27. March 2026

Republicans Turn on Trump at CPAC: 'Can't Stand the Guy'

WASHINGTON-- Young conservative voters are voicing growing frustration with President Donald Trump, with some warning of potential political fallout for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.

At this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, several Gen Z attendees said Trump’s handling of the war in Iran has shaken their support, particularly after he campaigned on avoiding new foreign conflicts.

“I think they’ll get destroyed in the midterms,” said Alexander Selby, 18, a University of Pittsburgh political science student attending the conference. He said some younger voters who backed Trump in 2024 are now reconsidering their support. “A lot of people who just voted for Trump because they thought it was cool are now saying, ‘I can’t stand the guy,’” he added.

Selby cited the Iran conflict as a turning point. “He campaigned on no new wars,” Selby said. “A lot of young conservatives right now are disillusioned with Trump, and I’d consider myself one of those.”

Others echoed that sentiment. Benjamin Williams, 25, a marketing specialist for Young Americans for Liberty, said the conflict “does feel like a betrayal.”

“We did not want to see more wars,” Williams said. “We wanted actual America-first policies, and Trump was very explicit about that.”

Recent polling suggests Trump’s standing with the broader public has weakened since the conflict began. According to data compiled by statistician Nate Silver, Trump’s net approval rating fell from minus 13.9 a week earlier to minus 16.7 as of Thursday — the lowest point of his second term.

The erosion of support, including among key parts of his 2024 coalition, could pose risks for Republicans in the midterms, when the party in power historically faces losses.

Younger voters — particularly men — were a crucial part of Trump’s base in the last election. Data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement shows 56% of Gen Z men voted for Trump in 2024, compared with 41% of Gen Z women.

But some of those voters now say the administration has failed to deliver on key promises, especially regarding foreign policy. The U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, sparking an ongoing conflict that has contributed to rising global energy prices.

Sean O’Brien, a sophomore at Auburn University, said he was “not happy” with discussions about potentially deploying U.S. troops to the region, calling it a possible “full betrayal.”

The issue has exposed a generational divide within the Republican Party. While younger conservatives expressed skepticism, many older attendees defended Trump’s actions.

“I don’t believe he started a new war,” said Joe Ropar, 70, a retired defense contractor from McKinney, Texas. “He was acting in response to a 40-year-old conflict with Iran. I think he did what he had to do.”

Still, criticism is not limited to younger voters. Some prominent conservative voices outside the conference have also raised concerns. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon recently described the conflict as “a hard slog” that could cost Republicans support in the midterms.

The growing divide within the GOP comes as Republicans seek to maintain control of the House and defend a narrow Senate majority.

“President Trump is not on the ballot, but his policies are,” the Rev. Franklin Graham said Thursday in Grapevine. “We need a united front and go out and win these midterms. If we don’t, we’ll be through.”

Despite the concerns, Trump retains strong backing within the Republican Party. An AP-NORC poll found that 86% of Republicans approve of his job performance.

However, the same survey found broader public skepticism about the Iran conflict, with 59% of Americans saying U.S. military action has been excessive. Among Republicans, 26% said the administration’s actions had gone too far.