Staff Reports
Donald Trump, the former President, is demonstrating his power and sway within the Republican Party by leading the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) once again this year. Despite having some of his potential rivals for the 2024 presidential race present, such as former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and conservative businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, as well as his ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the conference is being headlined by Trump himself.
CPAC 2023 begins with Matt Schlapp describing Jim Jordan as possibly "the most powerful man in Washington DC" lol pic.twitter.com/h4EmLf7HtL
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 2, 2023
Candace Owens, a political commentator from The Daily Wire, Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, and Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, are anticipated attendees at the event. Their presence at this year’s CPAC will likely reveal which prominent members of the Republican Party still support Donald Trump and serve as evidence of his enduring influence on the party.
Trump To Headline Slimmed-Down CPAC As GOP Rivals Take The Stage https://t.co/8tEDRdCxu1
— US Burning (@UsBurning) March 2, 2023
A donor retreat will be attended by some leading Republican figures, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, while others, including the frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, will not be present. Politico spoke to Republican strategist Dave Carney, who noted that Trump’s absence may be significant because as the frontrunner, every event he attends is scrutinized, and any misstep could be exploited by his opponents.
It’s expected that former President Trump remains the Republican Party’s leader and has significant influence on the party’s future. Although some party members have opted to attend a donor retreat rather than CPAC, it’s evident that many prominent Republicans still support Trump and will attend CPAC to demonstrate their loyalty to him.
CPAC will be attended by several Republican Senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Kennedy of Kentucky, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Mike Braun of Indiana, Rick Scott of Florida, and Eric Schmitt of Missouri. Additionally, numerous House Republicans will be present, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Mark Green of Tennessee, Jason Smith of Missouri, and James Comer of Kentucky. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and Gov. Brad Little of Idaho are also scheduled to attend the convention.
It is clear that President Trump is still a major player in the Republican Party and his influence is still strong. The fact that many prominent Republicans are choosing to attend CPAC rather than a donor retreat speaks volumes about their loyalty to the former president and their faith in his leadership. It is likely that Trump will remain a major force in the Republican Party for years to come.
Source: The Daily Caller
