Older and younger conservatives at CPAC disagree on Iran war

Key Points:

• A generational divide emerged at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) regarding President Trump's military strikes against Iran, with younger conservatives expressing feelings of betrayal and disappointment, while older conservatives viewed the actions as a necessary response to threats.
• Younger attendees, such as Benjamin Williams and Sean O’Brien, criticized the potential deployment of U.S. troops to Iran, fearing long-term negative impacts and viewing it as a departure from Trump's "America-first" campaign promises.
• Older conservatives, including Joe Ropar and Kelle Phillips, defended Trump's decision as pragmatic and reactive to longstanding threats from Iran, emphasizing national security over campaign rhetoric.
• Prominent conservative figures are also divided, with some like Joe Kent resigning in protest against the war, while others, including Steve Bannon, warn that prolonged conflict could harm Republican support ahead of midterm elections.
• CPAC leaders acknowledged the internal split and called for unity within the conservative movement, with CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp noting ongoing concerns about the war’s political impact and emphasizing trust in Trump despite differing views.