CPAC 2026: Everything that happened on first day; Franklin Graham, Iran war
A gathering of conservatives from across the globe ramps up on Thursday in Grapevine.
The Conservative Political Action Conference is being held at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, drawing state and national Republican figures. The conference technically began Wednesday, but the bulk of the program starts Thursday and runs through Saturday.
President Donald Trump is expected to skip the conference for the first time since 2016.
Scheduled speakers throughout the week include U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Irving, former Tarrant County GOP Chair and Texas Railroad Commission candidate Bo French, U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill of Flower Mound, media personality Steve Bannon and state Sen. Mayes Middleton, a candidate for Texas Attorney General.
Middleton is expected to take the stage on Thursday for a candidate roundup, as is Border Czar Tom Homan for a fireside chat and media personality Matt Gaetz. Other panels tackle “Canceling Satan” and another about defeating the “legacy media.”
CPAC events were previously held in Dallas in 2021 and 2022.
Panel urges consumers to put their money into conservative companies
4:18 p.m. Three company leaders and a candidate for the Wyoming House seat took to the main stage to highlight the importance of consumers putting their dollars behind conservative companies.
Virginia-based radio broadcaster John Fredricks said before deciding which company to spend money on, look into their politics “because the alternative is you spend your money with some woke DEI company that is supporting the fake news to continue to lie to you.”
Glenn Story, CEO of Patriot Mobile, said the company is an activist organization that puts God first. Patriot Mobile is a Christian, Conservative phone service provider based in Grapevine.
Alexander Spellane, CEO of Fisher Capital Group, said the FBI had investigated where people shopped and which candidates they donated to in order to determine who may have been at the January 6 riot in 2021. Spellane said Patriot Mobile was one of the only companies that fiercely defended users’ privacy.
Story was careful not to discuss politics on stage though Patriot Mobile has a political action branch that has spent thousands of dollars backing Republicans local and state races.
Gov. Greg Abbott to speak at CPAC
3:18 p.m. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will speak at CPAC in Grapevine, according to a Thursday afternoon announcement from the conference. The announcement didn’t include the day or time of his remarks.
Border Czar Tom Homan addresses CPAC attendees
2:46 p.m. Border Czar Tom Homan touched on the deployment of ICE agents to airports during a CPAC conversation focused on border security.
“Apparently you’re now handling airports too?” said CPAC Senior Fellow Mercedes Schlapp.
Homan replied, “Look, the brave men and women of ICE are stepping up to help secure the airport,” adding that TSA workers are having to call in and get other jobs during the ongoing shutdown related to DHS funding.
Democrats have called for ICE reforms, including prohibiting the use of masks, which Homan said is a “non-starter” because of threats related to anti-ICE rhetoric.
“Until you stop your language, we’re not taking the masks off,” he said.
During the talk, Homan outlined the Trump Administration’s immigration-related efforts. He praised ICE agents in Minnesota, where people were shot and killed by officers.
“The men and women of ICE and border control did a remarkable job, considering the job’s already dangerous,” he said. “You’ve got thousand of people getting in their face, threatening them, attacking them. They preformed remarkably.”
Pro-Trump, war rally breaks out
2:26 p.m. A rally in support of the American and Israeli-led war against Iran erupted outside the CPAC main stage around noon Thursday but was quickly disbanded by security at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center.
Shortly after two Iranian women left the main stage of the Conservative Political Action Conference, a few dozen CPAC attendees rallied around the ballroom doors to display their appreciation for President Donald Trump and the former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, an American ally.
Texas Attorney General candidate pitches pro-Trump credentials
12:26 p.m. Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton pitched himself as the pro-Trump candidate for Texas Attorney General and touted his experience in the Texas Legislature during Thursday afternoon remarks at CPAC.
The Galveston Republican is in a runoff against U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, an Austin Republican.
Their former primary opponent Aaron Reitz endorsed Middleton’s bid on Wednesday. CPAC endorsed Reitz in the first round of voting.
“The reason why MAGA has united behind me now is because Aaron knows, like we all know: We need someone in that office like me who will use every resource and tool to back up President Trump and his America First agenda, and that is exactly what I’ll do,” Middleton said.
Iranian women talk on violence under current regime
11:36 a.m. During a panel titled “MAGA vs. Mullah Madness,” Mersedeh Shahinkar and Raheleh Amiri shared their experiences as women who faced violence while living under the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Panelists praised President Donald Trump’s military action targeting the country’s leadership. Some in the audience chanted “Thank you Trump.” A rally of a few dozen people broke out outside the ballroom shortly after.
“President Trump did not start a war,” said Hiva Wallace, an advisor for United Against Nuclear Iran. “President Trump is ending a war after 47 years.”
Some CPAC attendees cloaked their chairs in the Iranian flag and raised signs in support of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran before he was dethroned by the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
War in Iran comes up early in CPAC
10:57 a.m. The Iranian War was an early talking point in CPAC’s Thursday programming.
Some in the audience bore Iranian flags as they listened to Rev. Franklin Graham, the president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the day’s first speaker. He called it a “critical time” for our country and the world.
“We are at war with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Graham said. “Not the people of Iran. These are wonderful people.”
The remark was met with cheers.
He later decried the “mainstream media” and questioned a report that the war in Iran is a problem for Trump’s base.
“They plant little seeds of doubt,” Graham said.
Graham said he’s not affiliated with a political party but called on conservatives to be united. He said the Democratic socialist agenda was “birthed in hell.”
He praised President Donald Trump and said, “We’ve got to get him re-elected.”
CPAC main stage kicks off
10:10 a.m. The day started on the CPAC main stage with the pledge of allegiance, the national anthem and Arizona pastor Joshua Navarrete’s prayer asking for blessings for the president and Israel. Attendees met the kick-off with clapping, whooping and chanting.
Once the “USA” chants fizzled out, the CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp and his wife CPAC Senior Fellow Mercedes Viana Schlapp outlined what the mission of the conference was: to save and keep America.
Mercedes Viana Schlapp said the enemy of the movement are the communists, socialists, Democrats, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
“They want us divided, we have to stay united,” she said.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 10:28 AM.
