Politicians, media personalities, and conservative activists gathered outside Washington on Friday for the second day of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The conference featured a range of political allies of President Donald Trump, who have been vocal in their support for his administration’s policies and actions.
The speakers at CPAC hailed the Trump administration’s first month in office, which has been marked by a flurry of executive orders proposing sweeping changes to government policies and positions on international issues. Mike Waltz, the president’s national security adviser, addressed the audience on Friday and spoke about the administration’s efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Waltz stated that the Trump administration plans to invest in Ukraine’s mineral assets as part of a larger plan to recoup funding for the country’s defense. This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a proposal that would have granted American companies 50% ownership of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. However, Waltz expressed confidence that Zelenskyy will sign a revised offer from the US.
In addition to the Ukraine war, Waltz also spoke about the administration’s plans to combat drug cartels. On Wednesday, the State Department designated several Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups, signaling a strong stance against the illegal drug trade.
Kari Lake, a journalist-turned-politician, also addressed the CPAC audience. Trump had previously expressed his support for Lake to lead Voice of America (VOA), a US government-funded news agency. Lake spoke about what she sees as the president’s accomplishments in his first month in office and her views on legacy media.
Lake praised Trump’s actions in his first month, including the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to search for corruption and cut spending. She also commended the State Department’s decision to end foreign aid funding.
As a former TV journalist with nearly 30 years of experience, Lake shared her reasons for leaving journalism, citing what she believed to be disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic. She also criticized the mainstream media for their biased reporting and manipulation of the public.
Lake expressed her gratitude for being named to lead VOA and stated that she will focus on producing accurate and honest reporting. She acknowledged that VOA has had its ups and downs in its 83-year history but believes that it can be a powerful weapon in the information war.
Lake addressed concerns that VOA may become “Trump TV” and assured the audience that it will not be “TDS TV” (referring to Trump Derangement Syndrome). She pointed out that there are plenty of other news outlets, such as CNN, MSNBC, PBS, ’60 Minutes,’ The Washington Post, and The New York Times, that cater to those with anti-Trump sentiments.
The CPAC gathering is expected to culminate with an address from President Trump on Saturday. The conference has been a platform for conservative voices to come together and show their support for the Trump administration’s policies and actions.
In conclusion, the second day of CPAC was filled with speeches from politicians, media personalities, and conservative activists who all share a common goal – to support President Trump and his administration. The conference highlighted the administration’s efforts to end the Ukraine war, combat drug cartels, and promote accurate and honest reporting through VOA. With President Trump’s address still to come, the CPAC gathering is a testament to the strong support for the current administration and its policies.
