GRAPEVINE, TEXAS — President Donald Trump did not attend the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, for the first time in nearly a decade. The annual gathering of conservative activists and politicians took place without the former president's presence.

Speakers at the conference appealed for unity to avoid infighting within the Republican Party ahead of the midterm election.

Attendees at the conference disagreed about the war with Iran. Hundreds of Iranian Americans who support U.S. military action in Iran attended the conference and held impromptu pro-war demonstrations.

Gregory Bovino, a recently retired Border Patrol commander who led high-profile urban crackdowns, attended as a special guest and briefly took the stage during a speech. Bovino was removed from his role after two protesters were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Tom Homan, Trump's border czar who succeeded Bovino in Minnesota, attended the conference. Homan said Donald Trump would not walk away from his deportation campaign. Actor Dean Cain shook hands with Bovino at the conference.

Attendees at the conference expressed approval of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Conference attendees applauded Donald Trump's immigration policies. Conference attendees chanted "Thank you, Trump!" loudly.

Recent polling from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that a prolonged war in the Middle East could frustrate Trump voters if gas prices continue rising.

At last year's Conservative Political Action Conference, Elon Musk waved a chainsaw to symbolize his new role leading the Department of Government Efficiency.