The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is underway in Orlando, Florida, opening with a 2020 election conspiracy supercut, a video heralding cancel culture “victim” Gina Carano and a gold statue of ousted president Donald Trump raising eyebrows in the Hyatt Regency lobby ahead of his headline speech on Sunday.
Mr Trump is widely expected to announce a 2024 presidential run during his address to the four-day gathering - described as “Woodstock for election liars” by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper - a prospect dismissed by his White House successor Joe Biden, who has said he will not be paying attention.
Friday’s session has already been hit by controversy after members of the crowd booed when asked to wear their Covid face masks by organisers. Florida’s govenor Ron DeSantis kicked off proceedings by declaring his state was “open for business” while senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley are due to appear later before Donald Trump Jr takes to the stage.
