GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — For the first time in nearly a decade, President Donald Trump did not attend one of the biggest annual meetings of conservatives. But
Brazilian Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro applauds during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC in Dallas, Friday, March 27, 2026. GRAPEVINE, Texas — For the first time in nearly a decade, President Donald Trump did not attend one of the biggest annual meetings of conservatives.
But even in his absence, the Conservative Political Action Conference revolved around him. There were disagreements over his war with Iran, pride over his immigration crackdown and lots of encouragement to avoid infighting as the Republican Party faces a difficult midterm election. It was a contrast with last year’s gathering, when conservatives were riding high after Trump’s return to office and Elon Musk waved a chain saw to symbolize his new role leading the Department of Government Efficiency.From the conference’s opening moments, speaker after speaker appealed for unity. “They want us divided,” warned Mercedes Schlapp, a senior fellow at CPAC whose husband, Matt, chairs the organization.“We can discuss our differences, but do it with respect without attacking and tearing down the other person,” he said. “Save that for the socialists.” Conservative influencer Benny Johnson said he was “well aware” of debates within the conservative movement but said Trump’s supporters should focus on his victories, such as tighter border security. “I want to establish something very clearly here that your enemy is not the people that you have good-faith disagreements with inside your movement,” he said. “Your enemy is the Marxist, and they’re going to be running against us hard in the midterms and in 2028.”It was clear, however, that the conservative movement was not on the same page about war with Iran. While there was little criticism of Trump, some warned against deepening the conflict. “A ground invasion of Iran will make our country poorer and less safe. It will mean higher gas prices, higher food prices, and I’m not sure we would end up killing more terrorists than we would create,” said former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump ally, said that “the decision in going forward is obviously the commander in chief’s,” but he suggested that the American people still need to be convinced. “You have to be convinced that this is the right thing to do, particularly now that we’re on the eve of potentially the insertion of American combat troops,” he said. “Your sons, daughters, granddaughters, grandsons could be on Kharg Island or holding a beachhead down by the Strait of Hormuz. ”Hundreds of Iranian Americans who support U.S. military action in Iran attended the conference and frequently had impromptu pro-war demonstrations.David Mansouri, an Iranian immigrant and U.S. citizen who lives in Plano, Texas, described the conflict as a war of liberation that could lay the groundwork for a new American ally in the Middle East. “It’s the best time to make America great again,” Mansouri said, describing Iran as the “biggest part of the puzzle.”Trump’s handling of immigration got some of the biggest applause at the conference, and one of the special guests included recently retired Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. He had led high-profile urban crackdowns but was pushed aside after two protesters were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Bovino briefly came onstage during Benny Johnson’s speech. The actor Dean Cain also shook Bovino’s hand. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar who took over for Bovino in Minnesota, was also at the conference. He drew cheers when he said Trump wouldn’t walk away from his deportation campaign.GRAPEVINE, Texas — For the first time in nearly a decade, President Donald Trump did not attend one of the biggest annual meetings of conservatives. But even in his absence, the Conservative Political Action Conference revolved around him. There were disagreements over his war with Iran, pride over his immigration crackdown and lots of WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has listed five objectives that the U.S. wants to achieve before ending its war with Iran. Now, one month into the conflict, he has suggested the U.S. may soon be “winding down” the operation, even though some of his key aims remain undefined or unfulfilled. Trump last week outlined WIGGINS, Miss. — Five people were killed when a train and van collided in rural Mississippi, authorities said Friday. All five killed were in the van, Stone County Coroner Wayne Flurry said. The lone surviving van passenger, a 23-year-old woman, was flown to a hospital, Flurry said. No one aboard the train was reported DENVER — Five of the seven law enforcement officers in a rural Colorado county, including the sheriff, have been indicted in an investigation into allegations of misconduct, prosecutors said Friday. A grand jury indicted Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez and former Deputy Keith Schultz on charges of allegedly mishandling human remains discovered in October NEW YORK — New York City has ended its legal fight with producer Jordan McGraw, the son of TV’s “Dr. Phil” McGraw, reaching a settlement Friday that clears the way for the release of a reality show he’s making about the New York Police Department. Under the agreement, the city will retain editorial control Minnesota public universities can continue to offer in-state tuition and scholarships to some immigrants in the country without legal status, a federal judge ruled on Friday, dismissing a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice last summer that attempted to halt the programs. The decision follows a series of clashes between the federal government and WSECU Community Champion: Chrystal Ortega’s mission to feed Spokane Chrystal Ortega's tireless dedication recently earned her the WSECU Community Champions Award and a $1,000 grant to further the mission.When Shawn Tibbitts opened Tibbitts FernHill, he was just trying to survive. The small Tacoma restaurant has since earned culinary awards and praise.Wilcox Family Farms is continuing its cherished holiday tradition of giving back by donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the South Sound region this season.Matthew Ballantyne has transformed that early awareness into action, embodying the organization's mission:"No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town."
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