United States: the annual gathering of conservatives under the banner of Trump
The statue of former US President Donald Trump sits at the entrance to the annual Conservative Gathering in Orlando on February 26, 2021. AP - John Raoux
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The great annual gathering of conservatives in the United States continues with this Sunday a key guest: Donald Trump.
A highly anticipated appearance because it will be the first speech of the former president since his departure from the White House.
His popularity remains immense within the Republican Party.
This Saturday, his ally and former Secretary of State praised Donald Trump's record.
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With our correspondent in New York,
Loubna Anaki
“
We have protected American workers!
"
America first, that's what the United States needs!"
".
In front of an acquired crowd, Mike Pompeo delivered an offensive speech this Saturday, praising the decisions taken during Donald Trump's four years in the White House: the economy, immigration or China.
Mike Pompeo has also not hesitated to tackle current President Joe Biden.
Since the start of CPAC, the annual conference of American conservatives, Republican officials have followed one another on stage: Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio, most of them close to the former president.
“
Its base is much more readable and much stronger than what one would expect in fact,
notes Tamara Boussac, doctor in history and civilization of the United States, specialist of the conservatives.
In the last few days, we've seen a lot of reports of Republican voters switching parties, saying they don't want to be Republicans anymore.
But local elected officials remain very favorable to Donald Trump.
And the local parties are really very important because they are the ones who decide the direction of the party and who invest the candidates, in particular those for the midterm elections.
The question of Trumpism remains very present.
We are not at all in a post-Trump era as we would no longer believe in the month of January.
"
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See also:
United States: the Supreme Court inflicts a scathing setback on Trump on his tax returns
2024 presidential candidacy
The real star of this gathering therefore remains Donald Trump, who will make his speech this Sunday for his first public appearance since leaving the White House on January 20.
The opportunity for him to once again establish his authority within the party, very divided since the end of his mandate and especially the attack on the Capitol.
Moreover, the Republicans who dared to criticize or oppose him - Mitch McConnell or
Mitt Romney
- were not invited.
Donald Trump could announce the names of those he intends to support for the midterm elections.
Some wonder if he will also announce his candidacy for the presidential election of 2024. But for Tamara Boussac, “
a declaration of potential candidacy seems rather improbable, it is much too early.
He can be expected to take a stand against Republicans who have criticized him publicly for being something he does regularly.
Notably
against Mitch McConnell
, the leader of the Republicans in the Senate.
We feel that the party is not going to mourn Trumpism but on the contrary will continue along this path.
"
►
To read also: United States: "The Republican Party remains dependent on Donald Trump"
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