The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) of 2024, a traditionally significant event in the conservative calendar, experienced a noticeable decline in attendance during several of its sessions.
This downturn coincided with the conference's overt endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
CPAC, inaugurated in 1974, is an annual assembly of conservative thinkers and activists. Typically, it takes place at the Gaylord National Harbor Convention Center near Washington, D.C., serving as a platform for conservative discourse. However, this year's conference, characterized by a speaker lineup uniformly supportive of Trump, saw many sessions with empty seats. Observers and attendees alike attributed this to the conference's unwavering support for the former president.
Jacob Swartz, a representative of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, an economic think tank, shared his observations with the DCNF. "I was expecting it to be larger than previous conferences that Ive been to, which arent necessarily as Big Tent," he said. Swartz suggested that the conference's focus on Trump was a contributing factor to the low turnout.
The conference's organizer, American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp, had publicly endorsed Trump's candidacy in January. Marya Dunning, an attendee from Virginia, told the DCNF, "A lot of it was because of the fractured conservative movement and the fact that a lot of people just cant get behind Trump, and you know, it was the Trump conference this year, and I think that kind of alienated a lot of people from coming, especially since it is an election year and he is poised to be the nominee."
The main hall reached its full capacity only in anticipation of Trumps speech. Notably, it did not fill up even during addresses by foreign heads of state: President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador and President Javier Milei of Argentina. "He wasnt just the centerpiece. He wasnt just the featured guest. He was the conference, more or less," Swartz remarked.
The speaker lineup included Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump, Republican senatorial candidate Kari Lake of Arizona, CEO of MyPillow, Inc. Mike Lindell, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, and former White House advisor Stephen Bannon, among others. Many attendees displayed their support for Trump through themed attire, with some even carrying signs bearing the letters of Trump's surname.
Journalist Nick Robertson noted the lukewarm attendance on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "Middling attendance so far at CPAC but still a strong showing of Trump die-hards." Conservative writer Calvin Freiburger echoed this sentiment, attributing the conference's issues to the MAGA movement.
Several speakers expressed their unwavering support for Trump. Nigel Farage, a British politician and former leader of the Brexit Party, told the DCNF, "Im a huge supporter of him. I have been right from the very start. Ive never wavered in that view. And I think the world would be a better place if hes back in the White House." President Bukele also expressed his preference for Trump.
CPAC conducted a straw poll among attendees for their preferred running mate for Trump. The poll was jointly won by Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, both of whom were speakers at the conference. Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, humorously noted in his speech, "It feels like Im the only one here not running for [Trumps] vice president."
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