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CPAC is the great annual jamboree of official American conservatism. Nowhere else will you find such ardent devotion to God, country, and the Constitution. Nowhere else will speaker after speaker tell you that the United States is the greatest nation in history — and in the next breath tell you that it is on the very brink of destruction.

But this year, something towered over even God, country, and the Constitution: Donald John Trump. He — alone of all Americans — can and will save America from communists, Marxist, socialists, and globalists. CPAC idolizes this man, but no more than he does himself. And unlike two years ago, there were countless ringing assertions that men are not women, that Israel is our greatest ally, and that the southern border is a disgrace.

CPAC is overwhelmingly white; it is startling to see a black face, and there is only the slightest sprinkling of Asians or Hispanics. But, of course, its whiteness is accidental; regrettable, really. The audience cheers wildly for every black speaker.

There was much roaring about “invasion” and many calls for “the greatest deportation program in the history of America,” but I never heard the words “the great replacement” or even a suggestion of it. Illegal immigration is bad because it is illegal and uncontrolled; it means human trafficking and fentanyl. It overwhelms social services. But I heard not one word about the dispossession of whites or even of the displacement of Christianity, which so many speakers said is central to their own and to America’s identity.

CPAC is a tragic spectacle: thousands of earnest, patriotic white people, determined to “fight for America,” but who don’t understand — or if they do, won’t admit — that the America they think they are fighting for will die without white people. The country took that for granted until the mid-20th century, but not one word may be breathed about it at CPAC. Speakers denounce “cancel culture” and “censorship,” but “conservatives” police speech just as rigorously as YouTube. In the dim past, it was possible to ask questions from the floor; that’s now impossible. Who knows what heresies might be spoken?

In other respects, this was a surprising CPAC. Compared to the meeting in Orlando, which I attended two years ago, the crowd looked smaller, which was odd for an election year — even though registration cost just $95 rather than $290. Several people who have attended Turning Point USA events told me that they get bigger crowds and draw off many young people.

Compared to 2022, the exhibit area was small and desolate, and there was more oddball stuff for sale: woke tears to drink by the bottle, a vibrating machine you stand on to reduce stress and hop up your sex life, a Trump hammock for $545.25, even a Jan 6 insurrection pinball game you win by overturning the election.

And then there were the kooks. The Trump Tribe was very much in evidence, and a transvestite Lady MAGA flounced about every day.

Broadcasters pay to set up on-site studios, so they can grab speakers for interviews. Spanish-language Vox was there, Andrew and Jerry were saving the world, you could watch American Thought Leaders in action in person, and there was a lady to help you take back your power.

In the main hall, which must seat 2,000 people but was usually half empty, speakers came on and off stage to thumping disco music. There were many panels and even most individual speakers got no more than 15 minutes. Once they had finished congratulating the audience on being there and praised God and Donald Trump, there wasn’t much time for deep thought, but deep thought is not what the audience wants. It wants to shout and cheer, and goggle at celebrities — even though the speakers are so far away, most people can see them only on huge video screens.

Black Florida Congressman Byron Donalds got what seemed to be the obligatory affirmative-action standing ovation. “The thing that is hurting us the most is that we are divided,” he said, and explained that “America being in a dominant position is the best thing for the people of the world.” “We stand with Israel, which should obliterate Hamas from the face of the earth.” He thundered against “the invasion,” and asked Joe Biden: “Which matters more to you: the borders of the United States or the border of Ukraine?” (Applause) He said if the government has to be shut down to close the border, we should shut it down.