Michael Knowles - CPAC in DC 2025

Michael Knowles, host of The Michael Knowles Show at The Daily Wire, delivered a powerful speech for common-sense immigration policies at CPAC, held just outside the nation’s capital. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of conservatives, Knowles hailed President Trump’s re-election as a resounding mandate for immigration reform, emphasizing that the 2024 election, in which President Trump secured the popular vote, served as a referendum on the issue.

Knowles sharply criticized the Biden administration and liberal elites in Washington, accusing them of losing touch with everyday Americans who prioritize preserving national identity and ensuring safe communities. “The Democrats lost their common sense, and their loss is our gain,” Knowles declared. “Not only at the ballot box but also in expanding the political imagination, in opening up the discourse.” He argued that the folly of liberals has not only bolstered conservative victories but also shifted the Overton Window, fostering broader public debate about immigration’s role in America.

Knowles also aimed at establishment Republicans, accusing them, alongside Democrats, of stifling discussion on immigration reform and censoring dissenting voices. “For too long, uniparty elites have limited political discourse to exclude the common-sense policies people actually want,” Knowles said, underscoring the frustration of Americans who feel marginalized by the political class.

Knowles credited President Trump with galvanizing public sentiment since his viral 2015 campaign launch, coming down the escalator at Trump Tower, where he first demanded immigration reform. The broad-ranging popularity of President Trump from day one has proved that Americans are tired of not being represented. Trump has given a voice to those sidelined in mainstream political discourse.

Challenging the narrative that Americans must choose between more legal or illegal immigration, Knowles asserted that the majority of Americans favor a significant reduction in both. “For decades, we have been told we have two choices when it comes to immigration: more illegal immigration or more legal immigration. But it turns out most Americans do not want more immigration of any kind. Most Americans want drastically less immigration, legal and illegal,” he said.

Knowles emphasized that Americans are deeply concerned about social cohesion and the safety of their communities, sentiments he said Trump has addressed by affirming that such concerns are not rooted in bigotry, despite claims from political and media elites. He described America as a nation built on individualism, liberty, and Christian values, warning that unrestricted immigration threatens to erode this heritage. “It is not possible for a nation to maintain social cohesion and its own way of life while taking in an unlimited number of foreigners,” Knowles concluded, urging conservatives to continue advocating for policies that prioritize national identity and security.