Conservatives urged not to ‘squander’ Trump presidency

Associated Press

OXON HILL, Md.

President Donald Trump’s top aides Thursday delivered an over-riding message to the thousands of conservative activists gathered for their annual conference outside of Washington: Don’t blow it.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and other senior Trump officials implored the audience not to squander the Republican Party’s control of both chambers of Congress and the White House.

“What you’ve got is an incredible opportunity to use this victory,” Priebus said. Some of Trump’s plans for creating jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets will take time, he said. “We’ve got to stick together and make sure we have President Trump for eight years.”

Priebus’ pleas for patience and unity acknowledged the conservatives’ underlying skepticism about the new president, a former Democrat who in the past has elicited boos at the conference. Trump has often suggested he doesn’t prioritize the social issues many conservatives elevate, and his proposal for a massive infrastructure bill has cast doubts about his commitment to curb government spending.

But with a Republican in the White House for the first time in eight years, many activists say they feel energized and more than willing to give him a chance.

The decades-old CPAC, as the event is known, is now really more like “TPAC,” White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said.

She and other Trump administration speakers thanked conservatives for voting for Trump last fall.

Many in the audience chanted “Trump! Trump! Trump!” as Bannon and Priebus made a joint appearance on stage. The duo’s chummy joint interview seemed designed to refute media reports that they do not get along and are occasionally working at cross-purposes in a factionalized White House.