President Trump told young conservatives Tuesday their “moment in the sun is just beginning” and that he will prevent “The Squad” of liberal House Democrats from turning the U.S. into a “socialist nightmare,” as the teens enter college or start careers.
“We believe in the American dream, and not a socialist nightmare that these people are trying to put on our shoulders,” the president said at Turning Point USA’s annual teen student action summit in Washington.
He told the cheering students, “This is the best time in the history of our country for young people like you to join the workforce. America is thriving.”
Mr. Trump said luminaries like George Washington, Amelia Earhart and Martin Luther King Jr. were all in their 20s when they kicked off American journeys that changed the course of history.
“From the very beginning, America has been lifted even higher by the daring dreams of young Americans like each and every one of you,” he said. “Now it’s your turn to inspire our country, your chance to choose greatness for America. Because your time has come, your time is now.”
The president got a hero’s welcome from the raucous crowd of youngsters. It was his first rally-style event since North Carolina supporters chanted “Send her back!” last week amid Mr. Trump’s spat with Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee and U.S. citizen from Minnesota.
The chants caused members of his own party to grimace, saying they echoed some of the ugliest rhetoric targeted at immigrant and minority communities throughout America’s history.
Mr. Trump steered clear of attacks on Ms. Omar that would prompt a repeat from the vocal teens, though he locked in on Minnesota, saying, “You know why I’m going to win the state? Because of her.”
Mr. Trump took special aim at Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and two other freshman Democrats. He said of Ms. Tlaib, “There’s no way she stands for the values of the people of Michigan.”
“She’s screaming like a total lunatic. … This is not a sane person,” Mr. Trump said. “This is what we’re up against. The Democrats are forced, I guess, to embrace her.”
He said of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and her group, “I call it ’AOC plus three.’ At some point, I’ll tell you, I got more on AOC.”
The Republican Party is often portrayed as over-reliant on older voters who are dying out, though Mr. Trump focused on the conservative teens who filled the large room at the Marriot Marquis hotel and others like them across America, saying the media and others don’t grasp the extent of his movement.
One by one, he called up a trio of teenagers who’ve been verbally or physically attacked for wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap or organizing high school clubs that support conservative ideas.
“The force of political correctness want to silence conservative students to make you feel alone, marginalized and isolated — and you are not,” Mr. Trump said. “The silent majority is silent no more. Your moment in the sun is just beginning.”
The Democratic Party, he predicted, will defeat itself next year.
“They’re getting dragged into a radical left position with these people who, I honestly believe, they hate our country. I think it’s why we’re going to have a tremendous victory in 2020.”
“We believe in the American dream, and not a socialist nightmare that these people are trying to put on our shoulders,” the president said.
Mr. Trump ticked through his usual list of grievances during his nearly 90-minute speech.
He slammed the media repeatedly, and singled out a news report this week that asserted he hasn’t built a single mile of new fencing along the southern border.
“We’re building a lot of wall,” Mr. Trump said “We’re trying to renovate as much as we can. We rip it up. We put in deep foundations … 30-foot bollards, they’re loaded with concrete. They come out with ’Donald Trump has built no wall.’ What a lie that is. They gave me no credit. It’s all brand new wall.”
He said the U.S. is sparring with China on trade because previous leaders failed to take on the Asian giant, and warned Iran to stop causing trouble in the Persian Gulf.
Mr. Trump said Tehran is spreading propaganda about recent events, claiming it didn’t lose a drone brought down by U.S. forces and that it captured more than a dozen CIA spies.
“They make up stories,” Mr. Trump said. “I just say, for religious people, they lie a lot.”
Iran seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, causing tensions to rise, though Mr. Trump said he will assist the U.K. as it welcomes its new prime minister, Boris Johnson, who was elected by his party on Tuesday.
“He’ll get it done,” Mr. Trump said. “Boris is good.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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