Conservatives are set to gather in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday for Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest conference, as the organization navigates tense battles about its future after the death of co-founder Charlie Kirk.
Speakers at the event are a who’s who of the conservative and Make America Great Again movements, including key members of President Donald Trump’s administration. Vice President JD Vance, who is seeking to position himself as the next leader of the right, will be the keynote speaker on Sunday.
But the run-up to the event, as well as the future of the organization, has been overshadowed by an unsavory feud between Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, and Candace Owens, a former TPUSA staffer, over conspiracy theories surrounding his assassination while at a campus event in Utah in September.
Before he died, Kirk was reportedly conflicted over whether to invite Tucker Carlson to the AmericaFest due to his criticism of America’s support for Israel. The former Fox News host is scheduled to speak at the event, as are former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and activist Jack Posobiec, both high-profile critics of Israel who some conservatives have slammed. Carlson notably hosted Nick Fuentes on his show, which has caused shockwaves throughout the conservative movement, particularly at the Heritage Foundation, which has seen a number of departures after President Kevin Roberts defended Carlson.
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How the MAGA movement navigates the future, the GOP’s stance on Israel, and other priorities will be on full display during AmericaFest.
“Turning Point has become a convener of the conservative movement, a convener that brings voices that kind of span a cross-section of the modern conservative movement,” said Andrew Kolvet, TPUSA’s spokesman.
Kolvet also noted that the tensions will be a key factor during the conference. “I don’t think I’m making news by saying it’s been a bit of a contentious last few months. But it’s time to get to work, bring the movement together, and focus our attention forward just like Charlie would do,” he said.
TPUSA has faced criticism from Owens and other conservatives over its fundraising tactics since Kirk’s death and over his wife’s ability to lead the organization after she became the group’s CEO.
“Charlie’s assassination made it difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to criticize them. But you have to wonder who is advising Erika Kirk because she’s way too exposed and the organization itself is being too aggressive with the fundraising,” said one Republican strategist who requested anonymity to speak freely.
The Washington Examiner obtained a fundraising text from Lauren Toncich, vice president of events for TPUSA, sent days before AmericaFest begins, where she claimed the conference was a “spark that lights a fire” and asked for donations to “change a young patriot’s life.”
Yet the GOP strategist claimed that different factions of the GOP attempting to fill the late Kirk’s legacy is a key indication that TPUSA needs “to step back, reorganize, and come up with a plan for 2026 and beyond because, right now, nobody who isn’t on the take will say they’re doing what they should be doing.”
Erika Kirk has become embroiled in drama with Owens over her late husband’s legacy, with the two meeting privately on Monday for more than four hours to discuss their issues. Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly helped to broker the meeting.
Kirk claimed they had a “very productive conversation,” while Owens, on her podcast, said she”did not recant any of her suspicions.”
Owens previously claimed that the late Kirk “was betrayed by the leadership of Turning Point USA and some of the very people who eulogized him on stage” in a social media post.
A second Republican strategist pointed to the drama with Owens as unsurprising. “Candace is drama. Candace makes money off of conspiracy theories,” they said.
TPUSA stands by Erika Kirk’s leadership capabilities, Kolvet told the Washington Examiner.
“She’s shown incredible restraint. She’s shown a willingness to seek understanding,” he said. “I think she’s handled herself with dignity, with courage, with strength, and she’s doing a phenomenal job … the whole team at Turning Point, The Charlie Kirk Show, Turning Point Action, they’ve all rallied behind her, so we have her back 100%”
However, Republicans outside TPUSA remained less certain that Kirk’s widow can navigate the organization.
“When you lose a leader of that magnitude, there’s always a transition period. But it’s one of these things where they are well-positioned to continue, as long as they figure out who’s going to fill that void,” said the second Republican, who requested anonymity to speak freely.
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The Republican declined to say that Erika Kirk is the best leader to succeed her husband’s leadership, but defended TPUSA’s legacy ahead of next year’s midterm elections, where the group hopes to build a “red wall” in Nevada, New Hampshire, and Arizona.
“They’re the preeminent organization. As long as there is an America First sort of movement ideology around, they are going to be the top, go-to for young folks,” they said.
