Conservatives’ Super Bowl CPAC Finds New Place In Trump 2.0

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has long prided itself on being the center of conservative thought, attracting big names in politics and punditry. For decades, it was the event of the year for everyone from College Republicans to television talking heads. It used to serve as the hub of young energy in the conservative movement, but its role may be shifting in Trump’s second term in office. 

Born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z, or “Zoomers,” have unique political characteristics compared to their predecessors. Growing up in the world of social media and online activism, they approach politics with a different lens. They are more likely to reject establishment politics on both ends of the political spectrum. For CPAC, once considered a gathering of the conservative movement’s most energized base, the emergence of MAGA has brought on new competitors for attention with the rising youth of the right. 

Turning Point USA, Young America’s Foundation, Future Female Leader, the Leadership Institute, and Young Americans for Liberty were some of the largest youth movements at CPAC. The entire venue used to be a sea of elephant skirts and “Big Gov Sucks” t-shirts. But this year, youth groups had a seemingly lesser presence.

The conference seems to primarily cater to Generation X and Baby Boomers. Headlining this year’s CPAC were figures such as Matt Schlapp, Kari Lake, Reza Pahlavi, Erik Prince, about a dozen members of Congress, and some interesting talking heads. However, despite pulling a few big-name speakers (Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Elon Musk), the conference lacked a certain punch with edgy, attention-grabbing young conservatives.

What the conference lacked in “influencers” appearing, it made up for with a notably sizeable foreign contingent — leaders and pundits from the U.K., Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia were all amongst the top-touted speakers, a noticeable choice in a decidedly “America First” moment amongst the youth.

Donald Trump’s approval among young people has soared since he entered office, yet Zoomers are at a seemingly low ebb of attendance at CPAC. That should raise more than a few eyebrows. Even J.D. Vance had a message for younger attendees during his CPAC speech: “We need you.” But who was he speaking to, if the average age of attendees looked easily over 40 years old? (RELATED: White House Makes Savage Move To Keep Gen Z On MAGA Train)

This begs the question: Where is the younger generation?

A attendee listens as US President Donald Trump speaks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 22, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

It was hard to ignore the disconnect between the conservative old guard and the new generation of voters. And it’s not because young people lack an interest in politics — on the contrary, Zoomers are deeply engaged in politics, but that participation happens more through grassroots organizations than top-down institutions.

Zoomers are keenly aware of the power of social media. A viral tweet can have more of an impact than a keynote speech. This challenges the status quo and allows the younger generation to voice its concerns in ways that CPAC’s traditional format must adapt to compete with. As a result, CPAC risks losing its influence among young conservatives, who are beginning to forge their own path in the political world, one that may not always align with the establishment. This especially rings true as Zoomers seem to align more with populism rather than traditional conservatism.

OXON HILL, MARYLAND – FEBRUARY 20: An attendee walks though the hall at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on February 20, 2025 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The annual four-day gathering brings together conservative U.S. lawmakers, international leaders, media personalities and businessmen to discuss and champion conservative ideas. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

While still a major event on the conservative calendar, CPAC is certainly ceding some ground to competitors. With organizations like Turning Point USA hosting parties with ‘Bang Girls’ and money cannons and turnouts of over 20,000 attendees, CPAC can seem antiquated by comparison. (ROOKE: Trump’s Secret Weapon To Win Gen Z Out From Under Nose Of Political Establishment)

CPAC has some speakers that appeal to the youth, but the lineup from Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest each year features high-energy speakers such as Tucker Carlson, Brett Cooper, Charlie Kirk, and Calley Means — speakers that bridge the divide from Boomer to Zoomer, and traditional conservative to the big tent MAGA coalition.

CPAC maintains a place as a key event in the conservative movement, but it needs work to re-establish itself as a meeting place for the future ideals of conservatism, rather than a relic of a bygone era.