Matthew Aaron Schlapp, commonly known as Matt Schlapp, is an American political strategist, activist, lobbyist, conservative organizer, and political operative born on December 18, 1967, in Wichita, Kansas. He has served as the chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU) since June 2014 and is the primary organizer of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), one of the largest annual gatherings of conservative activists, which he has expanded globally to countries including Hungary, Spain, Mexico, and Japan. A prominent Republican strategist and advisor to Republican figures, he is known for his role in conservative activism, support for Donald Trump, and alignment with populist and nationalist policies. His career began in 1994 working for Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) in various roles including press secretary, deputy chief of staff, campaign manager, and chief of staff. He later contributed to George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign and served in the Bush White House as special assistant to the president for political affairs and Director of Political Affairs. Schlapp and his wife, Mercedes Schlapp—a fellow conservative commentator and former Trump administration official—co-founded Cove Strategies, a lobbying and consulting firm in Alexandria, Virginia, with ties to the Trump administration where he served as a political advisor. Previously a political contributor to Fox News, he has been influential in conservative media and political strategy, including signing the Madrid Charter to align with right-wing parties in Europe and Latin America. He holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.P.A. from Wichita State University. They have five daughters. Schlapp's tenure at the ACU and lobbying work have faced controversies, including false claims of voter fraud in Nevada in 2020 (rated false by PolitiFact) and a 2023 sexual assault accusation from a former Herschel Walker campaign staffer, which led to a dropped lawsuit in March 2024 after both parties described the incident as a 'complete misunderstanding.' Despite these, he remains a central figure in the conservative movement.