Former President Donald Trump used his speech at the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, D.C., on Saturday to rail against President Joe Biden in anticipation of a 2020 rematch in November.
The remarks lasted roughly 90 minutes and featured some of Trump’s trademark antics, such as kissing the American flag, as well as his plans for a second term — including a pledge to secure the southern border and “drill, baby, drill” upon returning to office.
At multiple junctures, Trump employed the “Crooked Joe Biden” nickname. He mocked Biden’s mental state, even throwing in a couple impersonations to the delight of the audience, and insisted that the people running the country are “destroying it.”
“He is the most incompetent…whatever happened to the cocaine that they found at the White House, where is it?“ President Trump delivers remarks at CPAC 2024 in Washington, D.C.
Watch live now: https://t.co/LIrVjQHxGK pic.twitter.com/9PNrTkrHMi
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) February 24, 2024
Trump pitched himself as a “common sense” force who can guide the United States out of the “Biden nightmare” and restore the country’s standing in the world if re-elected.
“We’re going to be respected like we’ve never been respected before, and it won’t take long,” he said.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "I'm conservative, but the words are common sense. Our country is run by people that are destroying it. We're not going to let it happen again.
We're going to have a great military. Everything in our country is going to function properly again. It's going to… pic.twitter.com/uiaPUHJ3G1
— CPAC (@CPAC) February 24, 2024
Trump said “migrant crime” has become prevalent during Biden’s tenure, among other issues with border security. On the topic of foreign policy, Trump criticized Biden over the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and Russia’s war in Ukraine. And Trump dubbed himself a “political dissident” as he decried the myriad prosecutions he faces while running his campaign.
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“To achieve a great future we first have to throw off the chains of our out-of-control political class and that begins with telling Crooked Joe Biden, ‘You’re fired!'” Trump said, employing a catchphrase from his reality TV show “The Apprentice” on NBC.
TRUMP: “To achieve a great future we first have to throw off the chains of our out-of-control political class and that begins with telling crooked Joe Biden, ‘YOU’RE FIRED!” pic.twitter.com/ViBnpm08fu
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 24, 2024
Trump took aim at the “Washington cesspool” and said the movement behind his 2016 victory “gave these corrupt insiders their chance to change, and with Biden, they answered with hoaxes and witch hunts, censorship, lockdowns, and with total repression.”
Looking ahead to the general election, Trump said, “For hard-working Americans, November 5 will be our new liberation day. But, for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, it will be their judgment day.”
“…November 5th will be our new liberation day. But, for the liars and cheaters…it will be their judgment day!” President Trump delivers remarks at CPAC 2024 in Washington, D.C.
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— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) February 24, 2024
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a top campaign surrogate for Biden who is widely seen as a presidential contender for the Democrats in the future, also got a mention.
Trump said “in a certain way,” he hopes Newsom runs because the governor “destroyed” his state.
Trump takes aim at Gov. Newsom, says he could easily defeat Newsom if he were to launch presidential bid because Newsom has “DESTROYED CALIFORNIA.” pic.twitter.com/SnJTztO4RJ
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 24, 2024
The speech took place as voters cast ballots South Carolina’s GOP primary. Trump still has a Republican rival in Nikki Haley, the former governor of the state, but he did not use his CPAC remarks to dwell on the nomination fight for very long.
After contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the Virgin Islands, Trump has 63 delegates while Haley has 17. A candidate requires 1,215 delegates to win the nomination.