, venue. Donald Trump is not attending CPAC for the first time in 15 years, a shift that multiple reports indicate reflects broader changes in the event's dynamics. ' International political figures have made notable appearances, with former British Prime Minister Liz Truss announcing she is launching a 'Make England Great Again' movement and establishing a UK branch of CPAC.
Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, declared his presidential candidacy at the conference. Meanwhile, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, who is running for Governor of Minnesota, attended the event. Border security emerged as a contentious theme, highlighted by the surprise appearance of former Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who received an enthusiastic welcome from attendees.
The guard insulted me and said he always has to repeat himself when he talks to Iranians.
Bovino retired from Border Patrol less than 24 hours before his CPAC appearance. Tom Homan, Trump's former border czar, later appeared and reminded the audience that Trump had pulled Bovino from his position due to political backlash. A significant Iranian diaspora contingent is present at CPAC this year, with Reza Pahlavi, Iran's crown prince in exile, scheduled to speak.
However, an incident involving an Iranian-American attendee added tension: Reza Farnood, an Iranian-American Trump supporter who traveled from Virginia to Texas to advocate for war against Iran, was escorted out by police after a confrontation during Steve Bannon's speech. Other notable attendees include Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader who is attending CPAC after being pardoned by Donald Trump. Absences were also marked, with Trump's potential successors Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipping the event, underscoring the shifting political landscape at the conference.
They welcome the war, anything is better than having to live with the regime.
It's a free country, but I wasn't allowed to make my voice heard. Instead I was thrown out.
I suppose it was inevitable that the whole Trump and CPAC situation would change, and I think what's happening in Iran probably impacted that.
They don't want to be in DC.