Trump Skips CPAC as Iran War Deepens Divisions Within MAGA Movement

Donald Trump broke a decade-long streak Wednesday, staying away from the Conservative Political Action Conference as a White House official confirmed to AFP that the president would not attend, citing a busy schedule amid the "ongoing Iran conflict."

The conference runs Wednesday through Saturday near Dallas, Texas, where Trump had originally been expected to close the event as keynote speaker on the final day. Instead, he is scheduled to speak Friday afternoon at FII Priority, a Saudi-backed investment summit in Miami.

The Lone Star State, home to one of this year's marquee Senate contests, is hosting a mix of Republican candidate hopefuls, influencers and activists, and Trump administration officials. The gathering has historically served as a temperature check for the Republican Party and has been dubbed "TPAC" in recent years, as Trump has reigned supreme at the event since his 2016 election victory.

His absence lands at a fraught moment. The event is unfolding against a backdrop of growing divisions within the MAGA movement, particularly over the war in Iran. CPAC host and organizer Mercedes Schlapp told Politico the movement is experiencing clear internal tension. "What we have seen is a divide in the conservative movement," Schlapp said. "There's a lot of tension... we can disagree, but the name-calling in the conservative world is not helpful."

High-profile conservatives, including Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson, criticized the war, arguing it is not in the United States' interest and risks American lives. Trump pushed back, insisting "MAGA is Trump" and that the movement supports his agenda. Steve Bannon, who is expected to appear at the conference alongside provocateur Jack Posobiec, went further, warning that a prolonged war could hurt conservatives politically in the November midterms.

Several administration officials, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and border czar Tom Homan, are scheduled to speak.

This year's lineup carries an added geopolitical edge. Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi is among the speakers, seeking to present himself as an interim leader should Iran's clerical leadership fall. Conservative Polish President Karol Nawrocki is also among the guests.

At CPAC, top Republicans are seeking to rally their conservative base heading into the November midterm elections, which will decide if Trump's party maintains control of Congress for his final two years in office. Schlapp acknowledged the stakes plainly: "Obviously the country's in a different state right now... things are changing literally by the minute."

The conference that once functioned as Trump's personal stage now opens with his seat empty and the movement's fault lines visible to anyone in the room.