In his first public appearance in the US capital Washington since his resignation, former President Donald Trump accused the current US administration of failure. “Very simple, we had made America great again,” Trump said. “But now our country has literally been brought to its knees — and who would have thought that could happen,” Trump said in a keynote speech on Tuesday afternoon (local time). Ironically, the ex-president then scolded the “corrupt establishment.”
He cited high inflation and high fuel prices as examples, but focused his speech on the topic of internal security. “Our country and the lives of our citizens are at stake and we have no time to lose. Our country is in a criminal state like we have never experienced before,” he said, without backing it up with numbers.
Ex-president speaks of ‘corrupt establishment’
Trump delivered his speech at a convention at the America First Policy Institute – a think tank founded by former election officials to advance Trump’s policies. It was his first appearance in Washington since leaving the capital ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration in the wake of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Speaking to the Commission of Inquiry currently investigating the violence, particularly focusing on the role of the ex-president and his staff, Trump said, “Everything this corrupt establishment is doing to me is about their power and control over the American… people. They want to harm you somehow. They really want to hurt me so that I can’t work for you anymore. And I don’t think that’s going to happen.” The Commission of Inquiry into the Capitol bombing aims to shed light on the events in the White House on January 6, 2021, clarify responsibilities and draw conclusions.
Will Trump Resume?
Trump again commented only indirectly on a possible re-candidacy in the 2024 presidential election: “Maybe we should just do it again,” the 76-year-old said after speaking about his 2016 election victory and again claiming he also had the choice won in 2020. To this day, the Republican refuses to acknowledge his defeat to Biden and also spoke about voter fraud in his Washington speech.
Since his deselection, Trump has repeatedly flirted with renewed candidacy and fueled speculation. A second term as president in the US is also possible if the two periods do not immediately follow each other. Trump would be 78 years old in just over two and a half years.
Ex-Vice Vice President Mike Pence Has His Own Plans
Former Trump Vice President Mike Pence also gave a speech in Washington on Tuesday, but at a different think tank — the conservative Heritage Foundation. Last Friday, Trump and Pence appeared in parallel at events in the US state of Arizona. Both Republicans there campaigned for rival party colleagues in the race for governor. Observers took this as a sign that Pence wants to distance himself from his former boss, as both could aim for the White House in 2024.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
