NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — White nationalist figurehead Richard Spencer was kicked out of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday morning after taking questions and conversing for almost an hour with surrounding reporters and attendees.
Ian Walters, a spokesman for CPAC, said that Spencer simply bought a ticket and walked in. Shortly after, his money was refunded and Spencer was asked to leave.
A CPAC panel Thursday morning addressed the alt-right movement Spencer promotes. Dan Schneider, the executive director of the American Conservative Union (ACU), said that the alt-right “despises everything we believe in.” He and other speakers called the movement fascist and leftist in nature.
Spencer made several comments about the event on Twitter, tweeting statements like: “Ronald Reagan is dead, and we killed him,” and “‘All men are created equal'” is, perhaps, the most self-evidently false statement ever uttered.”
Several CPAC attendees told Spencer that he was not welcome, and the white nationalist fired back with laughs and insults.
ACU officials said that they had Spencer removed as soon as they were told he was in attendance. Crowds booed Spencer on sight and cheered when he was escorted out.