TRUMP TELLS CPAC HE’S STICKING WITH THE GOP

ORLANDO, FLA. — Former president Donald Trump declared Sunday that he is considering a presidential run in 2024, has ruled out forming a political party and will devote himself to building up Republican efforts to take on Democrats and others he claims have targeted his movement.

The address before an ebullient crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference marked Trump’s first political address since leaving the White House. It was staged as a public declaration of Trump’s intention to play a dominant political role through the 2022 elections and, potentially, set himself up for a third campaign for the White House in 2024.

“We began it together four years ago, and it is far from being over,” Trump said of the political journey launched by his 2016 campaign. “Let there be no doubt we will be victorious and America will be stronger and greater than ever before.”

Trump’s speech came as he has been putting the finishing touches on a new political structure that he intends to use to solidify his dominance over the GOP.

“We are not starting new parties,” he said. “We have the Republican Party. It is going to unite and be stronger than ever before.”

Trump has made plans to start a new super PAC. He will be able to raise donations of unlimited size from corporations and individuals while exploring the possibility of drafting an “America First” agenda, which fellow Republicans could sign on to in a show of fealty to his leadership.

He is also moving quickly to formalize a process for endorsing candidates in Republican primaries, with a goal of punishing Republicans who have criticized him in recent months. He formally backed a former White House aide, Max Miller, on Friday as a primary opponent to Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, R-ohio, who was one of 10 Republicans in the House to vote for Trump’s impeachment.

Other highlights of the speech: ■ Trump launched an expected attack on President Joe Biden, saying he had “the most disastrous first month of any president in modern history.” He attacked the president for his shift on border security policy, the pace of school reopenings and his energy policies.

■ Trump predicted withering Democratic losses in the 2022 midterms and a Democratic loss of the White House four years from now, prompting a standing ovation and chants of “USA!” and “Four more years!”

■ He spent significant time defending his record in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, claiming to have “handed the new administration what everyone is now calling a modern-day medical miracle” with a variety of effective vaccines.