Lord of the Dance
Trump hints at second presidential run, slams Biden and repeats claims 2020 election was rigged
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Trump hints at second presidential run, slams Biden and repeats claims 2020 election was rigged

DONALD TRUMP has hinted at a possible second run for US President in 2024 as part of a speech that saw him attack his successor Joe Biden and double down on claims the 2020 election was rigged. 

The former US President made the claims during a 90-minute speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida. 

Trump pledged to help the Republican Party regain the majorities lost in the US House of Representatives and the Senate in 2022 – both of which were previously lost during his time in office. 

He also hinted at a second presidential run in three years' time 

“With your help, we will take back the House, we will win the Senate and then a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House. I wonder who will that be?” he said. 

“Who, who, who will that be, I wonder," he added. 

Trump also used the speech to take aim at those Republicans senators who voted to impeach of convict him over his role in the deadly riots that unfolded in the US Capitol on January 6. 

The likes of Mitt Romney and Irish-American senator Pat Toomey were singled out for ciriticm along with House lawmakers Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. 

“Get rid of ‘em all,” he declared. 

Trump also criticised Biden’s first few weeks in office and his handling of border security in the US. 

“They just lost the White House,” he said. 

“But who knows, who knows, I may even decide to beat them for a third time.” 

The latter remark alluded to Trump’s previous baseless claims that the election had been rigged against him. It comes despite a raft of failed lawsuits claiming voter fraud without providing any evidence. 

Those claims sparked Trump’s supporters to sotmr the Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to stop the certification of Biden’s win. 

While Republic Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was among those to criticise Trump’s role in the unrest, Trump told the conference the Republican Party was united behind him save for a “a handful of Washington, D.C., political hacks.” 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

 

He also dismissed the previous notion he would try and launch a third political party.  

“We’re not starting new parties. We have the Republican Party. It’s going to be united and be stronger than ever before. I am not starting a new party,” he said. 

A straw poll later found 55% of CPAC conference participants would vote for Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race. His closest rival garnered just 21% of the vote by comparison. 

Trump used the speech to return to his unfounded claims of election fraud. 

“We have a very sick and corrupt electoral process that has to be fixed immediately. This election was rigged,” he said later in the speech.  

“And the Supreme Court and other courts didn’t want to do anything about it.” 

The crowd greeted his remarks with a chant of “You won! You won!”  

It comes despite multiple lawsuits being rejected by state and federal officials.  

While Trump will be busy setting up a super PAC political organization to support candidates who mirror his policies, Biden remains very much in the former president’s thoughts. 

He criticised the Democrat’s changes to the rules implement on immigration and security on the US border with Mexico as well the slow reopening of schools.  

“Joe Biden has had the most disastrous first month of any president in modern history,” Trump said. 

His remarks come despite Biden’s approval rating standing at 50% - higher than Trump’s ever reached. 

The Biden White House, for their part, dismissed Trump’s remarks. 

“While the GOP casts about for a path forward, President Biden is going to remain laser-focused on crushing the virus, re-opening schools, and getting Americans back to work,” White House spokesman Michael Gwin said.