CPAC Attendees Anticipate Trump’s Retribution if Reelected
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is always a highly anticipated event for conservatives across the country. This year, attendees were buzzing with excitement, eagerly awaiting the possibility of former President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Many were intrigued by Trump’s promise of “retribution” during his previous CPAC speech, and they were curious to see what that would look like if he were reelected.
When ABC News asked over a dozen attendees what they hoped to see in a potential Trump term, the responses were filled with a desire for mass firings in the federal government and payback against President Joe Biden. Some even suggested that Trump’s detractors within the GOP should be politically exiled. Laura McGarraugh, a nurse from Austin, Texas, expressed her hope that Trump would “drain the swamp” by firing 70% of the deep state employees. This sentiment resonated with many conferencegoers who believed that the government needed a fresh start.
Although Trump has both touted and downplayed his plans for vengeance, his recent speech at CPAC hinted at a different approach. He claimed that the success of America would be his ultimate revenge, suggesting that he would prioritize accomplishments over retaliation. Some attendees noted this change in tone and believed that Trump would not weaponize his power if he were to win the election. However, Trump also warned that the day after the election would be a “new liberation day” for his supporters’ enemies, implying that there would still be consequences for those who opposed him.
The appetite for revenge among CPAC attendees extended beyond President Biden. Many expressed their dissatisfaction with Republican candidates who ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. While some believed that figures like Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis could be rehabilitated within the party, they scoffed at the idea of Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and Mike Pence finding a place in the Republican Party. Attendees viewed Haley as someone who burned bridges, while Christie was deemed worthless. As for Pence, many saw him as a weasel and a snake in the grass for breaking with Trump during the certification of the 2020 election results.
CPAC has increasingly embraced a more hardline, Trump-centric approach in recent years. The conference prides itself on not inviting establishment-oriented lawmakers and has taken shots at Republicans who are seen as insufficiently loyal to Trump. This shift in tone has left some conservatives who grew up in the pre-Trump Republican Party feeling alienated. They believe that CPAC used to be a gathering where a broad ideological spectrum of conservatives could come together, but now it seems that any deviation from Trump’s agenda is not tolerated.
Despite the desire for revenge among some attendees, there were also those who urged Trump to focus on the country’s issues rather than seeking retribution. They believed that his success in another term would serve as a form of comeuppance for his critics. Pat Thomas, a retired hay farmer from South Carolina, expressed the sentiment that revenge would come in due time and that Trump should prioritize governing the country.
As CPAC came to a close, the attendees left with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and differing opinions on what a potential Trump presidency would look like. The desire for retribution against Biden and Trump’s detractors in the GOP was palpable among many, while others hoped for a focus on policy and the betterment of the nation. Only time will tell what path Trump will choose if given the opportunity to return to the Oval Office.
