Trump to speak at CPAC next Sunday, but Pence has declined invitation

One supply stated organizers nonetheless hope to change Pence’s thoughts about attending, whereas one other supply stated Pence is planning to keep underneath the radar for the next six months. Politico first reported that Pence declined the invitation.

The divergence between the 2 former leaders, which comes because the GOP is grappling with its future within the wake of the Trump presidency, follows tensions between Trump and Pence surrounding the January 6 riot at the US Capitol and Pence’s function certifying the outcomes of the election for President Joe Biden.

“We settle for Joe Biden is the duly elected president of the United States,” former Pence chief of employees Marc Short advised CNN’s Pamela Brown on “Newsroom” Saturday night, regardless of Pence enjoying a task in perpetuating baseless election fraud theories that Trump repeatedly pushed forward of the assault on the Capitol.

Unlike Trump, Pence attended Biden’s inauguration in Washington, DC, final month — after skipping Trump’s farewell ceremony.

Short stated Saturday that Trump and Pence “departed amicably” and that they’ve spoken since.

The supply accustomed to Trump’s plans to attend CPAC, who can also be accustomed to the previous President’s speech, advised CNN on Saturday that “he’ll be speaking about the way forward for the Republican Party and the conservative motion.”

“Also search for the forty fifth President to tackle President Biden’s disastrous amnesty and border insurance policies,” the supply added.

The talking engagement would mark Trump’s first public look following his departure from the White House final month and comes as senior Republicans are split over how to deal with the previous President, along with his loyalists paying him visits lately in Florida.

One of Trump’s marketing campaign managers, Brad Parscale, met with the previous President at his membership in Mar-a-Lago this week for a prolonged assembly, in accordance to a supply acquainted. Utah Sen. Mike Lee is holding a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago Saturday night time, in accordance to one other supply acquainted, a possible signal of extra visits to come.

Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, met privately with Trump on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, CNN reported, the day earlier than Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell vowed by no means to accomplish that.

The simmering feud between Trump and McConnell has escalated in current days, elevating questions on whether or not the 2 can ever work collectively for the way forward for the GOP.

Trump went after McConnell in a lengthy statement launched Tuesday night time after McConnell harshly criticized the previous President from the Senate ground final Saturday and in an op-ed on Monday within the Wall Street Journal, regardless of voting to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial.

In his Tuesday assertion, Trump vowed to endorse candidates in Senate primaries who espouse his world view — one thing that would lead to a conflict with McConnell’s preferred candidates because the seven-term senator pushes Republicans whom he believes stand one of the best probability of successful in next yr’s midterm elections.

That rigidity underscores the divide amongst high Republicans over how to navigate the get together post-Trump. Unlike McConnell, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy went down to South Florida after the January 6 assault on the Capitol to meet with Trump and later proclaim unity with him in attempting to take again the House in 2022.

But McCarthy leads a convention the place a majority of members are strongly supportive of Trump — not like Senate Republicans, who’re cut up over the previous President and the place some high leaders are keen to transfer previous him and focus as an alternative on uniting the get together round concepts, not an individual.

This story has been up to date with extra info.

CNN’s Dana Bash, Kaitlan Collins and Manu Raju contributed to this report.

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