On CPAC’s Main Stage, Fissures in the Party Trump Remade - The New York Times

The New York Times
March 28, 2026
3 min read

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Republican Party fractures visible at CPAC as Trump-aligned factions disagree over policy direction and party priorities.

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CPAC's main stage has become a venue exposing fractures within the Republican Party that Trump has reshaped since his return to power. The conference, traditionally a gathering place for conservative activists and GOP leaders, is now displaying visible disagreements over policy direction and party priorities among figures who ostensibly align with the Trump agenda. These divisions reflect tensions between different factions of the modern Republican Party — including establishment conservatives, Trump loyalists, and other wings — over how to advance their respective visions. The public nature of the disagreements at such a high-profile conservative gathering signals that party unity around Trump's leadership is not monolithic, despite his dominance within GOP circles. The fissures underscore the challenge facing Republicans in maintaining cohesion as Trump navigates his second term and the party prepares for upcoming political battles.

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