President Donald Trump addressed a passionate crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Saturday, highlighting his administration’s efforts to overhaul the government and promising to create a lasting political majority. Trump’s speech, which lasted more than an hour, focused on his administration’s accomplishments in the first weeks of his second term, including the mass firings of federal employees and a crackdown on immigration.
The president began by touting his mandate from the American people to make significant changes in government and implement his signature policies, such as securing the U.S.-Mexico border and extending tax cuts. He expressed confidence that the Republican Party would defy history and perform well in the upcoming midterm elections. Trump stated, “I don’t think we’ve been at this level, maybe ever.”
In an optimistic tone, Trump compared his administration’s first month to being on a winning streak in a round of golf, giving him confidence for the future. He also announced that he has appointed billionaire Elon Musk to help carry out the firings, with Musk confirming that there may be more to come. “Failure to respond [to an email requesting information on their work] will be taken as a resignation,” Musk posted on X, which he owns.
Trump also reiterated his promises to implement stricter immigration policies, although these efforts have been overshadowed by the mass firings. He announced that one agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, would have its Washington office taken over by Customs and Border Protection officials, with the agency’s name removed from its former building.
The president also touched on his previous promises to scrutinize the country’s gold depository at Fort Knox, jokingly inviting the audience to join him. “Would anybody like to join us? We want to see if the gold is still there,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
While Trump expressed frustration with his predecessor’s handling of immigration and border security, he also had kind words for Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying “I happen to like” him. However, he also addressed China’s unfair trade practices, stating, “we’ve been treated very unfairly by China and many other countries.”
During the conference, Trump met with conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda and Argentine President Javier Milei, both of whom spoke at the event. Trump praised Duda as “a fantastic man and a great friend of mine,” and referred to Milei as “a MAGA guy, too” (referring to his slogan, Make America Great Again).
The president also mentioned his upcoming meetings with other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aiming to address rising tensions in Europe over Russia’s war in Ukraine. He also acknowledged his recent public back and forth with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he referred to as a “dictator” but later acknowledged that Russia was the aggressor in the conflict.
Trump emphasized the importance of reaching a deal to end the war in Ukraine, stating, “I think we’re pretty close to a deal, and we better be close to a deal.” He also highlighted the importance of resolving the conflict for Europe, adding, “It affects Europe. It doesn’t really affect us.”
Later in the evening, the president and first lady Melania Trump hosted a reception and dinner at the White House for the National Governors Association, which was holding their own meetings in Washington over the weekend.
In conclusion, President Trump’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference was filled with optimism, highlighting his administration’s accomplishments and promising a bright future for America. He asserted his mandate from the American people and emphasized his commitment to making significant changes in government. Overall, his address was met with cheers and applause from the crowd, solidifying his support among conservatives and setting the stage for the upcoming midterm elections.
