Is that all there is?
Well, that was a 90-minute tease. If you watched former President Donald Trump’s speech at Tuesday’s America First Policy Institute gathering, you probably noticed Trump floated the idea that he might run in 2024, but he didn’t announce it.
Trump's first reference to 2024 came within his assertion that he thinks a Republican wins the presidential race. He didn’t say he would be that Republican. He talked about a comeback, but he did not throw his hat into the ring.
That’s a good thing. We (meaning I) don’t want him to run.
Almost 70 minutes into the speech, Trump said he did "much better" in 2020 than 2016. So that was the grievance component to the speech — pleasantly truncated.
Twitter demonstrates that many in his base not only believe Trump was robbed in 2020, but also do not demand that he produce actual evidence of fraud. It’s the thought that counts.
Then he floated, “We may just have to do it again.”
On the plus side, Trump’s remarks were policy rich and his tone generally was serious and subdued. He hit smart law-and-order notes — including his denunciation of Defund the Police.
On the down side, he resurrected his call for a death penalty for drug dealers — which the courts never would allow.
His remarks on homelessness offered common sense and popular appeal.
My guess right now is that he won’t run in 2024, but he doesn’t want to give up the spotlight yet. So we end with GOP purgatory.
Better than GOP hell.
Debra J. Saunders is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership, and creator of the Podcast, “Trailing Trump: Notes from the Back of the Briefing Room.”