Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Trump savages Democratic enemies at CPAC conference

The best is yet to come.

That was the message President Trump tried to hammer home at the raucous Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, lacing into the Democratic candidates vying to replace him and trumpeting his accomplishments during a 90-minute rah-rah session.

The president began with an early crowd-pleaser, the war on Middle East violence and his decision to take out Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani and ISIS boss Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

“Soleimani was the father of the roadside bomb,” Trump said as CPAC activists booed the name of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard chief. “We took that son of a bitch out didn’t we? We should have done that a long time ago.”

Amid the cheers, the president warned crowd members against endless war, saying the United States could not be the “policeman” of the world. Trump used the moment to take a victory lap over the news announced just hours earlier that the US and Taliban had reached a peace accord.

“We can begin the immediate process of trying to bring our troops back home,” Trump said. “After years of rebuilding foreign nations, we are finally rebuilding our nation and taking care of our own American citizens. It’s time … The longest war in American history by far will be over.”

On the domestic front, Trump assured that the coronavirus outbreak was under control. He offered up a heavy dose of credit for himself.

“In the early stages of the foreign outbreak, I ordered sweeping travel restrictions to prevent uncontrolled spread of the disease,” he said. “I did it very early and that decision has now been given very good grades, like an A plus plus plus.”

The president spoke with evident joy to his adoring fans in the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland. Many attendees waved Trump-branded merchandise amid repeated standing ovations.

Trump has addressed the CPAC conference every year since taking office and credited his appearances in earlier confabs for helping to launch his political career.

The billionaire also offered a brutal assessment of the Democratic candidates — with particular vitriol saved for “mini” Mike Bloomberg.

“That was probably the worst debate performance in the history of debate performances, but he’s going to keep spending money,” he said of the former NYC mayor’s much-maligned appearance in his first Democratic debate.

At one point, the 6-foot-3 Trump even went into a crouch behind the podium with just his eyes visible to add an extra bit of mockery to his 5-foot-7 foe.

The president fired off zingers at former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg, who he again branded as “Alfred E. Neuman,” and denounced Beto O’Rourke for his “presumptuousness.” He also mocked Elizabeth “Pocahontas” Warren and took credit for goading her into taking a DNA test to prove her alleged native American ancestry.

“Look what I did to her,” Trump jeered amid roaring laugher. “She choked. She went out and got a test.”

He predicted Joe Biden would win the South Carolina primary, and that other people would be running the government for him if he won. The president also saved a bit of fire for his fellow New York pol, Sen. Chuck Schumer.

“Crying Chuck Schumer, he sees a mic, he’ll run 200 yards to get to a mic,” said Trump.

Trump closed out the speech, with a signature hug of one of the US flags on stage, and this year included a kiss.

“The American adventure is only just beginning,” he said before walking off stage.

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