CPAC Attendance and Sponsorships Plummet as Donald Trump’s Influence Wanes

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has seen a dramatic decline in attendance and sponsorships this year, as former President Donald Trump’s influence on the event appears to be waning. Held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in suburban Washington, the four-day event was noticeably less crowded than in previous years, with fewer sponsors and less enthusiasm from attendees.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, a potential Republican presidential candidate, was met with a polite but only mildly interested audience during her speech at the event. After her address, Haley ventured out of the half-empty ballroom and into a small circle of friendly selfie-seekers. However, as she was leaving, chants of “Trump 2024!” began to echo through the hall.

Al Cardenas, a former chair of the American Conservative Union, the organization that hosts CPAC, said the event’s decline in stature is “stunning”. He noted that the event had been boosted by its ties to Donald Trump in recent years, but now appears to be losing relevance as the former president’s influence fades.

The decline in attendance and sponsorships at CPAC this year appears to be a sign of the changing political landscape in the United States. With the Republican party in flux and Donald Trump’s influence waning, it remains to be seen how the event will fare in the years to come.