CPAC Mar-a-Lago: Reflecting on the Midterms and Looking Ahead

CPAC Mar-a-Lago brought together President Donald J. Trump, administration officials, conservative leaders, and international guests for conversations about the movement’s next chapter. From national security and the post-midterm landscape to jobs, culture, and the road to 2028, the gathering focused on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Trump and Administration Leaders Take the Stage

President Trump joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Matt Schlapp, and Mercedes Schlapp at the gathering. In his remarks, Trump reflected on CPAC and addressed the midterm elections and his administration’s foreign policy decisions.

“The whole thing with CPAC has been incredible and everything has been amazing,” said Trump.

In addressing the midterms and the conflicts in Iran and the Middle East, Trump commented, “We did something that was a little risky, I guess, but it was certainly the right thing - historically, the right thing to do for history because you wouldn’t have Israel right now, you wouldn’t have the Middle East, we wouldn’t get rid of the nuclear weapon from Iran.”

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Stephen Miller joined President Trump at CPAC Mar-a-Lago in asserting the actions taken in the Middle East as necessary for the future of America.

“I see firsthand every single day that this is a man who wakes up every morning with one thing as a priority: you, our country, and its future. The most important thing a president can do for a country is to keep it safe, and there are people around the world who want to destroy it – they want to destroy our country, they want to destroy our way of life. He was elected to do the hard things,” said Secretary Rubio. 

“If it wasn’t for President Trump, [the] United States of America would not exist right now. This man saved America,” added Miller in his first public appearance as President Trump’s Chief of Staff.

Florida and the Road Ahead

Florida’s political future was another focus of the gathering, with a clear message from CPAC: Florida is red, and we intend to keep it that way.

Senator Rick Scott accepted his Conservative Excellence Award at CPAC Mar-a-Lago for his 100% 2025 rating. He also discussed conservatives’ path forward in Congress and building momentum toward CPAC USA 2027. Scott called for postponing Tuesday’s Senate leadership vote until January, giving current leaders time to prove themselves after the midterm losses. He argued that voters had decisively rejected Senate leadership for failing to pass the SAVE Act and that Republicans need to unite on election integrity.

Governor-Elect Byron Donalds also joined CPAC for discussions about moving forward after the midterms, with an emphasis on keeping Florida free.

Caroline Wren and Ben Ferguson took part in a discussion on election integrity, the midterms, and the conservative movement’s path to victory in 2028.

Jobs, Innovation, and Culture

Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling joined a conversation about cutting red tape, unleashing American innovation, and creating more jobs and opportunities for the next generation.

The gathering also turned to the big screen. Actor Jim Caviezel and Ghost Soldier producer David Zelon discussed defending American communities and bringing faith, freedom, and conservative values to film. The message was direct: Hollywood doesn’t get to decide which stories get told.

Connections Beyond the Stage

CPAC Mar-a-Lago also welcomed international leaders Flavio and Eduardo Bolsonaro from Brazil with a warning. Their home country of Brazil stands as a case study on the fragility of our democracies when leftist governments are doing everything they can to undermine them.

Drug Czar Sara Carter joined the gathering as well with a message to keep up the fight against cartels and to secure America’s southern border.

Senator Mike Lee echoed Carter’s message of perseverance in the fight for freedom, stressing that if we lose America, there is no backup option. He noted that years ago we would never have imagined leftist, socialist policies coming to our country, but now they run rampant.

Across discussions of national security, Florida’s future, economic opportunity, and culture, CPAC Mar-a-Lago offered a chance to reflect on the midterms and look ahead. With CPAC USA 2027 and the 2028 elections on the horizon, the focus remains on the conservative movement’s next steps.

Make plans to rally for the future of freedom at CPAC USA 2027 at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, April 14-17, 2027.  Learn more and register at usa.cpac.org.