dead and buried but this felt like a campaign rally

US News

Not many defeated leaders could arrive an hour late for a speech but still be greeted with a standing ovation.

It’s 39 days since we last heard from the former president Trump; five-and-a-half weeks to stew on defeat and consider his future.

“Have you missed me, CPAC?” he asked the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference. You can guess the reply.

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For almost two hours he meandered through his own perceived successes, speculated on the future, took aim at the Democratic Party and excoriated the democratic process.

He started slow, reading from script and then found the energy of the room. He deviated and free wheeled, as Trump does, at one point even criticising transgender athletes before announcing the Republican Party as the party of love.

Repeatedly he claimed that the 2020 election was rigged, despite no evidence of mass-fraud or criminality. His supporters simply cannot believe he lost.

He announced that he wasn’t planning to start a new party – “fake news, fake news” he said – and then, to pandemonium in the hall, he delivered the line they were all waiting for:

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“Who knows, I might try and beat them for a third time…”

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Trump says his journey is ‘far from over’

Not quite a commitment to run in 2024, but enough of a tease.

“It was so inspiring it made me cry,” one delegate told me afterwards.

“Do you think he’ll run?” I asked another. “Stupid question,” was the reply.

Mr Trump had points to make, scores to settle and old mistruths to peddle.

He took aim at anyone who has spoken out against him, regardless of party, listing them by name to boos from his charged audience.

By rights, after losing the election by seven million votes and having been impeached for a second time, Mr Trump’s political career should be dead and buried. Instead this felt like a campaign rally, a leader setting out his manifesto for the fight ahead.

Mr Trump is playing the game: by leaving the “will he, won’t he?” question open, he is ensuring he stays relevant.

He might be keeping his supporters waiting and America guessing, but it sure felt like the 2024 election campaign started in Florida last night.

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1 Comment

  1. Obviously you believe your own BS up there in the lib news room where this story was conceived. Donald Trump is far from finished and thee greatest Republican candidate we have ever had since Reagan. Maybe just a touch better. Further more everyone knows this election was stolen. Y’all just had the courts in fear of some kinda Antifa violence so they wouldn’t look at the overwhelming evidence or listen to the over 150 witnesses that were willing to risk there freedom to testify to the late night/early morning goings on around the country. not to mention all the data scientist that testified that in order for bite-me to suddenly surge ahead the way he did at that point in the election would be the equivalent of flipping a coin like 40 times times in each and every state and getting heads every time. in other words not possible dems stole this election

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