Former President Trump Makes Case for Third Presidential Run During Speech At CAGOP Convention

At the California GOP Fall 2023 Convention in Anaheim on Friday, former President Donald Trump was featured, making his case for Californians to vote for him in the primary election in March by pointing out numerous issues in the state he wants to improved, including water rights, farming, automatic mail-in balloting, and other California-specific issues.

In front of a crowd of 1,500, California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Milan Patterson introduced the former President. “The energy in this room is electric,” said the Chairwoman. “Republicans are prepared to fight against democratic incompetence. We remember the day that Biden took office. Gas was $3.36 per gallon. Today it is $6.08 a gallon. This man will change that.”

Taking the stage, Trump proceeded to say that the first step towards change in California would be Super Tuesday and went after the automatic mail-in ballot system, calling it “rigged.”

“The first step in saving California is Super Tuesday,” said Trump. “The same day the radical Democrats are taking me to trial. We are going to win the California primary. We would win California in a general election if they didn’t have a rigged voting system. They send out 22 million ballots here. Who the hell signs them They  vote for 5 or 6 people. It’s a rigged system, and it’s a shame that it has been going on for so long. This is a state that the right Republican can win and win easily. No way we lose this state in a real election.”

“We’re going to crush crooked Joe Biden next November. We’re going to make California great again and we’re going to make America great again.”

“California was once a symbol of prosperity, but because of the Marxists. It is a symbol of American decline. Far left communists in San Francisco and LA have given you sanctuary cities, mass homeless encampments, out of control taxes, Marxist district attorneys, roving bands of looters and thugs. CAGOP is the last line of defense for this state against total anarchy. And I’m here to say that help is on the way. Election of 2024 will be the most important election in history. I said that in 2016, but I mean that about 2024.”

“You know in France they had mail in ballots, but they gave them up because they were corrupt. And look what happened. They went back and they had results by that night.”

The border issue and crime were other major points raised following praise by Trump for those running the convention. The former President then proceeded to highlight several prominent Republicans in the audience who helped raise the party in recent years. This included Former Ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell, lawyer Harmeet Dhillon, Jessica Milan Patterson, Republican National Committee Member Shawn Steel, and Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland.

“We had the safest border in history under me. We need to stop the desecration of the once great state of California. I will protect this country and restore public safety. These cities have been taken over by millions of illegal aliens and criminals. Stores in San Francisco are closing up. Walgreens’, CVS’, all of them. In Beverly Hills, criminals rob homes and cars. Can you believe this is where our country has gone?”

“Under the Trump administration, we will bring law and order back to California. I will bring a DOJ to overhaul the state. And we’ll start with the DAs in Los Angeles and San Francisco. I will use everything I can, every power at my disposal, and we will stop all theft. If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot. Our law enforcement is great, but they’re told to standby and don’t touch. And if they do, they get fired, they’re stopped. The word that they shoot you would get out in minutes, and in a day, our nation would be different.”

“We’ve taken away law enforcement. We’ve taken away their dignity. They want to do their job. As President, I’ll get the drug addicted off the streets. We’ll have a gigantic surplus to give the homeless population the treatment they need. And we’re going to have the largest deportation operation in history. Three years ago we had the strongest border in the world. We’ll make it that way again.”

Trump in Anaheim

Agriculture was another highlight on Friday.

“When I was president with Gavin Newsom I liked him. I didn’t like what he was doing, but I liked him. But he makes you pay a fortune for water. I have to pay a fortune to water the grass at my golf course. The taxes you have to pay it is very hard to make a buck in the state.”

“I was riding up the highway with a Congressman, Devin Nunez. They were fighting so hard for water rights. It was a man-made drought. I noticed miles and miles of drought and dry soil. Some parts were green, and I asked about that, and they said it was a man made drought, because Newsom won’t allow them to have water.”

“If they changed this, gave more water, this would be billions and billions of extra dollars coming into our country. So what about a desalinization plant, but they said they had so much water. Instead it goes out to the Pacific instead of to Los Angeles and the Central Valley.”

Trump proceeded to show picture of Delta Smelt because the non-indiginous fish has been used as a reason for massive water diversion to the Pacific Ocean.

“I signed an agreement for new water, but Newsom blocked it for environmental reasons. It was totally completed.”

“When I win, the canals will go from barren to overflowing, and I’m going to do it fast.”

Trump then touched on numerous issues, ranging  from keeping strict gender lines in sports, to protecting Taiwan, to settling the Russian-Ukrainian War, and event ouched on the recent lawsuits against him. After nearly an hour and a half, he concluded his speech.

“Try and destroy a man so he can’t get elected. If I weren’t running, this wouldn’t be happening,” continued Trump. “But I’m leading by 10 points according to a Washington Post poll. Don’t feel sorry for him. Biden isn’t a nice person.”

“I consider it a great honor if you vote for me, because I’m being indicted for you. They’re after me, they’re not after you. This is a group effort. When we become the 47th president of the United States of America, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled.”

“The US is a mess. Our economy is crashing. Inflation is out of control. Our money won’t be the world standard. That’s why you need to show up to vote in the California Primary. Bring every Republican you know for team Trump. And I make this promise to you, the great people of California. We will save your state, The silent majority is rising like never before. We will put American first and we will make America Great Again.”

Trump then left the stage to Sam and Dave’s “Hold On I’m Coming”.

As one delegate put it “After that speech, it is a very fitting song. We may have to wait on those trials, and the elections to come, but he is coming. We haven’t even started yet.”