Trump to claim total control of GOP with first post-presidency speech
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Mike Allen, author of AM
Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images
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In his first post-presidential appearance, Donald Trump plans to send the message next weekend that he is Republicans' "presumptive 2024 nominee" with a vise grip on the party's base, top Trump allies tell Axios.
What to watch: A longtime adviser called Trump's speech a "show of force," and said the message will be: "I may not have Twitter or the Oval Office, but I'm still in charge." Payback is his chief obsession.
Axios has learned that Trump advisers will meet with him at Mar-a-Lago this week to plan his next political moves, and to set up the machinery for kingmaking in the 2022 midterms.
- Trump is expected to stoke primary challenges for some of those who have crossed him, and shower money and endorsements on the Trumpiest candidates.
- State-level officials, fresh off censuring Trump critics, stand ready to back him up.
Why it matters: Trump's speech Sunday at CPAC in Orlando is designed to show that he controls the party, whether or not he runs in 2024.
- His advisers argue that his power within the GOP runs deeper and broader than ever, and that no force can temper him.
- "Trump effectively is the Republican Party," Trump senior adviser Jason Miller told me. "The only chasm is between Beltway insiders and grassroots Republicans around the country. When you attack President Trump, you're attacking the Republican grassroots."
The big picture: The few Republicans who have spoken ill of Trump since the election — including House members who voted to impeach him, and senators who voted to convict — have found themselves censured, challenged and vilified by the parties in their home states.
What's next: Trump's leadership PAC, Save America, has $75 million on hand, and he has a database of tens of millions of names.
The long game: Many Trump confidants think he'll pretend to run but ultimately pass. He knows the possibility — or threat — gives him leverage and attention.
A Trump source said some Republicans have told him: "If you endorse me, I'll run."
- But advisers say that's not how it'll work. This week's meeting will aim to tap the brakes.
- Instead, Trump is going to set up a formal process for vetting potential endorsees, including a requirement that they raise money and put together an organization.
What we're watching: Trump plans to argue in the CPAC speech that many of his predictions about President Biden have already come true.
- Look for Trump to lay into "the swamp" and Beltway insiders in a big way.
- The Trump source said: "Much like 2016, we're taking on Washington again."
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Donald Trump always does or tries to do what he says he will do. That has been seen time and time again over the past 5 or 6 years. Those conservatives who think they can have Trump created policies promoted within the party without having Trump himself are fools. He is not gone and will not be gone by the efforts of conservatives. He is your daddy.
meh, the party of white supremacy should have their leading racist at the helm.
I agree, but someone should tell conservatives that they cannot "move on". They will be wrapped around Trump's finger until he is dead.
Or possibly in prison.
Oh, I think he could run the GOP from prison.
<sigh> You're probably right.....
They can't avoid the stink that they've wrapped themselves in, and it's now open season on RINOs....!
I seriously doubt it happening. Trump had his four years and blew it, alienating too many people in the process. I pray reasonable people will marginalize him as much as possible so he becomes less and less relevant.
I believe that is what you want Ed, but it's not gonna happen.
Only time will tell.
it's rumored that some of the proud boys are already talking about taking trump out. bwah ha ha
Donald Trump will be giving a speech, before the most prominent conservative meeting in the country every year, only about six weeks after leaving office. Reportedly people who have seen the speech told reporters (in other words it was leaked by Trump or with Trump's approval) that Trump will claim to be the leader of the Republican Party and the frontrunner for the nomination in 2024. Does this sound like a scenario where Trump fades away?
I only said I pray that he does, but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing he will not get my vote either way.
I bet he gets some boos from the crowd. Some of the people who stormed that capitol on Jan 6 are feeling that he let them down
Trump let a lot of people down.
I wish it were the case Ed, but the Trump base will rule the day in the primaries. And their aren't enough RINOs to marginalize him at this point.
The GOP/Republican leadership has had multiple opportunities to cut Trump off at the knees with the impeachments and other actions. They just didn't have the backbone to make it happen. So it's a "pay up now, or pay up later" situation, and those like Lindsey, and McConnell, Et al, kicked the can down the road.
If the impeachment votes had been by secret ballot..... things would be different today. But alas...!
He let half a million Americans down, six feet down.
"Trump plans to argue in the CPAC speech that many of his predictions about President Biden have already come true."
Donald must be reading Vic Eldred's posts.
LMAO, how true that is.
How is trmp going to run a campaign without a Twitter account? How does he expect to lead without one?
trump versus America round two.
Ding
No surprise. I never underestimate this megalomaniac.
A list of the speakers at the right wing C-PAc conference has been released
Donald Trump
Ron DeSantis
Pete Hegseth
Lawrence Jones
Jason Chaffetz
Deroy Murdock
Dan Bongino
Leo Terrell
Tomi Lahren
Kevin McCarthy
Jim Banks
Matt Schlapp.
Matt Gaetz
Ted Cruz
Tom Cotton
Josh Hawley
Marco Rubio
Kristi Noem
Mike Pompeo.
Donald Trump Jr
Charlie Kirk
Sara Carter.
The booshwa will get deep.
Whatever happened to Candace Owens ? She used to be a regular at this sort of crap.
She had a baby last month.
Got to wonder how Ted Cruz is going to fair....
A bunch there that want to be president....... Nikki Haley is obviously missing. Did they take here secret decoder ring for saying bad things about their savior Trump?
No Chachi?
What, no "My Pillow" guy Mike Lindell on the list? I am shocked!
IMO it has become ESSENTIAL that proceedings be brought that will prevent Trump from ever being able to sit in the driver's seat of the USA again.