Attendees at the 2026 Conservative Political Action Conference appeared dazed and uncertain after what many described as a chaotic and damaging month for Donald Trump. In just the past 30 days, he has launched a war in the Middle East, deployed federal agents to airports, and declined to resolve the ongoing partial government shutdown.
While speaking from the CPAC stage Friday in Grapevine, Texas, Matt Schlapp asked a question he seemingly expected would energize the crowd.
“How many of you would like to see impeachment hearings?”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
“No,” Schlapp responded, shaking his head. “That was the wrong answer. Let me try it again. How many of you would like to see impeachment hearings?” he asked the audience a second time.
Once again, he was met with cheers.
“NOOO!” Schlapp replied with a chuckle. He quickly abandoned the question and moved on, appearing to accept that Trump’s base may not fully grasp what impeachment entails—despite the fact that the president has now been impeached twice.
An attempt by @mschlapp to hype up the CPAC crowd goes horribly wrong —
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) March 27, 2026
"How many of you would like to see impeachment hearings?"
[cheers]
"That was the wrong answer…" pic.twitter.com/PQUCThdgV3
Though unified in red MAGA caps and American flag-themed attire, the CPAC crowd appeared unusually disengaged following Trump’s turbulent first year back in office. Generational divides have emerged over the war in Iran, economic pressures are mounting, and renewed attention on the Epstein files has fueled unease within MAGA circles. One young attendee told CNN that many fellow Trump supporters now “can’t stand the guy.” The mood marked a sharp contrast to last year’s conference, where many had celebrated Trump’s return as the beginning of a political revival.
In a separate moment Thursday, the audience again seemed unsure how to respond. During a discussion with White House border czar Tom Homan, CPAC host Melody Schlapp asked how Trump’s immigration policies compared to the “Biden years.”
Waiting for a reaction, Schlapp paused and turned toward the crowd. She was met with silence.
“I’m not hearing a boo when I say Joe Biden, people! Come on! We do audience participation here!”
The awkward exchanges underscored a growing sense of confusion and fatigue within a base that once thrived on unwavering enthusiasm, raising fresh questions about the durability of Trump’s political grip amid mounting controversies and policy fallout.
