Trump was applauded, criticized, and welcomed again on Twitter

Former President Donald Trump received a standing ovation at a Republican Party rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, but some conservative leaders criticized him for recent disappointing results in the midterm elections. . In his first speech since announcing his 2024 White House bid on Tuesday, he praised his tenure and praised his donors and members of the Republican Jewish Coalition, which is holding its annual meeting through Sunday. in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The former president refused to accept responsibility for the electoral results of the Republicans, and especially his children, in the “midterms” of November 8. He, on the other hand, said that the Republican Party is “much bigger and more powerful than it was before I arrived.” He again questioned Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential victory Saturday in 2020. “The election was rigged,” said the billionaire speaking via video link, but the audience, who welcomed him warmly, did not respond to the this statement. He was added at the last minute to the list of speakers for the annual meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Ron DeSantis as a rising star and Nikki Haley as an underdog

With the midterms over, the Las Vegas meeting served as a podium for potential rivals ahead of the 2024 Republican primary. Rising hard-right star Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 44, won re-election in his state and considered one of the main rivals of Donald Trump, praised his performance in the midterm elections. “We led among independent voters, we got record margins among Hispanic voters. We’ve taken the suburbs all over Florida,” he said to loud applause as some of those who attended the meeting approached the stage to shake hands.

The former governor of South Carolina and former ambassador of the United States to the UN, Nikki Haley, 50, for her part announced that she will consider “seriously” whether or not to start the primaries. “I’m always an underdog, every time I’m underestimated, I’m always happy,” she said. “But I never lost an election. And I won’t start now.”

‘We have to stop this now’

Some officials blamed Mr. Trump for the mixed results of the Republicans in the “midterms.” “I have a great policy for the Republican Party. Stop supporting crazy unqualified candidates in our primaries,” said New Hampshire (northeast) Governor Chris Sununu, without naming Trump.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was more forthright in his speech and insisted on holding Donald Trump accountable for the results of the midterm elections. “Donald Trump has chosen candidates with one criterion, one only. It is not about their worthiness, experience, wisdom or charisma. (…) But whether they believe it or not the 2020 presidential election is stolen. If you believe that, I support you, if not, I reject you”, launched Chris Christie, who spoke to the crowd a few hours before the former president.

“Well, let me tell you, that is not what this party stands for. This is not what he should represent in the future. We have to stop this now. We are losing because Donald Trump has put himself in everything,” he warned. For his part, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan again criticized Donald Trump in his speech on Friday. “Even the most ardent Trump supporters are saying that they have had enough (…),” he argued.

No “red wave”

In the midterm elections, the Republican Party promised a “red wave” that would remove the Democratic Party from both houses of Congress in Washington. However, the Republicans only got a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, after defeating several candidates supported by Donald Trump. The same is the case with the Senate – which remains in the hands of Democrats – and the governorships that are considered important.

Donald Trump was preceded by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – who served in the Trump administration and is also believed by observers to have presidential ambitions – was also present. at the rally. “Our party needs strong leaders, now more than ever. Personalities, celebrities, will not do the job,” he said on Friday, without naming Donald Trump.

Donald Trump’s Twitter account has been restored by Elon Musk

Elon Musk, the new boss of Twitter, rehabilitated the account of Donald Trump on Saturday, which was banned from the social network after the attack on the Capitol in Washington in January 2021. “The people have spoken. Trump will be restored”, tweeted the whimsical entrepreneur on his own account after the results of the survey launched among his subscribers. More than fifteen million responded and 51.8% voted in favor of “yes” to the return of the Republican politician to the platform. A few minutes after Elon Musk’s message, Donald Trump’s account was seen again, the last tweet from January 8, 2021.

At the head of the social network for three weeks, the multi-billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX in particular suggested at the launch of the survey on Friday night that its result could influence a decision on the return or not of former head of state on Twitter because he accompanied it with the message “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” (The voice of the people is the voice of God). In the name of free speech, he reinstated several other suspended user accounts on Friday.

Shortly after the finalization of the acquisition of the platform for 44 billion dollars at the end of October, the leader assured that no major decision on the contents or reactivation of the account will take place without the intervention of a dedicated council. A move intended, among other things, to reassure advertisers, the group’s main source of income. He has not indicated publicly whether this council has been established.

Trump sticks to Truth Social

Twitter banned Donald Trump on January 8, 2021, two days after his supporters attacked the Capitol, facing “the risk of further inciting violence”. Believing that this punishment constitutes “a morally bad and insane decision in the extreme”, Elon Musk mentioned in May a possible return of the former Republican president to the platform.

Although many associations, authorities and advertisers fear that content moderation in the social network is no longer sufficient, giving freedom to misinformation, harassment and other abuses, entrepreneurs are expected to turn on the topic . “You betrayed our democracy”, reacted, on Twitter, the president of the civil rights organization NAACP Derrick Johnson, confirming that the subscribers of Elon Musk “do not represent America”.

While rejoicing with Elon Musk, Twitter is “in good hands”, however Donald Trump said in recent days that he will stay with his Truth Social network, which he launched after his ouster from Twitter. Even this platform, where he has 4.57 million subscribers, offers him only a small sounding board compared to Twitter where he has more than 88 million.

In his speech on Saturday at the Republican Jewish Coalition rally in Las Vegas, the Republican candidate welcomed the initiative, and Elon Musk. “I like this (…). You know, he’s a hell of a character and I love hell of a character,” he said. But he has his own network now, he then argued. In Truth Social, he encouraged his subscribers who “voted positively” before adding: “But don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere. Truth Social is special.”