Conservatives who filled a ballroom a few blocks from the White House have lamented that the United States is abandoning the fundamental ideals that forged a great nation. Some attendees donned red hats with various inscriptions mocking President Donald Trump and his "Make America Great Again" movement. It was the largest gathering to date of the "Principles First Summit," expanded upon Trump's return to power to welcome independents and center-left Democrats under a shared pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian aim. But there was no clear consensus consensus on whether to fight within Republican spheres at all, migrate to the Democratic Party or find a different path altogether.