On Tuesday, 45th President Donald J. Trump gave an electric speech at a summit hosted by the America First Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. The group is a think tank founded by former Trump administration officials. During the speech, the president edged closer toward a 2024 White House run. As The Hill reports:
Trump’s remarks started out on script as he laid out a series of proposals to curb crime, such as imposing the death penalty for drug dealers and relocating scores of homeless Americans. He also touched on immigration, the economy and culture war issues like blocking transgender athletes from competing in women’s athletics.
But by the end of Trump’s 90-minute speech, it resembled something similar to his 2020 campaign trail speeches. Trump railed against the Russia investigation that marked the early days of his presidency, he dinged Anthony Fauci for his pandemic recommendations, he mocked the appearance of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and he bemoaned that he was impeached in 2019 “over a phone call” with the Ukrainian president.
Still, the speech was well-received as Trump spoke to a friendly crowd of GOP lawmakers and former administration officials that included House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Kellyanne Conway, both of whom Trump recognized by name.
Toward the end of his speech, Trump accused his critics of attacking him “so I cannot go back to work for you,” a comment that triggered chants of “four more years” from the audience.
VIDEO: 🇺🇸 Donald Trump has returned to Washington for the first time since leaving the White House 18 months ago, delivering a fiery speech at the right-wing America First Policy Institute sprinkled with hints he may run again for president in 2024 pic.twitter.com/K4ifTMswBA
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 27, 2022