The CPAC Circle Retreat and Gala opened last week, on November 5th at the Mar-a-Lago Club, with a unified mission: to sustain conservatives’ success over the past year under the Trump Administration and chart a path forward in combating the Democratic Party’s increasingly radical shift toward socialism. The first day of this historic gathering brought together several influential conservative leaders, including President Donald Trump, former RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump, and U.S. Senate candidates Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia and Michael Whatley of North Carolina. The speakers reflected on the victories achieved for the American people since the previous year’s election, while warning that socialism and the far left remain a serious threat. Their message was clear: conservatives must stand united to secure an America First future.
In a phone call with CPAC supporters, President Donald J. Trump congratulated CPAC on its continued success in advancing America First principles and urged conservatives to stay united to continue the fight for America’s future. The President reflected, “CPAC has been with me really from the beginning. I sort of started with CPAC. Matt and Mercedes have done a fantastic job.” President Trump emphasized how his Administration rebuilt American strength through energy independence, secure borders, and economic revitalization, highlighting the critical role of conservative leadership in restoring national pride and protecting the rights of working Americans. He also underscored the importance of engaging with other nations through trade and diplomacy, referencing his recent meetings with world leaders in Egypt and South Korea. Trump’s message was one of action and resolve, reminding conservatives that the victories achieved under his leadership were not the finish line but the foundation for the next great chapter in America’s comeback.
Lara Trump, former Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee, centered her remarks on harnessing the grassroots strategy that succeeded in 2024 for the upcoming 2026 elections. Speaking the day after the 2025 election results, she reminded attendees that conservatives’ work “is far from done,” pointing to electoral victories by far-left governors and a self-proclaimed democratic socialist. “I think we all saw yesterday, with the races we were watching, that our work is far from done—that we have one year to ensure that the midterm elections go the right way,” said Trump.
Trump emphasized that the Democratic Party is becoming increasingly radical and stressed that conservatives must rise to meet the challenge. To continue the momentum of the Make America Great Again movement, Trump urged conservatives to engage new voters, protect election integrity, and ensure that the conservative message continues to resonate across communities nationwide.
Two 2026 Senate candidates, Congressman Mike Collins of Georgia and former RNC Chair Michael Whatley of North Carolina, reinforced this message later in the day. Georgia and North Carolina stand at the forefront of America’s political fight as key battleground states.
Collins, who represents Georgia’s 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, has been unapologetically loyal to President Donald Trump and the America First movement, proudly declaring himself the only Republican primary candidate who has stood with Trump from the very beginning. Instead of focusing on attacking each other, Collins called on Republicans to focus on campaigning against Democrats. “We need to go ahead and unite and consolidate this field and get behind one candidate. I don’t understand this business strategy where we beat on each other for 10 or 11 months, then we come out broken, battered, and bruised—and then we go and take on a Democrat for five months,” said Collins. He called on conservatives to put aside differences and unite behind strong, proven leadership that will defend the nation’s borders, strengthen the economy, and restore the rule of law. Despite an ever more radical Democratic Party, Collins argued that through fiscal discipline, deregulation, and support for American manufacturing, the U.S. can reclaim its prosperity and independence.
In North Carolina, Michael Whatley, a fellow U.S. Senate candidate, echoed that same message of unity and discipline, urging conservatives to strengthen party organization, protect elections, and promote a policy agenda rooted in freedom, prosperity, and accountability. Whatley encouraged conservatives to focus on the issues that matter to Americans—such as border security, economic prosperity, and restoring America’s standing in the world.
Whatley reflected on last year’s election victory and the need to maintain that momentum heading into the 2026 midterms by focusing on the issues that voters care about: “It is good to be back here in Mar-a-Lago one year exactly after we were here celebrating President Trump’s big win, and it is from here, in one year exactly, that we will be having our general election. We need to make sure we are always positive, that we are all gas, no brake, and that we are talking about the issues that the voters care about. That’s how President Trump won.”
Together, Collins and Whatley represent the new generation of America First leadership, determined to stand as a bulwark against a Democratic Party that has abandoned America for Marxism, pushing policies that trade freedom for control and prosperity for dependence. Their campaigns are not simply about two Senate seats; they symbolize a broader movement to unite conservatives, confront the ever more radical left, and preserve the values that have defined this nation for generations.
The historic CPAC Circle Retreat and Gala at Mar-a-Lago is a reminder that the conservative movement’s mission is far from over—it’s only just beginning. From President Trump’s call to continue the fight and Lara Trump’s focus on grassroots organization to the powerful leadership of Senate candidates Mike Collins in Georgia and Michael Whatley in North Carolina, the message is clear: America First is the path forward. As the Democratic Party drifts further toward radicalism and socialism, conservatives must rally behind leaders who will defend our borders, protect our freedoms, and restore American strength. The victories of 2024 were not an endpoint—they were the starting line for 2026 and beyond. Now is the time to unite, mobilize, and fight for the future of our nation. When conservatives stand together with courage and conviction, America wins.
