Trumpism versus conservatism at annual CPAC conference

“Conservatism” will be supplanted by “Trumpism” when the president speaks Friday at the annual gathering of right-wing activists known as CPAC—the Conservative Political Action Conference—Trump’s adviser Kellyanne Conway predicted Thursday.

“This will be TPAC when he’s here, no doubt,” Conway quipped.

It was a throwaway line, not a statement of deep philosophical intent. But it spoke volumes about the way that the Republican Party has been altered by the rise of Trump, and it sparked alarm even among attendees at the conference.

“I think that’s dangerous,” said Sarah Markley, a student at Grove City College near Pittsburgh. “I think that we should first stick to our principles and look for somebody who embodies those.”