Trump thanks cheering CPAC attendees for helping elect him president

Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Donald Trump thanked a boisterous crowd Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference for helping elect him president, one year after he was criticized for skipping the event.

Attendees in the full Potomac ballroom at the Gaylord National resort in National Harbor, Md., cheered as the president arrived on the stage of the conservative gathering.

"It's great to be back at CPAC ... I love this place. I love you people," Trump said.

"I wouldn't miss a chance to talk to my friends -- these are my friends. We'll see you again next year, and the year after that. I'll be doing this with CPAC whenever I can."

Last year, Trump didn't attend the event, instead appearing at campaign events in Kansas and Florida during the Republican primary. Conference organizers said at the time that "his choice sends a clear message to conservatives."

His first speech at CPAC was in 2011 as a billionaire businessman.

"When you have practically no notes and no preparation and everyone was thrilled, I said I like this business," said Trump, who hosted The Apprentice on TV at the time.

Trump's speech this time was wide ranging, touching on immigration, military, tax cuts, trade and the news media.

Trump promised a middle-class tax cut yet dramatically more money to be spent on defense.

"We're also going to put in a budget request for our beloved military and we will be substantially upgrading all of our military -- offensive, defense, everything. Bigger and better and stronger than ever before.

"Nobody's going to mess with us, folks, nobody," he added. "It will be one of the greatest military buildups in American history."

He reiterated his intent to keep the United States safe, noting his executive orders to build the wall across the southern border with Mexico to cut down on illegal entry, to increase deportations and a travel ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority nations.

"By stopping the flow of illegal immigration, we will save countless tax dollars," Trump said. "They're not coming back in, folks."

Trump said in a few days he will be taking "brand new action" to keep the United States safe in reference to a revised travel ban.

"Take a look at what's happening to our world, folks," he said. "We are going to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country."

He also vowed to return manufacturing jobs to the Untied States and reshape business deals.

"It's time for all Americans to get off of welfare and get back to work," he said. "You're gonna love it!" he said."

Trump noted how he "inherited a mess" from former President Barack Obama, including a soaring national debt and Obamacare.

He described angry constituents at town halls held by members of Congress as from "the side that lost."

And he leveled attacks again at his "enemy" -- the media -- and its "fake news."

Trump criticized the use of anonymous sources.

He drew cheers from the crowd when he said: "I called the fake news the enemy of the people and they are. They're very smart, they're very cunning. There are some terrible dishonest people and they do a tremendous disservice to our country."

The president added, "It doesn't represent the people, it never will represent the people, and we're going to do something about it."

Trump didn't say what he would do about it.