Divided Views on Iran, United Support for Trump: Insights from a Major Conservative Gathering
In Dallas, a large gathering of dedicated conservatives has been taking place. The event, a yearly tradition, is known for drawing key figures from the conservative political landscape. This year, despite being a central theme, President Trump was notably absent.
Breaking a ten-year tradition, the President did not give the event's closing speech. This comes at a crucial time in his second term, just a month after the U.S. initiated strikes against Iran. This action has stirred mixed feelings among his typically unified supporters.
Iran Conflict Casts a Shadow
Despite many Americans opposing the war, the event remained largely supportive of President Trump. "People trust [Trump] more than a career politician who just follows their party's rules," said Jeff Hadley, who traveled all the way from Raleigh, N.C., to be part of the event.
Some well-known conservatives have openly opposed the war. Yet, Hadley's opinion aligns with many Republicans at present. A recent survey found that close to 80% of Republicans support Trump's handling of the war.
However, when focusing only on younger Republicans and conservative-leaning independents, this support significantly decreases. These are two groups where Trump saw increased support in 2024.
Joseph Bolick, a 30-year-old Army and Marine Corp. veteran from Tyler, Texas, who has supported Trump since 2016, expressed his disappointment. "I feel let down. He promised no new wars," Bolick stated. "Why are we not helping Americans? The economy's struggling. Why can't we prioritize our own people over foreign governments?"
Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz was one of few speakers to openly criticize the war. "An invasion of Iran will make our country poorer and less safe," Gaetz shared. "It will lead to higher gas and food prices. I'm not sure we would end up killing more terrorists than we would create."
Midterm Talk Takes a Backseat
The event has always been a hub for conservative voters to connect and plan, and for influential voices within the GOP to inspire their base. This year, however, fewer candidates saw it as a campaign stop. Only a handful of Senate and House candidates spoke at the event.
Among them was former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley, now a Senate candidate in North Carolina. He stressed that the midterms would be crucial to the direction of Trump's remaining term. He argued that if Democrats gain control of the House or Senate, the GOP agenda would be stalled.
"We will make sure that Donald Trump gets a full four-year term, not just two years," he declared. "We cannot allow the left to win this election cycle and jeopardize the agenda we're fighting for every day."
Fresh Faces at the Event
Many familiar conservative figures were missing from the lineup. In their place, newer names in the conservative movement took the stage, though they are less central in Trump's traditional circle.
The last speaking slot went to Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old content creator who gained fame for alleging fraud in Minneapolis day-care centers run by Somali immigrants. Other key speaking slots were given to conservative activists from around the globe, showing the event's expanding ambitions to promote conservatism worldwide.
Despite the new lineup, the program continued to focus on Trump's key policy priorities, including cultural issues and concerns about illegal immigration.
MAGA without Trump?
At the beginning of the program, the event chairman led a discussion titled, "Can't We All Just Get Along," where he argued that conservatives should welcome and respect differing opinions.
"How boring would it be if we all just agreed and had no differences?" he questioned. "We wouldn't want that."
"One of the reasons why this coalition stays together is because people embraced Trump and Trumpism," he added.
However, as the next election approaches, Trump's absence at this year's event is a reminder that he may be the only figure that holds large parts of the party together. Without him, it's unclear who would take his place.