In Grapevine, Texas, CPAC opened with a message aimed at keeping conservatives unified: multiple speakers warned that divisions inside the movement would help Democrats in the midterms and beyond. The meeting also unfolded without President Donald Trump in attendance for the first time in nearly a decade, yet it still revolved around him—particularly his approach to the war with Iran and his immigration enforcement push.
From the conference’s opening moments, Mercedes Schlapp, a senior fellow at CPAC, warned that “They want us divided,” and said conservatives should channel focus on outside opponents. Evangelist Franklin Graham framed the Iran conflict as “a critical time for our country,” urging conservatives to debate differences without attacking each other and saying, “Save that for the socialists.”
Conservative influencer Benny Johnson acknowledged internal debates but urged Trump supporters to emphasize victories such as tighter border security. He also warned that conservatives’ “enemy is the Marxist,” saying that opponents would run hard in the midterms and in 2028—while he argued internal disagreements should not be treated as a fight against fellow conservatives.
Despite the unity messaging, the gathering reflected a split over Iran. Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz warned against escalation, saying “A ground invasion of Iran will make our country poorer and less safe,” and linking that scenario to higher gas and food prices, while questioning whether it would ultimately kill more terrorists than it would create. Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump ally, pointed to the commander in chief’s role in any decision, but suggested Americans still needed to be convinced—especially with the possibility of American combat troops, which he linked to family members potentially being sent near the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, the conference featured voices and displays that promoted a pro-war line. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Iranian Crown Prince, told the gathering he was ready to lead a new Iranian government and said he would call on Iranians to rise up when the “right moment arrives.” Pahlavi, the son of the shah deposed in 1979, did not live in Iran for five decades, but his remarks drew enthusiastic applause as he praised Trump for attacking Iran and suggested the country could one day be a U.S. ally. In remarks that drew cheers, he said, “President Trump is making America great again,” and added, “I intend to make Iran great again,” as hundreds of Iranian Americans attended and chanted “thank you, Trump!” during pro-war demonstrations.
Immigration enforcement drew some of the biggest applause at CPAC. A special guest included recently retired Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who had led high-profile urban crackdowns and was later pushed aside after two protesters were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Bovino appeared briefly onstage during Benny Johnson’s speech, and actor Dean Cain also shook Bovino’s hand. Tom Homan, described as Trump’s border czar who took over for Bovino in Minnesota, drew cheers when he said Trump would not walk away from his deportation campaign, adding, “I don’t care if people hate me.”
CPAC also offered a window into Trump administration priorities as officials described changes they said were under way. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said more than 200 people involved in investigations of the president were fired, retired or quit, and he framed it as a statement of authority: “President Trump, for the first time in modern history, has said, ‘I am the president,’” Blanche said. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr emphasized the president’s influence over media, pointing to PBS and NPR being defunded and praising departures of figures such as Stephen Colbert, saying, “President Trump is taking on the fake news media, and President Trump is winning.”
The conference also ran its annual straw poll as a measure of conservatives’ sentiment. Asked who they wanted as Republicans’ presidential nominee in 2028, Vice President JD Vance finished first with 53% support, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed second with 35%; no other potential candidate topped 2%. Trump was not listed as an option even though he has mused about serving a third term despite constitutional limits.
CPAC’s slate extended beyond U.S. politics as well. The meeting featured international speakers including Polish President Karol Nawrocki and former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who announced the first British CPAC in July. Conservatives from Australia, Brazil, Germany, Hungary and Japan also appeared on stage to say they were developing or working to put on similar conferences in their countries.