Target employee honored at AmericaFest after Charlie Kirk shirt incident

Turning Point USA honored a Target employee who went viral after a customer attacked him for wearing a Charlie Kirk shirt to work this weekend.

Jeanie Beeman, 72, received massive support from conservatives on social media after a woman filmed herself confronting Beeman about the shirt. The woman in the video shouted profanities at Beeman and condemned him as a “racist,” but Beeman reacted calmly and de-escalated the situation.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to stand here and argue with you,” Beeman says to the woman in the video, before wishing her a good day.

Conservative activists Benny Johnson and Jack Posobiec invited Beeman to the stage at AmericaFest on Saturday.

ERIKA KIRK WELCOME PARTICIPANTS TO THE FIRST AMERICA FEST SINCE HER HUSBAND’S DEATH, APPROVING JD VANCE AS PRESIDENT

“Jeanie, the woman who was harassed at Target for wearing a Charlie Kirk shirt, joined me ON STAGE at AmericaFest,” Johnson wrote to X after the event. “Since the incident in which Charlie defended his name, the Patriots have donated more than $260,000 to him. From being harassed at work to standing on stage at TPUSA’s biggest event of the year. This is how we fight the darkness with the light.”

The four-day AmericaFest event, held at the Phoenix Convention Center, features big names from the world of conservative politics, including Vice President JD Vance, who is expected to be the event’s keynote speaker on Sunday, and Erika Kirk, who is headlining the event.

The conference comes at a time when the organization is struggling with problems Kirk’s September assassinationHe was shot and killed at the Turning Point USA event held at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

RILEY PRAISES ERIKA KIRK AHEAD OF OLE MISS MILESTONE EVENT: ‘HE’S A FORCE’

A group of attendees attend a breakout session about the expansion of Turning Point USA on college and high school campuses during AmericaFest in Phoenix on Dec. 19, 2025. (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

“We come together at AmericaFest 2025 to honor Charlie’s legacy, continue the mission he started, and celebrate the country he loved,” TPUSA wrote.

AmericaFest is expected to attract more than 30,000 attendees over the weekend, and organizers say this year will see the largest attendance yet. It also stands out 2026 midterm electionsOrganizers aim to mobilize a new demographic of young voters in the hope of strengthening the conservative base before a new flock of students head to the polls next year.

Ben Shapiro speaks to attendees at AmericaFest 2025. (Screenshot/TPUSA)

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Participants also attended the conference with House Speaker Donald Trump Jr. They can also expect to hear from some other conservative heavyweights, including mike johnsonR-La. and Transport Minister Sean Duffy, TPUSA remains true to its roots in facilitating conversations across the political spectrum as it looks to rebuild following the tragic death of its founder.

Fox News’ Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.