

Trump has shown no interest in limiting government, in reforming entitlements, or in the Constitution.

In January, during the 2016 primaries, National Review, the conservative movement's most famous journal, devoted an entire issue to attacking Trump. During the campaign he was criticized by conservatives for being a political opportunist with no real philosophy, but also for having positions that clashed directly with conservatism. Trump looked at all of that and said, Meh. As it grew, conservatism hardened into a set of orthodox policy positions: Conservatives are pro-gun, anti-abortion, pro-cop, pro-free trade, anti-regulation, pro-military, pro-school choice, in favor of privatizing nearly every function of government, and against most attempts to push forward civil rights for LGBTQ people. You may dislike part or all of that philosophy, but the rise of conservatism in the Republican Party and the country as a whole has been the major story of American politics since the middle of the last century.
#Trump cpac speech free
When it comes to foreign policy, they generally want the US to be the leader of an increasingly free world-that means the pushing back of communism and radical Islam, and also a commitment to a worldwide system of capitalism that they think is the best way to pull people out of poverty. They want to be able to own guns, teach their kids what they want, and fight to ensure that Christianity has a large role in public life. Conservatives don't want a large government, though they support more government functions, like policing and a robust military, than outright libertarians. To unpack that, I should say that I'm using "conservative," a fairly complex term, to point to a philosophy of self-reliance, freedom from government interference, and a defense of traditional (often religious) values. As Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway said, you might as well call the event TPAC-Trumpism has supplanted conservatism as the dominant philosophy of the right. Showing up at CPAC wasn't just a chance for Trump to bask in adulation it was a chance for an outsider to gloat at his complete and total victory over the Establishment. And though Trump is most definitely a deep-red right winger, and though he's allied with conservatives on a number of issues, he's not, and never really has been, a member of that particular movement. we think.The only notable thing about Trump's speech-beyond the aggressive media bashing, which is just a part of the Trump brand at this point-was that CPAC was once a safe space for conservatives. She was nowhere to be seen, but he did mention her - saying she sends her regards. FWIW, he lost fair and square.Īlso absent from Trump's speech. On that latter topic, he DID again suggest he won, joking that maybe he would "beat them" for the third time. his second impeachment and acquittal, the Jan. Trump rambled at many points in the speech, touching on COVID and foreign policy in somewhat incoherent riffs.Ī few things he didn't touch on very much. and the rhetoric was just as fiery as ever. he was back to calling undocumented immigrants "rapists" and "killers". The whole speech sounded eerily similar to his 2015 launch speech. He was coy about it - saying "Who knows?!?" - but it might as well have been a campaign announcement. the fact that he strongly teased the possibility of him running for President in 2024. Then came the big takeaway from his remarks. He then bashed Joe Biden's first month as President, saying it's been "disastrous" - especially on the immigration front.

Trump said he was committed to supporting the Republican party over the next four years, and insisted he would NOT start his own party - despite speculation to the contrary.Ĥ5 went on to slam what he described as the left's radicalism, socialism and another buzzword going around these days.

Trump finally showed up to a more than welcoming crowd, asking them.
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After delaying for more than a full hour. Former President Donald Trump just uttered his first public words on camera since leaving office in January - and it sure sounds like he's teeing up another run at the White House.ĭT appeared in Orlando Sunday for the conservative convention - where he served as the marquee speaker for the whole shebang.
