WASHINGTON — This week, thousands of conservative politicians, activists, and influencers gathered outside Washington for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the premier annual gathering of the American right.
Hosted by the American Conservative Union since 1974, CPAC has traditionally been a go-to event for conservative Republicans and presidential hopefuls. However, in recent years, it has transformed into a platform for populism, driven by the rise of populist movements globally.
This year’s CPAC features high-profile speakers such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, along with foreign leaders and influencers from around the world. Dubbed the “Woodstock for conservatives,” CPAC has become a must-attend event for those on the right who want to stay informed and connected with like-minded individuals.
But CPAC is not just limited to the United States. In the past decade, it has ventured overseas, launching its first international conference in Japan in 2017. Since then, it has expanded to Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Hungary, Mexico, Israel, and most recently, Argentina.
According to CPAC, these international conferences serve to “unite conservatives from all over the world, strengthen the movement, and challenge globalism.” They also serve as a platform for public outreach, recruitment, and mobilization, as highlighted in a recent paper on CPAC by Grant A. Silverman, a research assistant at George Washington University in Washington.
The growing international outreach of CPAC reflects the surge in far-right populism worldwide. Last year’s foreign speakers included Presidents Nayib Bukele of El Salvador and Javier Milei of Argentina, as well as Prime Minister Victor Orbán of Hungary.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the foreign speakers for this year’s CPAC and what they have to say.
Javier Milei, Argentine President
Milei, known for his unconventional style and wielding a chainsaw, electrified the CPAC crowd on Thursday when he shared the stage with billionaire Elon Musk and presented him with his signature campaign prop.
As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk, who made his first CPAC appearance, is spearheading the Trump administration’s massive government-wide cost-cutting efforts. This marks Milei’s third CPAC appearance, and he has become a regular at the conference. The self-styled “anarcho-capitalist” campaigned in 2023 on shrinking Argentina’s government, often brandishing a chainsaw at rallies.
At last year’s Washington conference, he vowed to eliminate unnecessary government agencies, declaring, “We will not surrender until we make Argentina great again!” Speaking at CPAC Argentina in December, Milei declared that the “new winds of freedom are sweeping through the world” and called on allies to fight against “lefties.”
Jair Bolsonaro, Former President of Brazil
Brazil’s former right-wing president is a regular at CPAC. After losing a reelection bid in 2022, his supporters stormed federal government buildings in an alleged attempt to seize power. Banned from seeking office until 2030, Bolsonaro faces charges of plotting a coup.
His son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, organizes CPAC Brazil. At last year’s conference in Balneario Camboriu, the elder Bolsonaro joined Milei and other right-wing politicians from Latin America to hail conservatism’s global rise and expressed hope for Trump’s return to office.
For his part, Milei used the platform to denounce socialism, saying it restricts liberties and breeds corruption.
Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia
Robert Fico makes his CPAC debut this year. Though he leads a left-wing populist party, he has drawn controversy for his attacks on journalists, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people.
In October, he called journalists “bloody bastards” and threatened new media restrictions. An opponent of same-sex marriage, he has called adoption by gay couples a “perversion.”
During the Ukraine conflict, Fico has opposed European sanctions on Moscow and echoed Moscow’s messaging, drawing comparisons to Hungary’s pro-Kremlin prime minister.
In May, he survived an assassination attempt by a gunman opposed to his stance against military assistance to Ukraine.
Mateusz Morawiecki, Former Polish Prime Minister
After speaking at CPAC Hungary last year, Morawiecki makes his first U.S. appearance this year. He served as prime minister from 2017 to 2023 and
