Businessman Donald Trump sounded confident when he threw down the gauntlet at his presidential rivals left and right on Friday as he took the fight to the other Republican presidential hopefuls and the Democrats in the Sunshine State.
Speaking at the Republican Party of Florida’s (RPOF) Sunshine Summit in Orlando, Trump insisted he was the top dog in the Republican presidential race to a packed, cheering crowd. Noting how other GOP hopefuls did not generate that kind of crowd, Trump insisted momentum was on his side in Florida.
“This place was empty and now it’s full,”Trump said, noting he was leading Florida polls, ahead of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. and former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla. “I won’t tell you where Bush is but it’s not too good.”
On foreign policy, Trump noted he had predicted Osama bin Laden would do major damage to the U.S. back in 2000, before the 9/11 attacks before turning to immigration. Trump insisted he had changed the debate on immigration despite the attacks against him.
“I’ve taken a lot of abuse from those characters back there,” Trump said, indicating the media. “A lot of abuse.”
“It’s a serious problem,” Trump said, noting “rough dudes” crossed the border illegally and were now active with gangs in Los Angeles. Trump vowed they would be removed if he was president and called for a “real wall,” a “Trump wall,” to secure the border, reminding the cheering crowd that he had a background in construction and real estate.
Trump pounded away at former U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, the favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination. “She will set this country back so far, so fast,” Trump said before jabbing U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry for the deal with Iran over its nuclear program.
Vowing to find generals like World War Two commanders like Douglas MacArthur and George Patton, Trump promised to restore America‘s miliary prominence.
“We’re going to find someone so tough and so smart and we’re going to build up our military,” Trump said before getting back to immigration, promising to triple the size of the Border Patrol.
Trump trashed the current political leadership as “incompetent.” “They don’t have common sense,” Trump said.
Insisting illegal immigrants were taking American jobs, Trump insisted the nation’s unemployment was far above the government’s numbers and called for America to get tough against illegal immigration.
“We’re going to defund sanctuary cities," Trump said. “Sanctuary cities are a disgrace.”
Trump also said he would end birthright citizenship. “It’s over, not going to happen,” he said before attacking the DREAM Act and vowing to hire Americans first.
Looking ahead to the Florida primary in March, Trump insisted he had an advantage in the Sunshine State due to the number of jobs he had created and reminding listeners he was down the road in Palm Beach.
Trump took a parting shot at Obama. “Not only has he been a terrible president but he’s been a divisive president,”Trump said before ending his speech with his “make America great” rallying cry to cheers.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
