He’s back inside the Beltway.

Former President Donald Trump was set to return to Washington D.C. on Tuesday for the first time since he left office 18 months ago.

Trump is expected to deliver a “policy-focused” speech on crime to the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute as he teases plans to announce another presidential bid in 2024.

If he stays on message, it would be a major shift from Trump’s recent speeches and statements, which have aimed at raising old grievances about the 2020 election that he falsely claims was stolen from him and settling political scores with rivals real and imagined.

“President Trump sees a nation in decline that is driven, in part, by rising crime and communities becoming less safe under Democrat policies,” said Taylor Budowich, a Trump spokesman. “His remarks will (lay) out a … vision for public safety that will surely be a defining issue during the midterms and beyond.”

Trump’s appearance in Washington marks his first trip to the nation’s capital since Jan. 20, 2021, when he refused to attend President Biden’s inauguration and instead unceremoniously flew into exile at his Florida resort.

The speech comes as Trump drops more and more hints that he will soon announce his 2024 presidential campaign, most likely before the midterm congressional elections.

Most Republicans, especially from the establishment wing of the party, had hoped Trump would stay on the sidelines and allow them to make the midterms a referendum on the economy and Biden’s supposed mishandling of kitchen table issues particularly raging inflation.

But the former president wants to keep the focus on himself even if it costs the GOP votes and seats in November.

He has already stepped up jibes at potential ‘24 GOP rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, whom he still blames for failing to help overturn the results of the 2020 vote.

The AFPI non-profit has grown into a well-funded landing spot for Trump loyalists, with an annual operating of around $25 million and 150 staff. It has 17 former senior White Houses officials and nine former Cabinet members on the payroll.



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