Over the decades, the Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC has hosted Presidents, Vice presidents, and influential figures, evolving into a must-attend event for Republican hopefuls seeking to gauge grassroots support for a Presidential bid. This year’s announcements, however, break from that pattern. They alienate parts of the Republican core base and undermine its moral credibility by placing in the forefront a newly exposed and famously disingenuous figure, Steve Bannon—the convicted fraudster whose betrayals of trust and shameless associations have repeatedly exposed him as a grifter preying on conservative ideals.
After attacking Jeffrey Epstein and the Global Elite Bannon is revealed in recently released e-mails from the DOJ to be coaching the convicted Pedophile and undermining and mocking Trump.Not the man who should be speaking at CPAC
Since its inception in 1974, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has long served to rally conservatives against liberal overreach in government. Its inaugural event featured then-Governor Ronald Reagan, setting the foundation for what would become an annual gathering of right-leaning luminaries, conservative activists, and aspiring politicians. That’s why it is important that CPAC reconsider its decision to use such a double-dealing figure.
CPAC has always been the forefront yearly gathering that focused on core conservative principles such as limited government, free markets, and anti-communism. It gained prominence during the Reagan era, serving as a launchpad for the Reagan Revolution, with influential speakers like William F. Buckley Jr. and Barry Goldwater helping shape the intellectual foundation of modern conservatism.
By the 1980s and 1990s, CPAC expanded to include social issues, attracting evangelical and pro-life leaders. Attendance surged, making it a key GOP event where straw polls often predicted nomination trends.
The dawn of the 21st century presented fresh challenges to CPAC. The Republican Party initially focused on post-9/11 foreign policy and national security, only to see the subsequent rise of the Tea Party movement, which prioritized fiscal conservatism.
In 2010, amid backlash against Obama’s policies, CPAC saw a surge in libertarian-leaning attendees, highlighted by Ron Paul’s straw poll victory. This period marked CPAC’s shift toward more populist elements, setting the stage for the future of the conservative landscape.
The pivotal moment in CPAC’s history came on February 10, 2011 when Donald Trump’s explosive entry as an outsider into the conservative spotlight, channeling the unspoken frustrations of so many Americans, marked a seismic shift toward populism that redefined the Republican movement.
Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone, a veteran political operative with experience dating back to Nixon campaigns and advising figures like Reagan, had urged Trump to explore national politics for decades and arranged Trump’s speech at CPAC 2011.
Trump’s electrified speech captivated the audience with blunt truths on China’s economic dominance and unfair trade practices, OPEC’s role in driving up oil and gas prices, the need for tougher negotiations with exploitative nations, and opposition to tax increases. He strongly hinted at presidential ambitions, stating he would decide by June whether to run in 2012 and promising that America would “be great again” under strong leadership.
Following that debut, Trump became a CPAC staple, speaking nearly every year through his presidency and beyond. His appearances drew massive crowds and dominated media coverage, reinforcing CPAC’s role as the barometer for GOP energy.
Now, in 2026, CPAC faces a foundational moral failing, marked by scandals that mock conservative ideals. The conference, scheduled for March 25-28 in Grapevine, Texas, has announced Steve Bannon as a confirmed speaker, reigniting debates about the organization’s direction.
Bannon, the onetime Trump adviser and War Room host has preached to MAGA crowds for years, but recent Epstein document dumps—revealing his chummy texts, hands-on media coaching (from Michael Wolff’s Too Famous), and a prolonged, disturbingly close relationship well after Epstein’s 2008 conviction—have ignited outrage, undermining core conservative principles.
Bannon’s involvement went beyond casual advice; he reportedly discussed political messaging on issues like tax cuts and immigration with Epstein, exchanged late-night notes on global events, and even bragged to the convicted sex offender about secretly building sections of a private border wall. More alarmingly, texts indicate Bannon and Epstein contemplated invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office during his first term, a stunning revelation for someone positioned as a Trump loyalist.
These communications coming to light have generated substantial anger among portions of the MAGA community that consider Bannon a double agent.
Bannon’s willful collaboration with Epstein—a convicted pedophile and sex trafficker—raises serious questions about his loyalty and moral compass. Adding to the dismay, circulating evidence from Epstein-related releases—including a May 2019 e-ticket or flight-related documentation—suggests Bannon received an invitation or ticket to Epstein’s infamous private island, Little St. James, the site notorious for sex parties and abuse allegations. The existence of this ticket underscores his apparent willingness to engage further with Epstein in that environment, deepening concerns about his judgment and associations.
But that’s not the only betrayal staining his record.
In February 2025, Bannon pleaded guilty to defrauding donors in the infamous “We Build the Wall” scam, where he and his associates misled patriotic Americans eager to support Trump’s border security vision by promising every cent would go to construction—only to divert funds for personal use and luxuries.
This brazen fraud, which exploited the trust of grassroots conservatives, resulted in a plea deal that spared him jail time but cemented his reputation as a self-serving opportunist who preys on the very movement he claims to champion.
Several prominent conservative figures, outraged by these revelations, are now calling for a boycott of CPAC unless Steve Bannon is removed from the speaker lineup.
They portray his shameless post-conviction ties to Epstein—combined with his guilty plea in the Build the Wall fraud—as undeniable proof of moral bankruptcy and rank hypocrisy in his selective attacks on “elites.”
For CPAC—a conference long defined by family values, social conservatism, and unwavering traditional moral standards—giving a prominent slot to someone with deep, post-conviction ties to a convicted pedophile financier, while fresh off a guilty plea for duping donors, is a direct affront to its core base and shreds its claim to moral credibility. Dropping Bannon from the lineup would signal that principled conservatism still matters more than MAGA infighting or controversy.
Bannon, once a key Trump strategist and now War Room host, remains polarizing in MAGA world, but the fresh Epstein document dumps—exposing affectionate texts, hands-on media coaching, and a prolonged relationship well after Epstein’s 2008 sex crimes conviction—coupled with his 2025 fraud conviction for defrauding border wall supporters, have sparked intense outrage, with prominent voices demanding a boycott unless he’s removed.
