Gripes and infighting on display as Maga stars gather at Turning Point conference | Donald Trump
Stars of maga conservatism gathered for the four-day AmericaFest conference in Phoenix this weekend amid reports that the cohesiveness of the political-religious right is showing signs of stress a year into Donald Trump’s second presidential term.
The sold-out Turning Point USA event brought together figures from the right, including Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Donald Trump Jr, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ben Shapiro and Glenn Beck, to tackle the dominant themes of conservatism.
This was Turning Point USA’s first annual meeting since its leader, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed on a college campus in Utah in September. The event was billed as “a powerful celebration of faith, freedom, and the legacy of our founder, Charlie Kirk.”
But the meeting made headlines for infighting showcased among its high-profile exhibitors.
“Say what you want about AmFest, but it’s definitely not boring,” said Kirk’s widow, Erika. “It’s like a Thanksgiving dinner where the family takes care of family business.”
According to news from the festival, the merger seen in previous years was forced by interpersonal squabbles and disagreements over how big the big tent of conservatism should be and what brands of conservative thought it could be expected to carry.
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, co-founder of The Daily Wire, set the tone Thursday by condemning Carlson for hosting white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his on-air show, as well as others he portrayed as charlatans and hustlers.
Shapiro noted that hosts “are truly responsible for the guests they choose and the questions they ask,” adding that Fuentes “is an evil troll and glorifying him is an act of moral stupidity.” That’s exactly what Tucker Carlson did.”
Carlson then took the stage and, according to reports, rejected Shapiro’s attempt to “de-platform and blame” people, saying he laughed at Shapiro’s speech: “That kind of bitter, sarcastic laugh that comes out of you and it’s like the world is falling apart. When your dog starts doing your taxes and you’re like, ‘Wait, this isn’t supposed to work this way.'”
The major divide among young conservatives stems from distrust of Israel over its war with Hamas and their embrace of figures like Holocaust denier Fuentes, the Arizona Republic reported. Without Kirk to hold the movement together, the fractures became even more apparent.
“When Charlie Kirk was assassinated, I think that’s when everything split into the marauders, the conservative right and the constitutional right,” said 19-year-old Jack Nichols. he told the Arizona Republic. “And I think that’s bad. I don’t think that’s what Charlie would want. I think Charlie would want us to get together instead of breaking up.”
Former presidential candidate Ramaswamy, who is now running for governor of Ohio, said some segments of the “online right” are focused on the idea of a right to “inheritance” rather than a right based on conservative ideals.
“I think the idea of being a heritage American is as crazy as anything the woke ones have come up with,” Ramaswamy said. “There is no American who is more American than another… It’s a binary situation. You’re either an American or you’re not.”
In his penultimate speech, House speaker Mike Johnson encouraged attendees to “live like him.” [Charlie Kirk] lived”.
“What I mean by that is, I think there are two very important things that we can all do and should do. I think we need to build on his principles, and I think we need to take (that) approach.”.”
The festival will end on Sunday with a speech by Kirk’s widow, Erika, who currently runs the event. Speaking at the event on ThursdayEndorsed JD Vance as the next Republican presidential candidate.
Speaking on Sunday, Vance said of Kirk’s assassination: “We got kicked in the teeth, my friends, and there’s no covering it up.” He portrayed Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, as a crucible of the values and behaviors the left is trying to promote, and said it was better for conservatives to have disagreements and discuss them than to be “drones for George Soros.”
The conservative festival had no shortage of surprises: rapper Nicki Minaj appeared on stage with Kirk on Sunday. Minaj expressed her admiration for Donald Trump and Vance and announced that she had stopped supporting Democratic candidates such as Obama and Clinton. “I’m tired of being pushed around” he said. “I won’t back down anymore. I’ll never back down again.”
