The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which started this past Wednesday, is one of the most prominent gatherings of its type in the nation. Several Latin American leaders are among the attendees at this year’s reunion.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele was in attendance Thursday night. “The people from El Salvador have woken up and so can you,” he said, referencing his hardline stance on crime and other social issues that has attracted both criticism and support.
Argentine President Javier Milei, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and former U.S. President Donald Trump will be making appearces at the four-day conference.
“The conservatives in the U.S. are betting that bringing in Milei and Bukele will be a way to cement their ties with the Hispanic community,” said Eduardo Gamarra, a professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University.
The Hispanic vote is key to both parties, but leans red in Florida. In 2022, Miami-Dade County went to the GOP for the first time in two decades largely because of Hispanic support. This year, nearly 18 million Latinos nationwide are expected to cast ballots.
