Donald Trump has vowed to “get our money back” from Ukraine in a deal with Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at the Republican CPAC conference, the US president said: “I’m trying to get the money back. The United States has given $350billion because we had a stupid, incompetent president and administration.
“But here’s worse, Europe had a loan; they get their money back. We gave it in the form of nothing, so I want them to give us something for all of the money we put up. So we’re asking for rare Earth and oil – anything we can get. But we feel so stupid. So we’re going to get our money back because it’s not fair.”
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Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
It comes days after Trump unleashed insults at Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he had “played Boden like a fiddle”. Trump’s aides went to Saudi Arabia, denying Zelensky a seat at the table, for peace talks with Russia and Trump even appeared to blame the Kyiv President for the war.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and Trump will never be able to settle.”
The US president added: “On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is missing. He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.'” He went on to call Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and went as far as to claim that Ukraine had started the war with Russia – nearly three years after Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of the country.
Trump also gave a shout-out to Nigel Farage, who spoke at the conference on Thursday, from the stage during his speech – calling him a “great friend” who “took the UK by storm.” Liz Truss, who spoke at the conference on the same day, did not get a shout-out.
At the back of the hall, a large, rowdy group of people who had been jailed and prosecuted for taking part in the attempted insurrection on January 6, 2021 shouted and chanted, seeking to catch the President’s ear for a shout-out. “J6! J6! J6!” they chanted, but Trump did not mention them until later in the speech.
The fringes of the conference have been abuzz with support for Trump to be allowed to serve a third term in office – something the President has repeatedly joked about. On Thursday, he asked a crowd at the White House: “Should I run again? You tell me.”
As the invited White House crowd chanted “Four more years”, Trump joked: “There’s your controversy right there.” The US Constitution’s 22nd amendment prevents Trump or any other President serving more than two terms. And while some attendees are unsure, the President’s allies are openly discussing it. Steve Bannon, a former aide turned rabble-rousing radio host declared “we want Trump ’28” from the main stage of the Conference – to loud cheers from the crowd.
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Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
“The future of MAGA is Donald Trump,” he said. “We want Trump in ’28. That’s what they can’t stand. A man like Trump comes along only once or twice in the country’s history. We want Trump.” Stickers and badges with “Trump ’28” printed on them were distributed in the conference exhibition during the conference.
And a group called the “Third Term Project” – whose literature includes a picture of Trump photoshopped to look like a roman emperor, attended the conference. The group say they are “pushing support in the grassroots” for the 22nd Amendment to be overturned, allowing him to stay on for another term.
And Shane Trejo, the lead campaigner, argued the original intent of the Constitution was that Presidents should not have term limits. Trump will be 82 by the time of the next election, making him the oldest sitting President in history. Views on a third Trump term were mixed among attendees of Trump’s speech today.
Richard Bobo “Bud” Barnett, who was sentenced to 4 and a half years after he was photographed with his feet on then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk, attended the conference – proudly showing off the Presidential Pardon Donald Trump issued releasing him last month.
He said a third Trump term would be up to the almighty. “God did this. He uses who he will, when he will,” he said. “If we think we’re doing it, we’re not doing it.” Scott, 27 from Washington, said he liked JD Vance – but “if Trump wants to do it I’m all for it.”
“I’m not that attached to the two-term limit thing,” he added. And Diane, 63, said she would “love” to see a third Trump term. “The man is amazing. He’s done so much already and he’s just looking out for the US. I think he’s wonderful. He should be up there on Mount Rushmore.”
Finn Jacobs, 20, said he would support scrapping the bar for Trump to serve a third term “if it was ratified by congress.” But he said he didn’t think Trump would try – hoping Vice President JD Vance would succeed him. Amanda Nicholls, 47, from Tampa Bay, Florida, said: “I think he’s wonderful, and I hope that someone else will run and carry on his legacy.”
She said she would “seriously consider” proposals to change the law to allow a third term, but said “we have term limits for a reason.” Mr Bannon provoked outrage beyond the conference on Thursday by ending his speech with an apparent Nazi salute – though he denied the gesture was anything more than a “wave to the crowd.”
Still, Liz Truss, who spoke from the main stage the same day, was happy to be interviewed by Mr Bannon after the incident. The Mirror asked if she was happy to share a stage with Bannon, but she refused to answer. President Trump was expected to meet with Argentine President Javier Milei on the fringes of the conference today – after he made headlines by gifting Elon Musk a giant silver chainsaw before his appearance at CPAC.
Speaking from the stage today, Milei praised Trump’s leadership, saying the world stood at a “moment of history with a capital H.” “The era of the omnipresent state has ended,” he told the crowd, speaking in Spanish. “The 50 shades of socialism in America has been stopped by the arrival of President Donald Trump.” “Viva!,” he shouted to loud cheers from the crowd.