Former President Donald Trump addresses a raucous crowd in Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday evening – he repeated allegations that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he had won the 2020 presidential election.
He also frequently repeated the false accusation that President Biden was not the legitimate winner of the election.
“Under our administration, Russia used to respect America just like any other country respected America, but now Joe Biden is seen as weak,” Trump said. “As everyone understands, this horrific catastrophe would never have happened if our elections had not been rigged and if I had been president.”
In his usual remarks, Trump mocked President Biden as “bad, weak, and blatantly incompetent.”
“Putin is playing Biden like a drum and that’s not a nice thing,” Trump said, while denouncing the Russian invasion as a “farce” and an “assault on humanity.”
“We’re laughing all over the world today,” Trump sighed.
Trump said Putin was likely benefiting from the surprise Oil price hike because of his invasion and created an incentive for him to stop the hostilities.
“Russia is now making more money than they ever dreamed of. The cost of the war is very small compared to the kind of money they get.”
Trump touted his dovish record as president and made clear that Vladimir Putin made inroads into his neighbors during the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden – but not while he was in office.
“He got me and he understood that I wasn’t playing a game,” Trump said. “He had an affinity for Ukraine and I said ‘never let that happen’.”
Trump has also offered red meat on a number of non-Ukrainian issues. He called for an end to coronavirus-related mandates, criticized Biden for allowing an increase in illegal immigration, and gave a voice in support of him. Canadian Freedom Convoy.
“We stand with the truckers and we stand with the Canadian people,” he said to one of the biggest lines of applause of the night. Trump warned that the Democratic Party would “be held accountable” in the midterm elections and “be banished into political oblivion.”
He added that Democratic talking points were “a lot of bulls”.
“The quagmire of Washington knows we are coming to break their hold on power forever,” he said. “We will expel the Biden crime family from the White House in 2024.”
Trump is a CPAC veteran. The real estate mogul first addressed GOP activists in 2011 and attended regularly during his four years in office.
The former president also used his Saturday speech to attack the United States Supreme Court – which rejected efforts by his legal team to annul the 2020 election.
They try very hard to be politically correct and to be liked by all. “They are afraid of the radical left,” Trump said, offering a specific attack on his appointee, Brett Kavanaugh.
“He lived through hell and I think he’s afraid. I really do,” Trump offered wistfully, referring to a string of sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced during the attorney’s confirmation in 2018.
Trump also received veiled criticism of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis – offering his praise and thanks to a long list of GOP notables, without naming the country of the rising sun. He found time to thank Florida Senator Rick Scott, his former White House physician Rep. Ronnie Jackson, and pillow dealer Mike Lindell.
DeSantis is widely seen as the 2024 presidential candidate, who will likely challenge Trump for the nomination.
Trump later praised “some Republican governors” who had done a “very good job” in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic – but again refused to name DeSantis.
The former president also gave a shout out to Marjorie Taylor Green. Controversial Georgia congressman makes headlines Speaking at a conference organized by white nationalists before CPAC.
“Subtly charming student. Pop culture junkie. Creator. Amateur music specialist. Beer fanatic.”