The conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA is set to hold its flagship conference this Thursday, marking the first gathering since the assassination of its influential founder, Charlie Kirk.
This event will test the resilience of a divided movement instrumental in the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
Kirk had been a pivotal unifying force on the American right, bringing together college students, online personalities, 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 a movement largely shaped by Donald Trump’s persona rather than a fixed ideology.
Thousands are anticipated to attend the four-day summit in Phoenix. The lineup includes Vice President JD Vance, various media personalities, and several officials from the Trump administration, alongside Christian rock groups and religious leaders. Participants can expect opportunities for selfies with prominent figures and engagement in discussions spanning political organisation, faith, and conservative critiques of American society.
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, will have a prominent role as the organization’s new leader. The conference promises to be an extended tribute to her husband, who many on the right see as a martyr for conservatism and Christianity after he was slain at only 31 years old.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with shooting and killing 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 last time Turning Point held its AmericaFest conference, weeks after Trump’s comeback victory one year ago, the MAGA movement was ebullient as Republicans prepared for a new era of total control in Washington.
Now the party 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. Meanwhile, conservatives have been roiled by conflicts over antisemitism in its ranks, which Trump has declined to mediate.
Turning Point is known for highly produced events that feel more like rock concerts or megachurch services than political rallies, complete with pyrotechnics and floor-shaking bass.
The speaker lineup is a who’s who of conservative influencers and pastors, including some who have openly feuded with each other in recent weeks. It includes some of the biggest names in MAGA media, including Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Jesse Watters, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro and Jack Posobiec.
The jockeying for influence has accelerated since Kirk’s death, which left a void in the organization he founded and in 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 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,” Knowles said. “We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Among the fissures that has deepened since Kirk’s death is whether Republicans should continue its unflinching support for Israel and the war in Gaza. There are also concerns about whether the movement should accommodate people with anti-Jewish views.
