‘Biden is leading us into oblivion,’ Trump says in address to Maga Republicans at CPAC – live

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Minnesota governor Tim Walz has signed a law that will restore voting rights to more than 55,000 felons who complete their prison terms.

On Friday, Walz signed House File 28, which according to the governor’s office, “restores the civil right to vote to individuals who have been convicted of a felony upon their completion of any incarceration imposed and executed for the conviction.”

The bill also requires Department of Corrections or judiciary system officials to provide a written notice and a voter registration application to individuals upon their release from incarceration.

“Minnesotans who have completed time for their offenses and are living, working, and raising families in their communities deserve the right to vote. As a state that consistently ranks among the top three in voter turnout, Minnesota will continue to lead in the fight to protect and expand the right to vote,” said Walz.

“I am grateful to the community members, organizers, and legislators who are committed to strengthening the freedom to vote and ensuring every Minnesotan has a voice in our democracy,” he added.

“We will cross the finish line, we will dismantle the deep state, we will destroy the deep state…and we will make America great and powerful again. We need to have a powerful country. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America strong again… We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again…and we will make America great again,” Trump said he in his closing remarks.

Trump’s closing words follow a nearly two-hour long speech that included name-calling, attacks against the ‘woke,’ and lofty promises including ending the Russia-Ukraine war in one day.

“I will move heaven and earth to finally secure our elections,” said Trump, as he called for paper ballots, same-day voting and voter ID.

“But until that day comes, Republicans must compete with every lawful means to win,” he said.

Trump has listed out a series of policies he plans to get rid of if he becomes president.

“I will revoke every Biden policy promoting the chemical castration and sexual mutilization and ask Congress to send me a bill prohibiting child sexual mutilation in all 50 states,” said Trump.

“And we will keep men out of women’s sports,” he added as he lashed out against trans rights and gender affirmation surgeries.

Trump went on to say that he will “destroy the illegal censorship regime and bring back free speech in America because we do not have it.”

“And I will stop Joe Biden’s demolition of ur economy with his crushing inflation and mass layoffs. We will take care of inflation very quickly.”

He also said that he will hold China “financially accountable” for ‘causing’ the Covid-19 vaccine and attacked the World Health Organization, calling it “We Hide Outbreaks.”

Trump said in attempts to stop the flow of illegal drugs, he will “take down the cartels” the same way that he took down the ISIS caliphate.

“We’re going to do another 200 miles of wall,” said Trump as he promises stricter crackdown on border crossings.

“We will seal it up and expand that wall until we have total control,” he added, pledging to make the first reconciliation bill he signs in the White House one that ensures more ICE border patrol agents and increased deportations.

“They’re emptying out their prisons…and their…insane asylums,” referring to the countries that refugees on the southern border are fleeing from (many of whom are in fact fleeing political violence, dire economic circumstances and persecution).

He then compared the so-called “insane asylums” as the ones featured in the 1991 thriller Silence of the Lambs.

“Before I arrive in the Oval Office, I will have the disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine ended,” said Trump, adding that he will get it done in “one day.”

“I know what to say,” he added.

“This is the most dangerous time in our country’s history, and Joe Biden is leading us into oblivion,” said Trump as he went on to criticize the 2021 US pullout of Afghanistan that was spearheaded by the Biden administration.

“And you’re going to have world war three, by the way. We’re going to have world war three if something doesn’t happen fast,” Trump said.

“I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent world war three,” he said.

“I was the only president…where Russia didn’t take over a country during my term… I said, ‘Vladimir, don’t do it,'” said Trump, referring to the Russian president Vladimir Putin.

“With me, they took nothing and I didn’t even really have to threaten them very much. Putin knew that, [Chinese] president Xi knew that too,” he added.

“It would have never happened with me” Trump said as he condemned the alliance between China, Iran and Russia, blaming the closeness of the countries on the US’s “stupid oil policies.”

“Stopping the slide into costly…wars,” said Trump as he lists out his priorities should he become president.

He then went on a tirade against NATO members and how he urged other countries to “pay up” or lose American protection against any Russian threats.

“In 2016, I declared: I am your voice. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution,” Trump said.

“I will totally obliterate the deep state. I will fire the unelected bureaucrats and shadow forces who have weaponized our justice system. And I will put the people back in charge of this country again,” he added.

He went on to attack the Biden administration, calling it the most “corrupt administration in American history.”

He also lashed out at Hunter Biden, calling him a “criminal” before calling Joe Biden a “criminal” as well.

The Guardian’s David Smith is in the room and will have a full report later.

The crowd has broken into applause and chants of “Trump! Trump! Trump!” as he promised to win the 2024 presidential campaign.

“When we win in 2024, we will do it again, even stronger, faster and better because now I am experienced,” he added.

“I know the people of Washington… I didn’t know them [before], I was from New York… But now I know the good ones, the bad ones, the weak ones, the strong ones, I know them all.”

The crowd then broke out into another chant, yelling, “USA! USA! USA!” to which Trump responded, “I didn’t know this was a rally. It really is a rally.”