Trump’s Return To GOP Spotlight Sparks Outrage, Frustration

Ahead of the former president's first public appearance since leaving office, CNN host Chris Cuomo faced backlash for hosting a conservative pundit who perpetuated the unfounded claims that the Nov. 3 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Cuomo on Monday spoke with American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp about plans to host Trump at a weekend meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference. Both men sparred over disproven claims of election fraud.

“Just because you fail in court, doesn’t mean you don’t have a good case,” Schlapp said.

That comment sparked backlash on social media, with Twitter users chastising Cuomo for giving air time for unfounded conspiracy theories about the election.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr, a close confidant of the former president, announced an investigation by the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread voter fraud during the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals to overturn the results of the presidential election in five battleground states, marking an end to a long legal effort to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory. All five states -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – flipped from Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020.

Schlapp demurred, however, by saying any examination of voter fraud was warranted for the sanctity of the election process.

Despite the public outcry over the election narrative, the former president continues to enjoy popularity among conservative Republican voters. Trump at the annual CPAC event is expected to lay claim to leadership of the Republican Party and announce he’s the presumptive presidential candidate for the 2024 ticket.