Trump teases Republicans with idea of running again in 2024, but needs new message

He spent a good half-hour rehashing the 2020 election and claims he really won. He vowed to seek vengeance on his Republican enemies. He gave a ringing defense of “Trumpism.”

Donald Trump 2.0 is clearly still in control of the national Republican Party but he could use a new message and refreshed ideas if he wants to run and win again in 2024.

That much became clear with Trump’s appearance and speech before a major conservative gathering in Orlando, the Conservative Political Action Conference — his first return to the political stage since leaving office.

Yes, conservatives still love him and he can count on his base to stick with him through another four years. Trump intentionally teased Republicans with the idea of running against Democrats again in 2024.

“Who knows, I may even decide to beat them for a third time,” Trump said.

But just complaining about the 2020 election is not enough. And crowing about the building the Wall.

Trump lost the election because it became all about his personality — and not the issues that propelled him to victory in 2016.

He needs to restore the “movement” that shocked the world five years ago, but with a refurbished message that provides a clear rationale for why voters should dump the Biden administration and its far left agenda.

“We reject left wing lunacy. We reject cancel culture,” he said, drawing wild cheers.

And Trump threw cold water on reports that he would leave the Republican Party and start a new party.

“That’s fake news,” he said.

There were a few good lines Trump got in, smartly vowing to stick by parents who want to return their kids to in-person schooling.

“On behalf of the moms, dads and students of American, I call on Joe Biden to get the schools open and get them open now,” he said.

Trump also took full credit for pushing for the development of coronavirus vaccines during his administration.

“I pushed the FDA like they have never been pushed before,” he said. “Never let them (the Biden administration) take the credit.”

But Trump couldn’t let the speech go without revisiting his claims that the election was stolen from him — prompting chants of “You won” — and burning Republicans who don’t support him.

Trump called out Republicans by name who he says spent time attacking him and his supporters, including Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and LIz Cheney.

“Get rid of ‘em all,” he said.

The CPAC meeting, which the New York Times describes as “made up largely of far-right Trump supporters,” also held a self-promoting super secret ballot straw poll that showed about two-thirds of the attendees want Trump to run again.

Not surprisingly, Trump is demolishing all his potential 2024 opponents in the straw poll, winning 55% of the vote.

But those numbers are not that impressive considering the group he was speaking to is mostly his die-hard supporters.

That means there’s an opportunity for other Republicans to step forward and lead — especially if Trump in the end decides not to run again.

No, not you Mitt.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3bLO5kq