CPAC Opens in Texas Without Trump Attendance

Thousands of conservatives from across the United States and abroad gathered Wednesday at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, a major event for Republican activists and lawmakers that runs through Saturday. For the first time since 2016, President Donald Trump will not attend, citing a demanding schedule tied to the ongoing conflict in Iran, according to White House officials.

The conference, which previously took place in the Dallas area in 2021 and 2022, opened with setup activities and early arrivals browsing exhibitor booths featuring political merchandise, including items supporting Trump. Main programming, with more than 80 speakers, begins Thursday. Organizers expect discussions to center on domestic priorities and foreign policy challenges, particularly the U.S. military actions in Iran that Trump authorized earlier this year. A recent AP-NORC poll indicated that 59 percent of Americans view the military response as excessive, though 86 percent of conservatives approve of Trump's overall performance.

Trump's absence marks a departure from recent years, when his appearances energized...