In a moment that feels both historic and fraught, Turning Point USA is set to host its flagship AmericaFest conference in Phoenix this Thursday, marking the first gathering since the assassination of its founder, Charlie Kirk.
A Gathering of Thousands in Phoenix
The four‑day meeting is expected to draw thousands of attendees, from college students to media personalities and a handful of Trump administration officials. Vice President JD Vance will appear, alongside Christian rock bands and pastors. Participants will have the opportunity to take selfies with high‑profile figures and engage in discussions that span political organizing, religion, and conservative critiques of American culture.
Erika Kirk Takes the Helm
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, is stepping into a prominent leadership role. The conference will serve as an extended tribute to her husband, who many on the right view as a martyr for conservatism and Christianity after he was slain at 31. In speeches at the funeral and a Turning Point event in Mississippi last October, Erika said, “Charlie and I were united in purpose. His passion was my passion, and now his mission is my mission.” She added, “Everything that Turning Point USA built through Charlie’s vision and hard work, we will make 10 times greater through the power of his memory.”
The Murder and the Accused
Tyler Robinson, the 22‑year‑old charged with shooting Kirk while he spoke at Utah Valley University in September, appeared in court last week. Robinson has not entered a plea. Authorities say he told his romantic partner that he killed Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.” The case remains focused on Robinson’s alleged lone action.
A Movement in Flux
Turning Point has long been known for events that resemble rock concerts or megachurch services, complete with pyrotechnics and floor‑shaking bass. The speaker lineup is a who’s‑who of conservative influencers and pastors, including Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Jesse Watters, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro and Jack Posobiec. Some of these figures have openly feuded with each other in recent weeks.
“Charlie was the unifying figure for the movement,” conservative commentator Michael Knowles said at a Turning Point event just weeks after Kirk’s death. “The biggest threat right now is that without that single figure that we were all friends with, who could really hold it together, things could spin off in different directions. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The party now faces challenging midterm elections, with Trump constitutionally prohibited from running again and his more ideologically motivated acolytes positioning to steer the movement after he leaves office. Conflicts over antisemitism have also roiled conservatives, a matter Trump has declined to mediate.
Fissures Over Israel and Anti‑Jewish Views
A key area of division is whether Republicans should continue their unflinching support for Israel and the war in Gaza, and whether the movement should accommodate people with anti‑Jewish views. The schism became public when Kevin Roberts, head of the Heritage Foundation, defended Carlson for conducting a friendly interview with podcaster Nick Fuentes, whose followers, known as “groypers,” see themselves as working to preserve a white, Christian identity in America. Roberts’ comments sparked outrage from some Heritage staffers, senators and conservative activists.
Fuentes had long feuded with Kirk, who worked to marginalize Fuentes within the conservative movement. Groypers enjoyed crashing Turning Point events to spar with Kirk. Carlson and Shapiro, who has sharply criticized Fuentes and Carlson, are both scheduled to speak on Thursday, the first day of the conference.
Conspiracy Theories and a Hard‑Hit Response
Turning Point has also faced turmoil over conspiracy theories spread by Candace Owens, a former employee who hosts a top‑rated podcast. Owens alleged without evidence that Israeli spies were involved in Kirk’s death and that he was betrayed by people close to him. Authorities say Robinson acted alone.
Asked about Owens and others spreading conspiracy theories during a CBS News town hall, Erika Kirk responded with one word: “Stop.” She said Owens is making money off her family’s tragedy, adding that conspiracy peddlers risk tainting the jury pool and allowing her husband’s killer to get away with it.
Last weekend, with the Turning Point conference looming, Kirk and Owens agreed to a temporary detente until a private meeting. It didn’t last long. After the meeting on Monday, Owens said on her show that she and Kirk spoke for 4 ½ hours but she still doubted that Robinson acted alone. Kirk wrote on X that they had “a very productive conversation” and it was “time to get back to work.”
Erika Kirk Steps Into the Spotlight
While grieving her husband, Erika Kirk has slowly stepped up her public appearances. She spoke at the funeral, memorably forgiving her husband’s alleged killer, and at a Turning Point event in Mississippi in October. An entrepreneur and podcaster, she has worked as a model, actress and casting director, and she founded a Christian clothing line, Proclaim, and a ministry that teaches about the Bible.
Before her husband’s death, she talked openly about prioritizing her family ahead of her career and described a marriage with traditional gender roles. Now she’s taking on the demanding job leading Turning Point, an organization that resonated in particular with young men.
Key Takeaways
- Turning Point USA will hold its first AmericaFest conference since Charlie Kirk’s murder, with Erika Kirk as the new leader.
- The 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson remains charged with Kirk’s killing; authorities say he acted alone.
- The conference lineup includes high‑profile conservative influencers, amid ongoing feuds and divisions over Israel, antisemitism, and anti‑Jewish views.
The event promises to be a pivotal moment for the movement, testing its cohesion after the loss of its founding figure and the ongoing controversies that threaten to fracture its base.
