Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh told an audience in Washington, D.C., Thursday that other conservatives who don't support President Trump accuse him of selling out on their joint movement have it wrong.

Limbaugh was the special guest at the annual gala hosted by the Media Research Center, a right-leaning media watchdog.

"I didn't have a university pedigree, I didn't have anything," Limbaugh said of his early success in radio. "I didn't have a degree. I had nothing that said I knew what I was talking about. Nothing that said I was educated. Now half those people think I'm a blowhard because of Trump."

During the 2016 campaign, some conservatives in the media accused Limbaugh of abandoning the conservative movement in favor of Trump, who brought ratings to radio and TV.

Limbaugh, who is known to be friends with Trump, wasn't an overt supporter of the then-candidate, but he often criticized his detractors.

"They're 'Never Trumpers' and I'm not," Limbaugh said in D.C. "And I haven't changed, folks, I believe the same things I believed 30 years ago. Events change, you have opinions about that. But the core hasn't changed. I never say something I don't believe just to make people mad. I never say something I don't believe just to tick people off or create a rush. I haven't changed. And I think that's part of the success."

The Media Research Center was celebrating its 30th anniversary.