Former President Donald Trump is set to speak at the Moms for Liberty’s annual “Joyful Warriors” Summit in Washington D.C. on Friday, August 30 at 8 p.m. This marks his return to the organization after previously vowing to dismantle the Department of Education if he regains the presidency.
Tina Descovich, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, mentioned in an interview that the event will offer a more relaxed environment for discussion on pressing issues. She emphasized that attendees will have the chance to engage directly with Trump.
In last year’s convention, Trump referenced his intent to eradicate the Education Department and suggested making school principals elected positions. He defended Moms for Liberty against accusations from the mainstream that label them a hate group, asserting they are “joyful warriors” and patriots.
It’s worth noting that the Southern Poverty Law Center has classified Moms for Liberty as an extremist group, citing controversial ties and past incidents involving extremist groups. In 2022, Trump also promised to cut federal funding for schools that promote what he calls inappropriate content related to critical race theory and transgender issues.
The Republican Party’s current agenda emphasizes universal school choice, merit-pay for teachers, and eliminating teacher tenure. Moms for Liberty gained visibility during the pandemic by tapping into parent discontent over school policies and has since backed numerous conservative candidates for school board elections nationwide.
According to Descovich, suburban parents are pivotal for the upcoming elections, stating that “80% of moms and dads agree with our issues.” She criticized current administration ties to teachers’ unions as being against parental rights.
While about half of the candidates endorsed by Moms for Liberty won in 2022, recent efforts against their candidates have seen many struggle in Florida elections. The group plans to invest $3 million in advertising to boost membership and engagement ahead of the November elections.
This year’s summit runs from August 29 through September 1, with the expectation of attracting hundreds of parents for training, strategizing, and networking opportunities. Trump will share the stage with notable speakers like former representative Tulsi Gabbard and conservative commentator Glenn Beck.
You can catch Trump’s speech here.