CPAC Rallies Behind Trump's Iran Strikes, Citing Moral Duty

Conservative conference transforms into wartime unity event as speakers make case for military action against 'evil' regime

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:07am

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A fractured, abstract painting of an Iranian flag or political symbol in warm hues of red, orange, and yellow, conveying a sense of motion and unrest through overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes.CPAC's fervent support for military action against Iran's 'evil' regime reflects a conservative movement determined to see the Islamic Republic's 47-year rule come to an end.Grapevine Today

Republicans at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, largely rallied behind U.S. strikes on Iran, with speaker after speaker pressing the moral and strategic case for military action against the Islamic regime. The conference transformed into a wartime unity event, with the message from the stage being clear and nearly unanimous: the strikes were necessary, the regime is evil, and the president made the right call.

Why it matters

The overwhelming sentiment at the three-day event was support for the strikes and for the president who ordered them, signaling that the conservative movement is not treating Iran as an abstraction but is listening to Iranians who were shot for protesting and Iranian Americans who fled the regime and want it gone. This unity matters heading into November's midterm elections, as the broader electorate remains unsettled but the conservative base knows what it believes.

The details

CPAC senior fellow Mercedes Schlapp featured two Iranian political activists who spoke about being shot by security agents during the 2022 protests, using their testimony to press the case for a war to 'liberate the Iranian people.' Rev. Franklin Graham framed the conflict in religious terms, telling the CPAC crowd that Trump's decision was necessary to preserve Israel's existence. Conservative journalist John Solomon highlighted the strikes' lethality, while former Superman actor Dean Cain praised U.S. military strategy. Iranian Americans like Nima Poursohi, who wore a 'Persians for Trump' T-shirt, also attended to show their support, with Poursohi saying 'it is time for this regime to go after 47 years.'

  • The CPAC conference was held from March 28-30, 2026 in Grapevine, Texas.
  • The U.S. and Israel have carried out airstrikes on Iran over the past four weeks.

The players

Mercedes Schlapp

A CPAC senior fellow and a former senior adviser to President Trump during his first term.

Mersedeh Shahinkar

An Iranian political activist who spoke at CPAC about being shot by security agents during the 2022 protests in Iran.

Raheleh Amiri

An Iranian political activist who spoke at CPAC about being shot by security agents during the 2022 protests in Iran.

Rev. Franklin Graham

One of the country's best-known Christian evangelists, who framed the conflict with Iran in religious terms.

Nima Poursohi

An Iranian American who attended CPAC wearing a 'Persians for Trump' T-shirt and said 'it is time for this regime to go after 47 years.'

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What they’re saying

“The madness needs to stop. We've got to make Iran free again and we are going to make sure America stands strong by their side.”

— Mercedes Schlapp, CPAC senior fellow

“He stepped up to protect Israel and the Jewish people from what I believe was the possibility of a nuclear annihilation by the radical Islamic regime.”

— Rev. Franklin Graham, Christian evangelist

“It is time for this regime to go after 47 years.”

— Nima Poursohi, Iranian American

“Dropping bombs and military action is scary, but living under an Islamic regime is a lot scarier.”

— Nima Poursohi, Iranian American

What’s next

A group also planned a rally Thursday evening outside the venue to show support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's toppled shah, who hopes to lead a transitional government. Pahlavi spoke on Saturday, though he has struggled to win Trump's support.

The takeaway

The conservative movement has decided the 47-year experiment of tolerating the Islamic Republic is over, as evidenced by the overwhelming sentiment of support for the strikes and the president who ordered them at CPAC. This unity matters heading into the midterm elections, as the broader electorate remains unsettled but the conservative base knows what it believes.