Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) kicked off the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday by demanding that President Joe Biden secure the southern border or face a government shutdown.
“My position with my colleagues on Capitol Hill is: either you secure the border or you don’t get any money for the government,” Donalds said.
The crowd enthusiastically supported the idea, clapping and shouting “Shut up.”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)
Donalds chastised Biden for failing American citizens while also focusing more attention on defense funding for Ukraine.
“Make up your mind, Joe Biden. Which country matters more to you? The US border or the Ukrainian border?” he asked.
Donalds denounced the growing violent crime in major American cities, especially New York, and
Donalds said many of his Republican colleagues were apprehensive about the idea of a government shutdown, warning him that they never ended up winning a showdown with Democrats over government funding.
“I say there has never been an issue facing this country that has united the American people more,” he said to loud applause.
Lara Trump, former campaign advisor to former President Donald Trump, delivers remarks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)
Lara Trump, former campaign advisor to former President Donald Trump, delivers remarks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)
Lara Trump supports early voting before RNC co-chair candidacy
Lara Trump took the stage at CPAC to support her father-in-law, but also mentioned that former President Trump endorsed her to co-chair the Republican finance committee.
The audience greatly applauded her mention of the idea, prompting her to discuss it.
“This is a position because I never imagined I would run, but I also never imagined our country would be in a desperate situation.”
He began his proposal by urging conservatives to adopt early voting, a position that garnered only mild applause.
“The truth is that if we want to compete with the Democrats, we can’t wait until Election Day,” he said. ‘If we want to compete and win we must adopt early voting. Gone are the days of waiting until Election Day to vote.”
He urged activists to vote early and also get their friends to do the same.
“We must fight fire, not with fire but with dynamite,” he said.
Ben Carson defends Trump against multiple felony charges
Former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson gave a sober speech in which he defended former President Donald Trump against the multiple charges against him.
“Trump’s only crime is to represent the American people first and that’s why they are trying to imprison him for the rest of his life, tie him up in court, take away all his assets, they are terrified of him,” he told attendees. .
Carson warned against American institutions turning against conservatives, especially law enforcement institutions.
“The law is used to constantly harass honest citizens, while the real criminals remain untouched,” he said.
“For our leaders, you and I are the enemy, not the car thieves, nor the looters and criminals who roam freely in our cities,” he added.
Carson warned leaders that they were losing American support and would face consequences.
“America was founded on the notion that all political power comes from the consent of the governed,” he said, adding: “Washington is losing its legitimate right to govern the American people.”