Republicans wrapped the final day of CPAC in Dallas with pro-Trump fervor, even as former President Donald Trump was absent for the first time in a decade. He skipped a customary closing-style address amid a fraught moment in his second term — Saturday marked one month since the U.S. began strikes on Iran, a policy that has exposed fissures within his usually loyal base.
The conflict with Iran loomed over the gathering. Despite national polling showing many Americans oppose the military action, the conference stayed largely centered on Trump and his brand of politics. Attendees frequently expressed confidence in his decision-making; many said they trusted him more than career politicians. Pew polling cited at the event found roughly eight in 10 Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the conflict, though that support softens among younger Republicans and conservative-leaning independents — groups Trump expanded in 2024.
That erosion showed up in on-the-floor conversations. Thirty-year-old Army and Marine veteran Joseph Bolick of Tyler, Texas, a Trump voter since 2016, said he feels betrayed by a president who once promised ‘no new wars’ and criticized emphasis on foreign engagements while families face domestic economic strain. From the stage, former congressman Matt Gaetz was one of the few speakers to publicly oppose a ground invasion, arguing it would deepen economic pain and could fuel more terrorism.
Talk about midterm strategy was muted. CPAC has long been a hub for campaign networking, but fewer candidates treated it as a campaign stop this year. Former RNC chair Michael Whatley, running for Senate in North Carolina, told supporters the midterms were crucial and urged vigilance to ensure Trump gets a full four-year term rather than a shorter one.
The speaker lineup also shifted. Several well-known Trump surrogates and conservative media figures — including Vice President JD Vance, Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly — were absent. Organizers spotlighted newer conservative personalities and international allies, handing prominent slots to viral creator Nick Shirley and guests like former British prime minister Liz Truss and Eduardo Bolsonaro.
Panels remained focused on Trump-era priorities: culture wars and immigration dominated sessions. CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp hosted a panel titled ‘Can’t We All Just Get Along,’ calling for tolerance of internal differences while noting the coalition persists because so many have embraced Trump and Trumpism.
With 2028 on the horizon, Trump’s conspicuous absence underscored a political reality: he still serves as the primary unifier for large swaths of the party. When he’s not onstage, it remains unclear who can reliably stitch those factions together.