Trump Gives a Rousing Speech at CPAC, Does Not Shy Away From His Cancellation of His Appearance at the 2016 Event

President Donald Trump came to CPAC on Friday morning and, in an event followed by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN, gave a rousing speech to the annual gathering. (When, upon arrival before the speaker's podium, at around 0:28, Donald Trump puts up his thumbs and then points out to a member of the audience, it is to the main blogger of No Pasarán sitting in the front row and who'd set up his thumbs in response; it can also be seen at Greta Van Susteren's video, at around 0:35)

Interestingly, he didn't shy away from his failure to appear at the CPAC gathering one year previous, but, within five minutes (4:07), took on the subject straight on.

I would've come last year but I was worried that I would be, at that time, too controversial. We wanted border security. We wanted very, very strong military. We wanted all of the things that we're going to get...
(APPLAUSE)
... and people consider that controversial but you didn't consider it controversial.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: So, I've been with CPAC for a long time. All of these years we've been together. And now you finally have a president, finally. Took you a long time.
(APPLAUSE)
Took you a long time.
(APPLAUSE)
And it's patriots like you that made it happen, believe me. Believe me.
You did it because you love your country, because you want a better future for your children and because you want to make America great again.