Trump receives standing ovation from crowd and heckles from speakers at Republican rally in Las Vegas

Former President Donald Trump received a standing ovation at a Republican rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, but several conservative leaders criticized him for his recent disappointing results in the midterm elections. In his first speech since announcing his 2024 bid for the White House on Tuesday, he praised his tenure and praised his donors and members of the Republican Jewish Coalition, which holds its annual meeting through Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The former president refused to take responsibility for the election results of Republicans, especially his candidates, in the Nov. 8 “midterm elections.” On the other hand, he said, the Republican Party is “bigger and stronger than it was before I came.” He once again questioned the victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election on Saturday. Speaking via video link, the billionaire said, “The election was rigged,” but the audience, who welcomed him warmly, did not react to these words.

He was added at the last minute to the list of speakers for the annual meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition. His presence raised expectations as several critics who preceded him invited him to turn the page and bet on “strong leadership”. “I have a great policy for the Republican Party. Stop supporting crazy misfit candidates in our primaries,” New Hampshire (northeast) Gov. Chris Sununu said without naming Trump.

We have to stop it now

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spoke more bluntly in his speech and insisted on holding Donald Trump accountable for the results of the midterm elections. “Donald Trump chose the candidates with only one criterion. It wasn’t about their fitness, experience, wisdom, or charisma. (…) But whether he believes that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen. If you believe it, I support you, if not, I reject it,” said Chris Christie, who spoke to the crowd a few hours before the former president.

“Well, let me tell you, that is not what this party stands for. This is not what it should represent in the future. We have to stop it now. We lost because Donald Trump put himself above everything else,” he warned. For his part, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan criticized Donald Trump again in his speech on Friday. “Even Trump’s most ardent supporters say they’ve had enough (…),” he said.

There is no “red wave”.

In the midterm elections, the Republican Party promised a “red wave” in Washington that would remove the Democratic Party from both houses of Congress. However, Republicans only managed to win a slim majority in the House of Representatives after defeating several candidates supported by Donald Trump. This was also the case in the Senate, which remained in the hands of the Democrats, and in the governorships that were considered decisive.

Before Donald Trump, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who worked in the Trump administration and who observers believe has presidential ambitions, also attended the rally. “Our party needs strong leaders, now more than ever. Personalities, celebrities will not do this,” he said on Friday, without naming Donald Trump. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will also run in the 2024 Republican primary, won re-election in his home state, leading some conservative media to see him as the new leader of the Republican party. meeting

Donald Trump’s Twitter account has been restored by Elon Musk

The new head of Twitter, Elon Musk, on Saturday restored Donald Trump’s account, which was banned on the social network after the attack on the Capitol in Washington in January 2021: “The people have spoken. Trump will be restored,” the whimsical entrepreneur wrote on his personal account after the results of the survey among his subscribers. More than fifteen million people responded to the Republican politician’s return to the platform, and 51.8% voted yes. Minutes after Elon Musk’s message, Donald Trump’s account reappeared, with the last tweet dated January 8, 2021.

The multi-billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX, who has been the head of the social network for three weeks, suggested at the launch of the poll on Friday evening that its outcome could influence the decision on whether the former chief will return. He announced this on Twitter with the message “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” (The voice of the people is the voice of God). In the name of free speech, it has already reinstated several suspended user accounts on Friday.

Shortly after the $44 billion acquisition of the platform was finalized at the end of October, the leader assured that no major decisions regarding account content or reactivation would be made without the intervention of a special board. The gesture is aimed, among other things, at reassuring advertisers, the group’s main source of income. He did not publicly say whether this council was created or not.

Trump remains on Truth Social

Twitter banned Donald Trump on January 8, 2021, two days after his supporters took over the Capitol, citing the “risk of further inciting violence”. Elon Musk, who believes that this sanction is a “morally bad and extremely insane decision”, talked about the possible return of the former Republican president to the platform in May.

Although many associations, authorities and advertisers fear that the content is no longer sufficiently moderated on the social network, giving rise to misinformation, harassment and other abuses, the businessman’s turn on the subject was expected. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP civil rights organization, responded on Twitter, asserting that Elon Musk’s followers “do not represent America,” and responded, “You are betraying our democracy.”

Donald Trump, who is happy that Twitter is in “right hands” with Elon Musk, said that he will stay on the Truth social network, which he opened after being removed from Twitter in recent days. With 4.57 million subscribers, the platform offers him only a small sounding board compared to Twitter, which has more than 88 million.

During a video intervention at a Republican Jewish Coalition rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, Republican candidate Elon Musk praised the initiative. “I like it (…). You know, he’s a hell of a character, and I love a hell of a character.” said, “But don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere. Truth Social is special.”