Donald Trump has given his strongest indication yet that he will run for US president again in 2024, while vigorously repeating his false election claims that sparked the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
His hints came just hours after his former vice-president Mike Pence took thinly veiled swipes at his former boss, arguing the Republican Party needed to look ahead, rather than back.
This wasn't a campaign launch, but it sounded like one
Speaking in Washington for the first time since leaving office, Mr Trump used his keynote address to continue to falsely claim he won the 2020 election, despite losing to US President Joe Biden.
"I ran the first time and I won, and I ran a second time and did much better," Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump spoke before an audience of hundreds of cheering supporters gathered for the America First Policy Institute's two-day America First Agenda Summit.
Composed of former Trump administration officials and allies, the group is widely seen as an "administration in waiting" that could quickly move to the West Wing if Mr Trump should run again and win.
The former US president portrayed America as a country overwhelmed with crime, violence, drugs and invasions of illegal migrants, claiming the nation is "doomed" unless he steps in.
"I have to save our country. I'm not doing this for me, I had a very luxurious life," Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump called the 2020 election "a catastrophe" and "a disgrace", and took aim at the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, calling the panel "the unselect committee of hacks and thugs".
"They really want to damage me so I can no longer go back to work for you. And I don't think that's going to happen," Mr Trump said.
Federal and state election officials from both parties and Mr Trump's own attorney-general have said there is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted.
The former president's allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges appointed by Mr Trump.
So when might Trump officially announce his 2024 run?
There are a couple of theories flying around.
The former president told New York magazine this month that he's "already made" a decision to run, and the real question is when he'll make his official announcement.
"I would say my big decision will be whether I go before or after," he said, in reference to the midterm elections in November.
But if posts on Mr Trump's own social media platform Truth Social are anything to go by, we might have an official answer a lot earlier, in August.
Political analysts say one reason Mr Trump may be interested in launching a presidential campaign even before the November midterms is to make it easier for him to portray any official investigation against him as politically motivated, as CNN reports.
Mike Pence went to lengths to distance himself from his former boss
Just hours earlier, former US vice-president Mike Pence delivered his own address nearby, and used his time to distance himself from Mr Trump.
While Mr Trump remained consumed by the election he falsely claims was stolen from him, Mr Pence urged conservatives to stop looking backwards and focus on the future.
"Some people may choose to focus on the past, but elections are about the future," Mr Pence said to a conservative student group, the Young America's Foundation.
"I believe conservatives must focus on the future to win back America. We can't afford to take our eyes off the road in front of us because what's at stake is the very survival of our way of life."
"In order to win, conservatives need to do more than criticise and complain. We must unite our movement behind a bold, optimistic agenda," he said.
In his speech, he repeatedly touted the "Trump-Pence administration".
But the first question he received during a brief question-and-answer session was about his growing split with Mr Trump, which is particularly stark given the years he spent as the former president's most loyal sidekick.
Mr Pence denied the two "differ on issues", but acknowledged, "we may differ on focus".
ABC/wires
