ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Leading Republicans spent much of three days at a conservative political gathering avoiding Donald Trump’s chief grievances or ignoring him altogether. Instead, they've been unifying behind a midterm message designed to win back the voters the former president has alienated. That changed Saturday night when thousands of conservative activists cheered Trump as he falsely blamed his 2020 election loss on widespread voter fraud. He also described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “smart,” even as Russian troops advanced on Ukraine. Trump then left no doubt he is the most powerful voice in Republican politics by indicating he will run for president again.
Patrick Semansky/AP
FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington before boarding Marine One. Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet were set to lapse at midnight Saturday night unless Trump signed an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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