CPAC Prepares for the Return of Its King: Trump Ready to Take the Stage

When Donald Trump takes the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, you can be sure that his hold on the Republican base is more secure than ever, at least when it comes to the stalls.

Row after row after row of hats proclaim, ‘Women for Trump,’ ‘Trump 2024,’ and ‘God, Guns and Trump.’

In row 26 is the selection of Ron DeSantis. Two visors and four caps with the ‘DeSantisland: Make America Florida’ logos.

“Everyone is entitled to their point of view,” says Caroline Hesse, who runs the booth, “but I think DeSantis is more on RINO’s side,” using a favorite Trump expression for Republicans on Name Only.

DeSantis isn’t even running yet, but he’s frequently mentioned as the candidate most likely to give Trump a fight for the Republican nomination.

Trump had trailed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in some recent polls, but reopened a lead this week according to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll released Tuesday.

When CPAC met in Orlando last year due to tighter COVID restrictions in his usual home of Maryland, the local turf meant there were plenty of supporters for the Florida governor.

He even took 28 percent of the vote in the conference’s presidential nominating straw.

And when the organization met in Dallas last summer, there were signs that the MAGA world might be ready for a younger generation of leaders in the form of DeSantis.

With CPAC back in its usual home outside Washington DC, Trump’s control was back.

Allies like his former strategist Steve Bannon and the ‘Godzilla of Truth’ John Fredericks broadcast from the halls of the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.

MyPillow founder turned voter denier and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell posed for photos with young men dressed in Trump’s uniform or navy suit, white shirt and red tie.

“You see he’s 100 per cent behind Trump,” he told DailyMail.com. ‘Ron DeSantis is the Trojan horse of the Republican Party. He is awful.

For Lindell, the Florida governor’s crime was meeting with a lawyer for Dominion Voting Systems, the company he is currently suing for defamation after it made false claims that its technology was to blame for fixing the election results.

Seats go empty during former South Carolina Governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s speech

Trump remains the most lucrative figure for sellers. Only a handful of DeSantis hats were on display among the dozens upon dozens of Trump-branded headwear.

Supporters can purchase a ‘Ginger Donald’ cookie. But there was no DeSantis equivalent.

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was among former Trump administration employees who drew crowds at CPAC this week.

Donald Trump Jr. was another favorite of the public when he gave a speech to the attendees

Trump still retains a strong grip on the Republican base, at least among CPAC attendees

He may have his own ax to grind. But Trump has enjoyed a blip in recent polls after DeSantis appeared to be eating away at his front-runner status, without even running yet.

A Yahoo News/YouGov poll released Tuesday gave Trump an eight-point lead over the Florida governor. DeSantis had led Trump in that poll for the past three months.

Resplendent in a red sequined jacket and a yellow T-shirt emblazoned with the letter U (which spells TRUMP when standing with her fellow Trump Tribe members), Melissa Cornwell was never in doubt.

“It did pretty much everything it intended to do, and we need it to finish the job,” he said. “Yes, he’s not a politician, but that means he’s not afraid to tell the truth.”

But unlike other attendees, she sees a future star in DeSantis.

Without Trump, there were plenty of empty seats at CPAC on Friday afternoon

Trump loyalist Rep. Matt Gaetz was among the speakers Friday morning (here with Don Jr), a day before Trump closes the conference with a speech on Saturday night.

Former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer was another speaker Friday at CPAC

Trump’s image is used to sell everything from T-shirts to cigars in this case.

“We would love to see him serve as vice president to Donald Trump and then be president for the next eight years after that,” he said.

“We believe that he has a lot of growth ahead of him. And when he recovers, he has to be unstoppable.

DeSantis will not speak at CPAC. Neither are other potential challengers for the nomination, such as Mike Pence. Trump’s allies say that means they are not fools.

“I’m not in CPAC, I’m in TPAC,” said Fredericks, the Trump-allied radio host. ‘The Trump movement has taken over CPAC.

‘The neoconservatives, the war mongers, the established Republicans and the other RINOS who have destroyed the country and are driving us towards war… are not going to show up here.’

They may not be here. But members of the Trump administration are out in force.

Press secretary Sean Spicer, spokesman Hogan Gidley, adviser Sebastian Gorka, trade representative Robert Lighthizer, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson are treated like rock stars, posing for selfies and squealing as they go.

Also members of the Trump family, including his son Don Jr. and his daughter-in-law Lara.

Back in the exhibit hall there isn’t much love for DeSantis.

“He can wait his turn,” said Sany, who runs USATrumpStore.com with her bejeweled gun-shaped bags and Trump shopping bags.

She described herself as a MAGA Republican and said she would not run in the upcoming election if DeSantis won the nomination.

“If it’s anyone other than Trump, then I won’t vote,” he said. ‘That’s how much I hate the Republican Party.’