Former President Donald Trump has been invited to speak to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida next week, though it is not confirmed yet whether he has accepted the formal invitation. CPAC will take place Thursday, February 25th through Sunday, February 28th.
American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp, who helps run the conference, said he extended the invitation himself, The Epoch Times reported.
“I’d love to see him come to CPAC,” Matt Schlapp told the Washington Examiner.
An official close to the planning process told The Epoch Times that the 45th President was invited last year.
President Trump told attendees during his speech at the 2020 conference: “God bless you. God bless America. And we will see you next year.”
The official said planners don’t know whether Trump is planning to attend. “We’re in sort of a wait and see moment,” the official said. Trump’s team didn’t return an inquiry, per The Epoch Times. Continued Below
Schlapp said he hopes having Trump speak will work out. “I’ve always had good relations with him, we’ve always talked, and I hope we can make it work,” he said. “I think he deserves to be heard. I think even people who disagree with him will agree that he deserves to be heard. He should be uncanceled.”
“We’re swapping D.C. lockdowns for sunshine and freedom,” CPAC said in a tweet. Schlapp said on Twitter that the conference “will be the place to be as conservatives plot, plan, and unite to defeat socialism in America.”
Scheduled speakers include a number of officials from Trump’s administration, including former Housing Secretary Ben Carson, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Trump allies like South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and former acting national security adviser Richard Grenell are also slated to speak, per The Epoch Times. Continued Below
Some lawmakers on the program include House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), Rep Mo Brooks (R-AL), Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) former United States Attorney for the District of Utah Brett L. Tolman, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Jim Jordon (R-OH), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA).
Other speakers that have also been announced include President of Judicial Watch Tom Fitton, former spokesperson for the National Rifle Association Dana Loesch, former secret service agent Dan Bongino, and Project Veritas’ James O’Keefe.
