Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Conservative youth organization Turning Point USA is set to hold its major convention this Thursday, the first since the assassination of its influential founder Charlie Kirk.
The event will test the resilience of the divided movement that fueled Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Kirk was a decisive force uniting the American right by bringing together college students, online celebrities, and Republican figures. However, the populist faction of the party is now embroiled in disputes over the interpretation of “America First” and the direction of the movement shaped by Donald Trump’s personality rather than a fixed ideology.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the four-day summit in Phoenix. The lineup includes Vice President J.D. Vance, various media personalities and several Trump administration officials, Christian rock groups, and religious leaders. Attendees can expect opportunities to take selfies with prominent figures and engage in discussions on political organization, faith, and conservative criticisms of American society.
Charlie Kirk’s widow Erica will have a prominent role as the new leader of the organization. The conference has promised an extended tribute to her husband, who is seen by many on the right as a martyr for conservatism and Christianity after he was killed aged just 31.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of shooting and killing Kirk during a speech 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 for her.”
The last time Turning Point held its AmericaFest conference, a year ago, just weeks after Trump’s comeback victory, the MAGA movement was energized as Republicans prepared for a new era of complete control in Washington.
Now the party faces challenging midterm elections, with Trump constitutionally banned from running for re-election and his more ideologically driven acolytes positioned to steer the movement after he leaves office. Meanwhile, conservatives are troubled by a conflict over anti-Semitism in their ranks, which Trump has refused to mediate.
A series of MAGA influencers
Turning Point is known for highly produced shows that feel more like rock concerts or megachurch services than political rallies, complete with pyrotechnics and floor-shaking bass.
The speaker lineup includes conservative influencers and pastors, including some who have openly feuded with each other in recent weeks. It features some of the biggest names in MAGA media, including Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Jesse Waters, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro, and Jack Posobiec.
The race for influence has intensified following Kirk’s death, which has left a void in the organization he founded and the broader conservative movement.
“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 danger right now is that without that one person, who we were all friends with, who could really hold it together, things could spin in different directions,” Knowles said. “We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
One of the rifts that has deepened since Kirk’s death is whether Republicans should continue their unwavering support for the war in Israel and Gaza. There are also concerns about whether the movement should include people with anti-Semitic views.
The controversy came out into the open when Kevin Roberts, head of the influential Heritage Foundation, conducted a friendly interview with podcaster Nick Fuentes to defend Carlson, whose followers, known as “Groepers”, see themselves working to preserve a white, Christian identity in America. Roberts’ comments sparked outrage among some Heritage staffers, senators and conservative activists.
Fuentes had a long-running feud with Kirk, who served to marginalize Fuentes within the conservative movement. The Groyers enjoyed a fall at the Turning Point event to compete with Kirk.
Carlson and Shapiro, who has sharply criticized Fuentes and Carlson, are both scheduled to speak Thursday, the first day of the conference.
Erica Kirk confronts conspiracies
Turning Point has also faced turmoil over conspiracy theories spread by former employee Candace Owens, who hosts a top-rated podcast. Owens has alleged without evidence that Israeli spies were involved in Kirk’s death and that people close to him betrayed him. Authorities say Robinson acted alone.
Asked about Owens and others spreading conspiracy theories during a CBS News town hall, Erica Kirk responded with one word: “Stop.” She said Owens is making money off her family’s tragedy, adding that conspiracy theorists are running the risk of muddying the jury pool and allowing her husband’s killer to escape.
Late last week, with the Turning Point conference approaching, Kirk and Owens agreed to temporary custody until a private meeting. This did not last long.
After the meeting on Monday, Owens said on his show that he and Kirk spoke for 4 hours but he still doubts that Robinson acted alone. Kirk wrote on X that they had a “very productive conversation” and that it was “time to get back to work.”
Erica Kirk came into the limelight
While grieving her husband, Erica Kirk has gradually increased her public appearances. She memorably forgave her husband’s alleged killer at his funeral and spoke at a Turning Point event in Mississippi in October.
An entrepreneur and podcaster, she frequently appeared on Turning Point programs with her husband. The former 2012 Miss Arizona USA has also 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 spoke openly about prioritizing her family before her career and described the marriage as being at odds with traditional gender roles. Now she takes on a demanding job leading an organization called Turning Point, which is particularly appealing to young men.
At her husband’s memorial, Erica said, “Charlie and I were united in purpose.”
“His passion was my passion and now his mission is my mission,” he said. “Whatever Turning Point USA built through Charlie’s vision and hard work, we will build 10 times greater on the strength of his memory.”