Tamara Keith

We know he's a showman.

We know he loves to close out events like this and do basically a rally type speech to really get people ramped up.

And that's especially crucial in a midterm year.

So that is surprising that he's not here.

That said, make no mistake, this is like

still very much a Trump party.

And by party, I mean literally celebration.

This is, you know, there are videos of him playing constantly throughout the program.

His face is on everything.

Classic red hats.

I saw those sequined jackets that are red, white, and blue.

I saw one woman wearing leggings that had Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's face on them.

So, like, he is still very much the focus.

But it is kind of striking that he's not here.

He's looming all around, but he is not present.

so yesterday's schedule did look pretty different.

Uh, these conferences are usually kind of, you know, from top to tail, you're, you're seeing the biggest names in both MAGA politics and MAGA media.

Um, a lot of those people were missing.

Um, you know, I'm thinking of people like podcasters like Tucker Carlson, Megan Kelly, but then also those conservative firebrands like Marjorie Taylor green, the former Congresswoman from Georgia, um,

You know, those names are missing, and those people are regulars at these kind of events.