Report: Trump slated to speak at CPAC in first major address since leaving office

After laying low for the first few weeks of his post-presidency life, Donald Trump will soon be back in the spotlight.

According to Fox News, the former president has decided to accept an invitation to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and will address the group next Sunday, Feb. 28, in what will be his first major address and public appearance since leaving office last month.

The conference is typically held near Washington, D.C., but has been moved to Orlando, Florida this year because there are fewer COVID-19 restrictions there, according to the Washington Examiner. The event starts Thursday, and Trump will keynote the final day of the event.

Sources told Fox News that Trump’s speech will address the future of the Republican Party and conservative movement, and will also cover his successor President Joe Biden’s “disastrous amnesty and border policies.”

A voice for conservatives

Trump has been appearing at CPAC regularly since 2011, long before he became a presidential candidate and was elected to the office, as Politico notes. During Trump’s time in office, the conference featured many voices from his administration.

Other speakers reportedly scheduled to appear this year include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former press secretary Sarah Sanders, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, former Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), all members of Trump’s administration or strong supporters of him.

Indeed, since the conference is focused on conservative politics, the Trump wing of the party will likely dominate this year’s event, and it will be a good chance for the former president and his allies to articulate their right-wing populist vision for the Republican Party, particularly amid pushback from establishment Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) who seem to have turned on Trump now that he has left office.

Some of these lawmakers, such as Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), voted to impeach Trump and blamed him for inciting the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Others, like Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), voted to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House.

Trump’s not going away

The Republican Party now seems to be at war with itself, and Trump has made it clear that he is not going away quietly after maintaining strong support from GOP voters even after leaving office.

“Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again [MAGA] has only just begun,” the former president said last week after his impeachment acquittal, according to Fox.

“In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people,” he added. “There has never been anything like it!”

Trump is said to have indicated he intends to be involved in the 2022 midterm elections, and reports allege he is considering another presidential run in 2024.

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