The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, showed little evidence of a Republican civil war, with Donald Trump's influence dominating the event. There was no debate over the party's future following Trump's election defeat, the loss of the US Senate, or the January attack on the US Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters.
Trump, in his first major appearance since leaving office, told the crowd, 'Miss me yet?' and declared that 'the incredible journey we began together... is far from over.' He continued to make unsupported claims of election fraud, prompting chants of 'You won!' from attendees. Trump also hinted at a 2024 presidential bid, saying he might beat the Democrats 'for a third time'.
The former president broke with tradition by directly criticising his successor, Joe Biden, on immigration and pandemic recovery. He defined his ideology as 'Trumpism', encompassing trade reform, tax cuts, gun rights, and strong borders. The nearly two-hour speech felt like a test of new political material for the Biden era.
CPAC featured a mix of quirky characters and controversial moments. An America First Political Action Conference event included racially charged remarks from organiser Nick Fuentes, who said, 'Our country was founded by white people.' Congressman Paul Gosar later distanced himself from these comments, while Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene made an unscheduled appearance.
Despite the presence of other Republican figures, Trump's rhetoric and agenda dominated the conference, underscoring his continued hold on the party's grassroots and youth activists.
