The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this year sees reduced numbers, with both the venue size and participant turnout not matching previous gatherings.
Low Turnout
The event, running from Wednesday to Saturday in Washington, D.C., boasts an impressive list of speakers, including former President Donald Trump and a spectrum of political figures, yet it faces an unexpectedly low turnout.
Thursday’s Highlights
Among Thursday’s speakers were Byron Donalds, Tommy Tuberville, and Lara Trump, former president’s daughter-in-law and his choice for co-chair of the Republican National Committee, with discussions hinting at potential vice presidential considerations by Trump.
Vacant Seats
Pictures and videos circulated on X, formerly known as Twitter, depict numerous vacant seats during a speech.
Gentle Applause
“Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss “was greeted by gentle applause and dozens of empty seats when she walked on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the National Harbor in Maryland,” wrote the Guardian.
Trump Glorifying Rally
The report continued, “CPAC styles itself as the biggest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world but is now widely seen as a glorified Donald Trump campaign rally, drawing speakers only from the populist right of the Republican party.”
Thinner Crowd
“Thinner crowd—and fewer stalls—at this year’s CPAC, compared to last year,” observed National Journal’s Zac Weisz, highlighting the diminished presence and the downsized venue.
Critical Commentary
A sarcastic note from Republicans For Trump on social media, “packed house,” accompanied by a sweeping camera shot revealing empty seats, exclaimed, “Yikes.”
Media Exclusion
American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp announced on Wednesday a policy barring entry to journalists he described as “left-wing” from the event.
Negative Reporting
During a conversation on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, Schlapp criticized the coverage of conservative figures by left-wing journalists, suggesting it was overwhelmingly negative and part of a broader strategy not only targeting Donald Trump but conservatives at large.
Systematic Effort
He characterized the approach as aggressive and far-reaching, implying a systematic effort to undermine their reputation.
Propagandist Can Buy Ticket
Schlapp stated, “If you’re a propagandist, you can buy a ticket, like everyone else. But you’re not in the media, and we’re not going to credential you by saying you’re in the media.”
Lara Trump’s Moment
Lara Trump energized the audience, discussing her father-in-law’s election victory and her own ambitions within the Republican National Committee.
Empty Seats
Yet, even the presence of a Trump family member couldn’t occupy every seat, with cameras capturing vacant spots throughout the room.
CPAC’s Identity Crisis
Once a hub for conservatives, especially young conservatives, CPAC currently grapples with declining interest and criticism, contrasted by the emergence of alternative conservative summits.
Alternate Summit
The Principles First summit, scheduled for this weekend, showcases numerous critics of Trump, such as former Representative Adam Kinzinger, former Governor Asa Hutchinson, and former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson.
“Just a Circus”
Heath Mayo of Principles First shared, “I used to go to CPAC all the time. When I was in college, it was still a good place where libertarians, social conservatives, economic conservatives would get together and really hash out the debates around economic policy or foreign policy…now it is just a circus.”
No One is Attending
Danielle Butcher Franz, previously a CPAC attendee, expressed on X that she doesn’t believe she knows anyone attending this year.
CPAC has Changed
She remarked that it’s difficult to envision how CPAC, once considered a hub for young conservatives to network and advance their careers, has changed.
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