The Greatest Images From Contained in the Sequin-Crammed—and Sparsely Attended—CPAC 2026

It’s that point of the 12 months once more—when hundreds of conservative politicians, journalists, and media personalities usually do a victory lap with their MAGA hats on. But this time round, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) appears just a little completely different. America’s oldest conservative political convention is lacking the massive boss—President Donald Trump is skipping the occasion for the primary time in a decade. Major previous audio system like Kimberly Guilfoyle—as soon as a CPAC common—Vice President JD Vance, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio aren’t even scheduled to point out face. And whereas the primary day of CPAC nonetheless kicked off with a Trump pep rally, many seats inside the convention corridor remained empty all day.

CPAC 2025 was triumphant for Trump: He was using the excessive of his win, implementing a shamelessly bold (and private) agenda, and boasting opening acts similar to Elon Musk, who famously wielded a chainsaw whereas onstage. This time round, his ballot numbers are sinking whereas fuel costs are rising. The proper is overtly divided on the conflict in Iran. Although most MAGA loyalists say they assist the conflict, key members of Trump’s Cabinet—like Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—have averted endorsing it outright.

The chasm has solely grown as conservative influencers have expressed their disapproval: Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly, and Republican politicians like Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Matt Gaetz have all pushed again in opposition to Trump’s hawkish agenda.

Still, apprehension didn’t stop hundreds from flocking to Grapevine, Texas, to point out their loyalty to the MAGA motion. On day considered one of CPAC, audio system raved about Trump. Commentator Benny Johnson, Trump administration officers like retiring Border Patrol officer Gregory Bovino and border czar Tom Homan, and former UK prime minister Liz Truss all gushed concerning the president’s accomplishments. Johnson even tried to assuage the disquiet inside the celebration by portray the left as the true villain.

“Your enemy is not the people that you have good faith disagreements with inside your movement,” mentioned Johnson. “Your enemy is the Marxists, and they are going to be running against us hard in the midterms and in 2028.”

Only time will inform whether or not Republicans’ lingering unease dissipates. Or whether or not their looming questions—a few widening enthusiasm hole with the Democrats, the main points of Trump’s mass immigration crackdown, or what’s actually within the Epstein recordsdata—get answered. Regardless, Vanity Fair’s Jack Califano was on the bottom to doc all of it.