And while Trump’s dominant standing in the GOP has never been under greater threat from a rising crop of ambitious Republicans, the event highlighted his continued pull with the party’s activists. A straw poll survey of CPAC Texas attendees’ 2024 preferences showed Trump leading with 69 percent support, 10 percentage points higher than his showing at the February gathering in Florida. DeSantis came in second place with 23 percent.

Trump’s approval rating among attendees was at 99 percent. Poll methodology, including the survey size and margin of error, were not provided.

“I’ve said the last couple CPACs, I don’t think it can go any higher,” said Jim McLaughlin, a Trump campaign pollster who conducts the CPAC straw polls.

McLaughlin argued that the response from the gathering proved Trump’s influence is not waning.

“Matter of fact, what’s happening is he’s more popular than ever,” McLaughlin said.