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The music, the stage - the man in the suit: It's all like a big déjà vu: Donald Trump is back in the political spotlight.
At the Republican Congress in Greenville, North Carolina, he used his first major public appearance as ex-president to make hints of a new candidacy.
Donald Trump, Former US President
“We'll win the important North Carolina congressional elections. And so we're laying the foundation for the Republicans to win this great state again - in the year I'm particularly looking forward to: 2024. "
The ex-president delivered the sharpest attacks against China.
The People's Republic should pay $ 10 trillion to the United States and the world to deal with the corona pandemic.
Donald Trump, Former US President
“It's time America and the world demand reparations from the Chinese Communist Party.
We should all speak with one voice: China has to pay, they have to pay. "
In this context, the attack against the leading chief virologist Fauci did not fail to appear:
Donald Trump, former US President
»The media, the Democrats and the so-called experts are only now admitting what I said 13 months ago: The virus came from a Chinese laboratory.
You couldn't say that.
Dr.
Fauci, with whom I got on well, well, he's a self-promoter.
Not a great doctor, but a good advertising man. "
Trump's first big appearance came two days after Facebook announced that it would continue to block the ex-president's account for the next two years.
Trump was banned from the social network after storming the Capitol on January 6.
Donald Trump, Former US President
“They say they might let me in again in two years.
But I'm not particularly interested. "
Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump announced at the party conference that she will not run for the open Senate seat in North Carolina - because of her young children. Father-in-law Trump, meanwhile, picked up where he thought he had left off - as a favorite of his party.