OXON HILL, Md.—President Donald Trump spoke for more than two hours at the last day of a packed CPAC convention on March 2.
He hit on all the major topics of his America first agenda, while mixing in some off-script riffing that resonated with the appreciative crowd.
At one point, he said: “I’m totally off script right now. And this is how I got elected, by being off script.”
“Our movement and our future in our country is unlimited,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to do even better in 2020.”
He hit on the booming economy, low unemployment numbers, the resurgence in manufacturing, stronger military, and a strengthening of traditional values.
“We’re reclaiming our nation’s priceless heritage,” he said.
Trump explained his use of the tariff system as leverage to secure better trade deals, and to protect American interests—with an overall goal of having reciprocity and dropping tariffs altogether.
“With your help we’re reversing decades of blunders and betrayals … it’s been done by the failed ruling class that enriched foreign countries at our expense,” he said. “America is winning again, America is respected again, and the world knows it.”
Trump bagged the Green New Deal that was recently introduced by Democrats.
“No planes, no energy, when the wind stops blowing, that’s the end of your electric. It would force the destruction or renovation of virtually every structure in the United States,” he said. “Perhaps nothing is more extreme than the Democrat plan to takeover over American energy.”
Trump said he encourages the Democrats to embrace the new plan, insinuating it’ll make it easier for him to win in 2020. “This is a killer … I want them to embrace this plan. … I just want to be the Republican that runs against them.”
As with Vice President Mike Pence’s speech the day prior, Trump criticized the Democrats’ push for socialism.
“Democratic lawmakers are now embracing socialism, they want to replace individual rights with total government domination,” he said. “Socialism is not about the environment. It’s not about justice. It’s not about virtue. Socialism is about only one thing—it’s called power for the ruling class.”
Trump’s actions as president have pushed back from a drift to socialism and toward a reduction in government oversight and regulation.
“The future does not belong to those who believe in socialism,” he said. “The future belongs to those who believe in freedom. I have said it before, and I will say it again: America will never be a socialist country.”
Trump praised young conservatives, singling out Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens. He invited onto stage Hayden Williams, who was punched in the face while tabling for conservatism at the University of California Berkeley on Feb. 19.
“If these socialist progressives had their way, they’d put the Constitution through a paper shredder,” Williams said.
Trump suggested Williams sue the offender and the university.
He also said he will soon sign an executive order that will require colleges to support free speech if they want federal funding.
“Every day we’re restoring common sense and the timeless values that unite us all, we believe in the the Constitution and the rule of law,” Trump said. “We’re hopefully going to be here for six more years, so you’re in good shape.”
Trump brought up the crisis at the southern border, defending the national emergency he declared to redirect money to build around 234 miles of border fencing.
“The lawless chaos on our southern border provides a lucrative cashflow to some of the most dangerous criminal organizations on the planet. Deadly cartels constantly violate our borders,” he said. “We are being invaded. We’re being invaded by drugs, by people, by criminals, and we have to stop it.”
He talked about putting an end to chain migration, the diversity visa lottery, the anchor baby phenomenon, and sanctuary cities.
“We need an immigration policy where people coming in will love our country and love our fellow citizens. And this includes shutting down sanctuary cities,” he said.
The president criticized Democrats for supporting late-term abortions, and even infanticide.
He also defended his position with North Korea.
“I just returned from Vietnam, where I had very productive meetings with Kim Jong Un,” he said. “I had to walk. Because every once in a while you have to walk. The deal wasn’t a deal that was acceptable to me.”
From The Epoch Times
