Conservatism (as an American) means conserving (defending, protecting, preserving, etc) our American heritage and Judeo-Christian way of life. Our nation was founded on the principle that all men are created equal by God and are endowed by Him with our unalienable rights. No man is king. The government is not king. We have the Declaration and the Constitution defining the Rule of Law, defending our rights and limiting the powers of government. Government derives its just powers at the consent of the governed. It also means defending our borders, our national security and our national sovereignty. Defending our rights covers the rights to life and religious freedom and all other individual rights plus our systems of state and local governments and to be free from the tyranny of an overreaching, overtaxing central government.
These principles are all unique to America and are what we aim to conserve.
I know that; but Trump had some nonsensical answer when aked the question during the last debate. His explanation was that conservatism was using and saving financil assets; or words to that effect.