Trump will speak at CPAC
(CNN) – Business and reality show star Donald Trump will speak at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, according to press release from the event's organizer that was distributed by Trump's spokesman Tuesday.
In the release, the American Conservative Union's president Al Cardenas called Trump "an American patriot and success story with a massive following among small government conservatives."
"I look forward to welcoming him back to the CPAC stage next week. Mr. Trump's previous CPAC appearance was hugely popular among our attendees and we expect it will be even more popular this year," Cardenas wrote.
Trump last spoke at CPAC in 2011, when he was publically flirting with a bid for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. He eventually said he wouldn't seek the nomination since it would mean giving up his reality show "The Apprentice."
That didn't stop Trump from playing a vocal role in the presidential contest, coming out in support of eventual GOP nominee Mitt Romney at an event in Las Vegas. He also helped fundraise for Romney.
Trump also revived his "birther" criticism of President Barack Obama last spring, dismissing the birth certificate released by the White House in 2011 showing Obama was born in Hawaii as fraudulent. Contemporaneously published newspaper announcements also noted the birth in the Aloha State.
During his speech at the event two years ago, Trump criticized Ron Paul as unelectable, eliciting boos from supporters of the then-Texas congressman.
CPAC is considered a key speaking engagement for any Republican thinking about running for president in 2016. Politicians who are thought to be considering presidential bids and are on the CPAC speaking list include Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
Also on the roster are Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who was a 2012 Republican presidential candidate; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
Mitt Romney, the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee, will also speak at the conference.
But there has also been a notable omission from the speaking list: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. A person close to CPAC said last month Christie wasn't invited to speak at the conservative conference.
CNN's Steve Brusk and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
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Hey....let's all stand in silence for the death of the GOP/Re-dumblicans – Tea Potty pants party. The only thing that remains are the knuckle draggin' mouth breathers that support this collaboration of Idiots. I've seen a few of them posting their usual stupidity about Pres. Obama here.
How can Trump get "back" into politics when he was never in politics in the first place. There is no chance whatever that Donald Trump will ever be elected to any office anywhere in the know solar system. Unless its King of Buffoons.
Now Nutfest '13 has a headline act.
My God, CPAC is nothing but a true ship of fools. Has the Republican party learned nothing? Didn't the election teach you anything? Don't you understand the mood of the country? Truly sad.
I guess this adds to the insanity of conseratives.
It's astonishing that Republican/Tea Party folks continue to believe anything and everything these nutcases (Trump, Rush, Beck, etc.) tell them. No matter how ridiculous it sounds...no matter how much evidence refutes their claims...no matter how obvious it is that the majority of voters prove that sane people are not buying their nonsense...the GOP/TP extremists still believe the craziest of craziness these charlatans throw out there. I understand Rush, O'Reilly, Hannity, et.al. because they are laughing at their audience all the way to the bank. But Beck & Trump actually seem to believe their nonsense.
getting back into politics,,?? he never was just,, another run a way mouth
Snub Gov. Christie and invite Trump? They still have learned. Stuck on stupid.
I agree with you Barbara. However, the "establishment" Republicans didn't "get it" in time to find their own candidate for the next election. I seriously doubt they'll figure it out. One can only hope this will change.
The invited speakers read like a list of the front line of right wing nut jobs. Governor Cristie, you're best to avoid this compilation of delusional losers ( Ryan, Romney), uneducated and ignorant imbeciles (Perry, Walker) wannabe pseudo-ethnics (Jindal, Rubio), political dynasty disasters ( Bush) and out-and out loonies ( Paul, Santorum)
Trump a great President, are you kidding me. Calling others half-wits after making that statement, make half wits, genius's on your IQ scale. No President will allow terrorist to succeed, Dems or Repubs. You may not agree with their ideals but that is why there are elections. Good Americans unite after elections, sore losers whine.
I can see Ronald Reagan's shaking his head, dumbfounded with the absurdity he sees before him saying: "There ya go again Donald!"
The Donald should move to Italy – he and Berlusconi would make a great team!
So Trump is labeled an "American patriot." Evidently it doesn't take much to be considered a patriot these days. I have come to the conclusion that when I am listening to Trump speak I am wasting my time listening to nonsense that only resonates with the nutcases among us, primarily in the Tea Party.
Trump who has never won an election will speak while Governor Christie will not? Smart GOP politics which the Democrats must be loving.
This is good news Trump. Speak loudly and clearly. America needs to hear much more from you, and more often.
We all know why Christie is out. He supported Obama's support of hurricane Sandy's victims.
You are with them 100% or you are OUT. There is no middle ground with the GOP anymore.
Donald Trump / Gary Busey , now that would be a winning ticket in 2016.
Or maybe Meatloaf or Kid Rock.
Nothing says rebranding and reimagining quite like keeping all the same pillars in the same place.
Good. He is what the GOP and the USA need at this moment. Tough, successful, rich businessman who knows how the economy works. No comparison between him and the failed law professor / community organizer we have in office now. Trump/Santorum 2016.
If Trump is a Patriot ..I am the Tooth Fairy..These people surely must read polls and surely must realize that the Republicans and their Tea party buddies are all standing on the deck of a sinking Titanic and acting like they are relevant...Much funnier than TV...
Spare the United States of America from the indignity of sending in the clowns. No wonder the Conservative right has no support! What is wrong with you people down there?
That clown was never in politics. He was only in self promotion. Enough already.
That's right gop'ers, let the duck keep quacking for you, and you'll never win an election.
Trump... a no-class self-promoting blowhard with bad hair ... nah, not my first choice for ANY political office. The man is dumb as a brick...knows NOTHING about politics... if I didn't know any better, I'd swear he was a Geo W clone!