Donald Trump has said he “may just have to” run again after the “catastrophe” of the last election, repeating the false claims that it was stolen.
In his first speech in the US capital since leaving office last year, the former president gave the strongest hint yet that he plans to run again in 2024.
“I ran the first time and I won. Then I ran a second time and I did much better. We got millions and millions more votes. We may just have to do it again,” he told a hundreds-strong audience at an America First Policy Institute summit, insisting despite all evidence that he had won in 2020.
"It was a catastrophe that election. A disgrace to our country," he said to applause.
When Mr Trump, 76, left the White House in January 2021 under the cloud of the attack on the US Capitol, his future in the Republican Party and American politics was uncertain.
He returned on Tuesday with his grip on the GOP steadied and talk of a potential 2024 presidential campaign heating up.
Trump allies have said the former president could announce a third White House bid as early as this summer, ahead of the crucial November midterm elections.
Non-profit America First Policy is one of several right-wing organisations that have continued to push his policies in his absence.
Composed of former Trump administration officials and allies, including its director, Brooke Rollins, who ran the Domestic Policy Council in the Trump White House, it is widely seen as an "administration in waiting" that could quickly move to the West Wing if Trump should run again and win.
Mr Trump has openly flirted with, but so far not declared, a 2024 presidential campaign. Doing so would subject him to campaign-finance requirements.
As he prepared to give Tuesday’s speech, Mr Trump was far ahead of his nearest potential Republican competitor, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, in 2024 betting markets.
In his characteristic bombastic style, Mr Trump in his Tuesday speech praised China's "quick trials" and death penalty for drug trafficking, offering that that was why Beijing did not have a drug problem like the US under President Joe Biden.
In another, unscripted, moment, Mr Trump made a series of transgender jokes and called for trans athletes to be banned from competing in sport.