Trump just gave his most freewheeling, wild speech in months
- President Donald Trump gave a freewheeling, raucous speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday that was reminiscent of a campaign rally.
- In the almost hour and a half long speech Trump attacked Hillary Clinton, Democrats in Congress, John McCain, the World Trade Organization, a deputy in Florida who did not stop last week's mass shooting, and more.
President Donald Trump on Friday returned to campaign-style rhetoric at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he delivering a speech reminiscent of some of his raucous rallies during the 2016 race.
Trump used the nearly hour and a half speech to tout the recently passed GOP tax law, make jokes about his hair, attack political rivals including Hillary Clinton and John McCain, advocate for a program to arm teachers, praise the military, and much more.
In the speech, Trump:
- Called Hillary Clinton a "crooked candidate" and slammed her for failing to campaign in swing states. The "crooked candidate" comment drew chants of "Lock her up" from the CPAC crowd, more than 15 months after the election.
- Attacked John McCain for his famous thumbs-down vote against a GOP bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. "Remember, one person walked into a room and he was supposed to go this way, and he said he was going this way," Trump said, giving a thumbs up. "And walked in and he went this way and everybody said, 'What happened? What was that all about?' Who was that? I don't know. ... I don't want to be controversial, so I won't say his name."
- Went after Democrats on several issues, including voting against the tax bill and immigration.
- Suggested that without increased military funding, people in the audience "may not have your houses, your homes, your beautiful communities."
- Asked the crowd whether they would want to keep the recent tax cuts or the Second Amendment rights, gauging cheers for each. The Second Amendment appeared to win the enthusiasm contest.
- Slammed the armed Florida deputy, Scot Peterson, who failed to engage the shooter during the deadly school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. "He turned out not to be a credit to law enforcement, that I can tell you," Trump said.
- Reiterated what he says is a need to arm teacher in schools to prevent school shootings. "These teachers are talented with weaponry and guns and they feel safe," Trump said. "And I'd rather have somebody who loves their students and wants to protect their student rather than somebody standing outside that doesn't know anybody."
- Recited the lyrics to a song about a "vicious snake" that bites a "tender woman" after she takes in the snake - an analogy for taking in refugees that he frequently spouted along the campaign trail.
- Criticized current US trade policies, promising to go after the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization, which he said "created China."
- Joked about his hair: "I try like hell to hide that bald spot."
The president had been more subdued of late during public appearances, with a straightforward State of the Union address last month and more routine public appearances. But the unfettered speech on Friday and a recent uptick in Twitter activity seem to reflect a return to a more traditional Trumpian stance.