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Participant
»We love Trump!
We love Trump!«
René Pfister, DER SPIEGEL
»Donald Trump is clearly the star of the CPAC here.
There are 2000 Republican supporters here, mostly people who are on the very conservative wing of the Republican Party, and Donald Trump is the guest star here.
He is the last speaker.
Here, too, there was a survey among the participants, and it showed that over 60% wanted Trump to be the candidate for the presidential elections again.«
Except for the song selection, a lot here has a déja vu character: So does Donald Trump's assessment of his own abilities.
Donald Trump, Former US President
«I stand here today and I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III, quite simply.
And you will have World War III, by the way - unless something is done quickly.
«
The threatening backdrop is clearly built up at the Republican meeting, both in terms of foreign policy and domestic policy. Old MAGA companions in particular can be seen on stage - such as Trump's ex-adviser Steve Bannon. Or family members:
Lara Trump, Donald Trump's daughter-in-law
“The truth is, this is no longer just a war between Republicans and Democrats, left and right.
This is good versus evil in the United States of America.
We all feel it.«
The entire Trump family is also swirling behind the scenes to mobilize the grassroots;
the wives can't be left out - selfies with Kimberley Guilfoyle, wife of Don Junior, go down well here.
René Pfister, THE MIRROR
“The split in the Republican party is also evident in the CPAC. CPAC is sort of a cult meeting, if you will, of the movement of the Trump movement. Many other Republican candidates didn't even show up here. For example, Ron deSantis, the governor of Florida who is said to have ambitions for the White House, has not yet declared his candidacy. But who, I think, realized that this isn't his base, that this is Trump's base, so he didn't even try to recruit supporters here."
Twitter/Benny Johnson
"We love Trump!" some chanted as Nikki Haley arrived at the venue.
Haley declared her candidacy for the presidency back in February - for some this is already considered a betrayal.
Nikki Haley, ex. Governor South Carolina
“This is my purpose, this is our mission.
Let's save our country from weakness and wokeness.
Let's bring back a strong and proud nation.
If anyone can do it, it's the American people.
And I believe that we will prove it again.
Thank you and God bless America.”
René Pfister, DER SPIEGEL
»What is also evident is that the Ukraine war will probably be drawn into the American presidential election campaign.
It is evident that the conservative part of the republican party, the Republican Party, which supports the MAGA movement, is very skeptical about arms deliveries to Ukraine.
And I think Trump, and that was also evident here, will campaign for himself if he becomes presidential candidate, with the accusation that Joe Biden is wasting American money, that it would be easy to make a deal in Ukraine and with Vladimir Putin and you could end the war with it.«
Donald Trump sums up his strategy like this:
Donald Trump, Former US President
“Before I arrive in the Oval Office, I will have ended the catastrophic war between Russia and Ukraine.
He will be settled quickly.
I will solve the problem and I will solve it quickly.
It won't take me more than a day to do this.
I know exactly what to say because I got on very well with them.
I got on very well with Putin.«
At least the loyal base here believes in his abilities .
Your preferred candidate for the next presidential election is clear to you.
