TRUMP IS BACK IN TOWN – AT 11:40 P.M. ET:  The former president made his first public appearance since leaving office at the CPAC convention in Florida.   The hall was his, heavily pro-Trump.  Anderson Cooper was not invited.  Nancy Pelosi sent regrets.

It was classic Trump.  He made no announcement of a 2024 run, but made it clear that his calendar had some open space that year.  He hit the Trump issues hard, to cheers.  From Fox: 

ORLANDO, Fla. – Former President Donald Trump on Sunday tore into President Biden on issues ranging from the brewing crisis at the border to foreign policy – while mapping out what he believes is the future of the conservative movement, and pledging not to create a new party.   

"Joe Biden has had the most disastrous first month of any president in modern history," Trump said, calling the new administration "anti-jobs, anti-families, anti-border, anti-energy, anti-women and anti-science."

"In one short month we have gone from America First to America Last," he said.

Trump spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), marking his first major speech since leaving office. He spoke to a raucous pro-Trump crowd at an event where his influence was felt throughout.

He focused predominantly on the escalating border crisis, which he returned to frequently as he ripped into Biden’s rollbacks of a number of Trump-era policies – which has in turn seen a surge in migrants at the border.

"It took the new administration only a few weeks to turn this unprecedented accomplishment into a self-inflicted humanitarian and national security disaster," he said.

"By recklessly eliminating our border, security measures, controls, all the things we put into place, Joe Biden has triggered a massive flood of illegal immigration into our country like we've never seen before."

He also hit Biden on the failure to re-open schools, which Biden has promised to do, but is so far struggling to deliver amid fierce resistance in a number of states from powerful teachers unions.

"Joe Biden has shamefully betrayed America's youth and he is cruelly keeping our children locked in their homes, no reason for it whatsoever," he says.

He accused Democrats of wanting Congress to pass a $1.9 trillion "boondoggle" to open schools.

"On behalf of all the moms and dads, I call on Joe Biden to open the schools and get them open now," he said.

COMMENT:  If there was one discordant note, and there usually is in a Trump speech, the former president could not resist the temptation to attack those in the Republican ranks who have opposed him.  He made it clear that he believes he has won the loyalty of the vast majority of the party.   I think some uniting talk may be in order.

A poll of the CPAC delegates showed Trump to be their overwhelming favorite for president in 2024.  If he chooses not to run, their favorite is Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida. 

Republicans first must win the 2022 midterms.  Trump is clearly available to help with the effort, and accept the credit if the party is victorious.

February 28, 2021