Former President Donald Trump, in a statement to major Republican National Committee donors on Saturday night, renewed his criticism of NATO, reiterated another candidacy for the White House and suggested that the role played by the ” counting is often more important than the candidate. ” in the elections.
Trump’s statements came about 24 hours later Former Vice President Mike Pence fired Trump several times during his speech at the same donor retreat, which takes place in New Orleans.
Pence told them Friday night that “there is no place in this party for Putin’s apologists,” days after Trump referred to the Russian president as “smart” and “expert.” On Saturday evening, Trump mentioned that “someone called me an apologist for Putin the other day,” but did not talk about Pence, according to a source.
And while Pence defended NATO in his statements, Trump showed that he still thinks little of the alliance, dismissing it as a “paper tiger,” according to a source.
“Will all these nations be on the lookout and see millions being massacred as the attack continues?” Trump said, according to a source. “At what point do countries say, ‘No, we can’t accept this mass crime against humanity?’ We can’t let it happen. We can’t let it continue. “
The US and NATO allies have ruled out sending troops to help Ukraine prevent the escalation of the conflict, but have provided military equipment, funding, humanitarian aid and diplomatic support. The United States and European countries have also issued strict sanctions against Russia for invasion.
However, Trump also joked about the conflict, telling donors that the U.S. should put the “put the Chinese flag” on F-22 fighter jets and “bomb shit” outside of Russia.
“And then we say, China did,” he said, amid laughter in the room, according to the source. “Then they start fighting with each other, and we sit and watch.” The Washington Post first informed Trump’s comments on Russia and China.
Trump ridiculed President Biden for his handling of Russia and hammered him over his openness about what actions the US would and would not take to curb Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We have to make Biden stop saying that, and that’s for everyone to hear. We’ll never attack Russia because it’s a nuclear power, right?” Trump said, according to a source. “You know who says that? Okay, whether it’s reality or fiction,” We’re not going to attack Russia. You see, they’re a nuclear power. “Oh, thank you for telling us.”
Pence, in his speech on Friday, warned key party donors that focusing on the 2020 election would hurt their future prospects, insisting that the Republican Party “cannot win by fighting yesterday’s battles, or revisiting the past “. It created a stark contrast to Trump, who rarely speaks publicly without raising unfounded allegations that the election was rigged. He did it again on Saturday. The lesson Trump learned from 2020 was this:
“The vote count is often more important than the candidate, and Republicans will have to be much tougher,” he said, according to a source shortly after falsely asserting that he has won “two presidential elections.”
Trump is still popular in many Republican Party circles. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans say they want Trump to run for president again in 2024, according to a recent CBS News poll. And the idea that he will run again has been a complaint.
“We will see a Republican president reclaim this magnificent White House in 2024,” Trump said, according to a source in the room. “I wonder who it might be.”
The comment sparked some “Trump” chants from the crowd, according to a source.
Trump is still upset with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and has tried unsuccessfully to find a Republican senator to replace him as Republican leader. Trump referred to him on Saturday as “stupid and corrupt Mitch McConnell” and provoked some applause, according to a source.
And as he has done in the past, Trump shed light on climate change, dismissing it as a “deception” and joked that rising sea levels will lead to “more seafront properties.” The New Orleans donor event was held just weeks after federal officials warned that Louisiana’s coastal water levels could rise by a foot and a half in 2050.
The former president also spoke briefly about the Republican primary in the North Carolina Senate. Trump has backed Rep. Ted Budd and told donors, according to a source, that Republicans must remove former Rep. Mark Walker “from this race.” Walker ran in the Senate last week, challenging Trump’s desire to run for a fourth term in the House.
The appearances of Pence and Trump on consecutive nights could be a preview of what will come in 2024 if both men decide to run for president. At a private CPAC At last week’s event, in response to a question about a 2024 presidential candidacy, Trump told supporters he would be “very happy” and added that he knew who “they don’t want as vice president.”
Pence has been broadcasting his disagreements with Trump more openly lately. Last month he said that “Trump is wrong“To claim that Pence had the authority to cancel the presidential election, and he said he doesn’t know if he and Trump will.”never see eye to eye“on the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
- In:
- Ukraine
- Mike Pence
- Donald Trump
- Russia
- Vladimir Putin
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