Topline
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday said he “became worse” after two impeachment trials, both of which ended in acquittal, as Republican leaders grapple with the best way to deal with the bombastic ex-president who continues to spread false claims about his 2020 election loss.
Former president Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Sunday, ... [+]
Key Facts
Airing his frustrations with former Attorney General Bill Barr’s refusal to support his baseless voter fraud claims in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump said Barr “became different” after Democrats in Congress threatened to impeach him.
“I didn’t become different,” Trump continued, noting that he got impeached twice and “didn’t change,” adding, “I became worse. I became worse.”
Trump used the speech on Sunday to again promote his fraud claims, which have become a source of tension among Republican leaders in Congress, some of whom, like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, seek to move past Trump.
Trump also used the speech as an opportunity to blast Republicans who voted for his second impeachment, claiming Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) "can't walk down the streets of Louisiana without having nasty things said to him."
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who was ousted from her leadership role in May over her criticism of Trump, is “the most quoted Republican in the history of our country by Democrats,” Trump said, adding, “You have to live with her... Maybe not much longer."
Key Background
Trump was first impeached in Dec. 2019 for a phone call in which he allegedly pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to launch a probe into corruption allegations against President Joe Biden, his political rival. He was acquitted by the Senate a month later. Trump was then impeached again by the House in January for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, for which he was acquitted by the Senate
Big Number
10. That’s the number of House Republicans who voted for Trump’s second impeachment, up from zero during his first impeachment. 7 Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting to convict him the second time – short of the necessary 16.
Crucial Quote
"I believe that the president has learned from this case," Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said after Trump’s first impeachment. "The president has been impeached. That's a pretty big lesson,” she added, voting for acquittal in the first trial and conviction a year later.
Tangent
CPAC is a gathering of conservative activists that has been hosted by the conservative lobbying organization American Conservative Union since 1974. CPAC was held twice in 2021, with Orlando, Florida hosting the first one in February.
What To Watch For
“I absolutely know my answer, and we’re going to do very well and people are going to be very happy,” Trump said of a 2024 presidential run during a Fox Business interview on Sunday.
