Sedona Forum featured in The Washington Post, Financial Times, POLITICO, C-SPAN, Good Morning Arizona, The Hill, Jewish Insider, Taipei Times, Bulgarian Military, Sri Lanka Guardian, The U.S. Sun, and more.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 7, 2025) – Following the 2025 Sedona Forum, the McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) released a sampling of news coverage from the event, which took place May 2-3 in Sedona, Arizona.
Arizona Republic: Experts could’ve unloaded on Trump in Sedona. They did something much better | Opinion
“I tuned into the McCain Institute’s annual Sedona Forum this past weekend expecting a purge. We are now 100-plus days into the second Trump presidency, and many of the people lined up for that conference lean left. They are, no doubt, appalled at what they see as Trump’s assault on the Atlantic Alliance, the global economy and the U.S. Constitution. I expected them to unload on Donald Trump. I could not have been more wrong. Instead, I walked away expressing my hopefulness to friends and family that I had just watched how America moves past our hyper-partisanship and extreme politics.” Read the full article here.
The Washington Post: The argument against Trump’s cuts to pro-democracy work
“On the same day the budget went to Congress, I moderated a panel on “democracy under pressure” at the Sedona Forum, an annual gathering in Arizona hosted by the McCain Institute. My panelists were David Pressman, former U.S. ambassador to Hungary; Damon Wilson, president and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy; and Dan Twining, president of the International Republican Institute, one of the NED’s core grantees.
What follows are some brief, edited excerpts from our conversation, which delved into the value of the work of these agencies and what would be lost if Trump chooses to pull U.S. support for pro-democracy work…” Read the full article here.
Financial Times: US ability to defeat China in Taiwan threatened, top Indo-Pacific commander warns
“The top American military commander in the Indo-Pacific said the US would defeat China in a conflict over Taiwan now but warned that it faced increasing challenges as China rapidly expanded its military.
‘The United States will prevail in the conflict as it stands now, with the force that we have right now,’ Admiral Samuel Paparo told the McCain Institute’s annual Sedona Forum in Arizona on Friday.” Read the full article here.
Arizona Cardinals: Michael Bidwill Awarded ‘In The Arena’ Honor From McCain Institute
“‘Michael was basically the easiest choice because he’s such a pillar today in the city of Phoenix, the state of Arizona, and in the country,’ said Jack McCain, son of the late Senator John McCain. ‘Everything that he does for the community today, whether it’s supporting veterans and families, or whether it’s in the wake of the fires in Los Angeles and how much he went through just to make sure that Wild Card game can happen.’
Bidwill was not only recognized for the Cardinals’ swift actions as State Farm Stadium hosted the Rams playoff game against the Vikings. His tenure as a prosecutor and his involvement with Civics Matters — a program which sends nearly 300 students to Washington D.C. to learn about the inner workings of improving a community — were also shared.
‘He’s a leader of character,’ McCain said. ‘Everything that he does is treated with dignity. Frankly, we are lucky to be giving him the In The Arena award.’”
Read the full article here. Watch a video of the award ceremony here.
Arizona Republic: McCain Institute is sticking to a traditional worldview as Trump upends global relations
“The event in Sedona this weekend is expected to be another well-attended affair. But it comes at the outset of the second Trump administration, with its nativist impulses and America-first dictates that seem the opposite of McCain’s global worldview.
This year, there are 56 scheduled speakers.
There are still the kinds of VIPs the forum has drawn in the past. There are, for example, six sitting U.S. senators, including both of Arizona’s, and three members of the House of Representatives.
That’s more than the eight members of Congress who turned out in 2023.
This year’s event stands apart for the different philosophies embodied by Trump and McCain. The neo-isolationist policies of the Trump administration, and the American voters who embrace it, stand in contrast to the international engagement McCain considered vital.” Read the full article here.
POLITICO: Playbook: Spotted At The McCain Institute’s 12th Annual Sedona Forum
KYCA-AM: AUDIO: Prescott, Arizona Talk Radio on Sinema, Gallego Remarks
Good Morning Arizona Sunday: VIDEO: Sinema, Kelly remarks; Michael Bidwill award ceremony
Taiwan News: US Indo-Pacific commander warns military advantage over China diminishing
“The US would defeat China in a Taiwan Strait conflict now, but the advantage is slipping as China continues its military buildup, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said at the McCain Institute’s annual Sedona Forum in Arizona on Friday.” Read the full article here.
Taipei Times: US admiral concerned over China’s exercises
“‘The rates of change on the depth and breadth of their exercises is the one non-linear effect that I’ve seen in the last year that wakes me up at night or keeps me up at night,’ Paparo was quoted by FT as saying while attending the annual Sedona Forum at the McCain Institute in Arizona.” Read the full article here.
ANI News: US Admiral warns of China’s expanding military exercises and rapid naval buildup
“‘The rates of change on the depth and breadth of their exercises is the one non-linear effect that I’ve seen in the last year that wakes me up at night,’ Paparo was quoted as saying during the Sedona Forum at the McCain Institute in Arizona, Taipei Times cited a report published in the UK English daily.” Read the full article here.
Bulgarian Military: Admiral warns of China’s naval shipbuilding surge over U.S.
“Speaking to McCain Institute’s annual Sedona Forum in Arizona, Paparo revealed that China produces two submarines annually for every 1.4 built by the United States and constructs six combatant warships each year compared to America’s 1.8.” Read the full article here.
Sri Lanka Guardian: Top US Commander Warns China’s Military Growth Threatens Balance in Taiwan Strait
“Speaking at the McCain Institute’s annual Sedona Forum in Arizona on Friday, Admiral Samuel Paparo said, ‘The United States will prevail in the conflict as it stands now, with the force that we have right now.’ But he cautioned that the current advantage may not last. ‘Our trajectory on… really every force element that is salient is a bad trajectory.’” Read the full article here.
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About the Sedona Forum
Inspired by the McCain family, the Sedona Forum is held each spring to advance the mission of the McCain Institute: fighting for democracy, human dignity, and security. As the McCain Institute’s signature annual event, the forum provides a unique opportunity for U.S. and world leaders to have informal, face-to-face discussions about real solutions to the problems facing our world today.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.