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2w ago

CPAC Opens With Unity Push as Republicans Split Over Iran War

Trump’s approval has slid, turning CPAC into a midterm stress test.

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles from Iran over Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Members of the Trump Tribe of Texas, including Blake Zummo, center, during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas, US, on Wednesday.
A man looks down next to an image depicting President Donald Trump, during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, on Wednesday.
Mark D. Wallace, CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran, speaks before a downed Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drone as it's unveiled at the Houses of Parliament on October 14, 2025 in London, England.

Overview

  • The Conservative Political Action Conference, which opened Thursday in Grapevine, Texas, featured loud support for recent U.S. strikes on Iran, with a few MAGA figures like Rep. Matt Gaetz urging restraint.
  • CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp said he is using the gathering to cool factional fights that he warned could cost Republicans their slim House and Senate majorities in November.
  • President Donald Trump is skipping the event for the first time in a decade as a Reuters/Ipsos poll put his approval at 36% during a period of higher fuel prices linked to the conflict.
  • The speaker lineup underscores the divide, pairing backers of the war such as Sen. Ted Cruz and activist Mark Wallace with skeptics including Steve Bannon and Gaetz, and scheduling exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi to address attendees.
  • Texas politics add intrigue as Attorney General Ken Paxton gets a marquee slot and Sen. John Cornyn stays away, highlighting tensions in a GOP Senate runoff Trump has yet to resolve.