The four-day AmericaFest, the annual gathering of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was intended as a solemn tribute to its slain founder, Charlie Kirk. However, the event, held for the first time since Kirk's assassination on a Utah college campus in September, descended into a public spectacle of internal divisions and personal attacks among the movement's most prominent voices.
A Gathering Marred by Public Feuds
Reported as a "powerful celebration of faith, freedom, and the legacy of our founder," the festival featured high-profile participants including Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Donald Trump Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy, Ben Shapiro, and Glenn Beck. Yet, as per Associated Press reports, these figures spent significant stage time targeting each other rather than their left-wing opponents. Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow who now leads TPUSA, likened the atmosphere to "a Thanksgiving dinner where your family's hashing out the family business." She acknowledged the drama, stating, "Say what you want about AmFest, but it's definitely not boring."
The Guardian noted that the unity seen in previous years was challenged by interpersonal grievances and fundamental disagreements on the scope of conservative ideology. This split was visibly centred on two major issues: the stance on Israel's war with Hamas and the platforming of controversial figures like Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.
Ideological Rifts and Personal Attacks Take Centre Stage
The fissures within the young conservative movement were stark. Jack Nichols, a 19-year-old attendee, told the Arizona Republic that the movement fractured after Kirk's death into factions like "groypers, the conservative right, constitutional right." He expressed dismay, saying this division was not what Kirk would have wanted. Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticised parts of the "online right" for prioritising "heritage" over conservative ideals.
The most notable clash occurred between commentators Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson. Shapiro condemned Carlson for hosting white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his show, calling Fuentes an "evil troll" and Carlson's actions "an act of moral imbecility." He argued that hosts are responsible for their guests. Carlson, in response, mocked Shapiro's attempt to "deplatform and denounce" people, dismissing it with sarcasm. Shapiro also launched personal attacks on other figures, accusing Candace Owens of spreading "hideous and conspiratorial nonsense" and calling Megyn Kelly "guilty of cowardice" for not condemning Owens's theories about Kirk's death.
Gaza, Israel, and the Future of MAGA
The conflict over Israel's actions in Gaza further highlighted the divide. While Carlson criticised civilian deaths, some attendees referenced historical grievances like the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty. Steve Bannon attacked staunch Israel supporters like Shapiro, labelling them part of "the Israel first crowd." Megyn Kelly echoed that much of the criticism from certain quarters was fundamentally "about Israel."
In the conference's closing speech, Senator JD Vance outlined an inclusive, if vague, vision for the MAGA movement. He declined to denounce specific individuals or ideologies, stating, "I didn't bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to deplatform." Vance argued that the coalition should be open to anyone who "loves America." Earlier, Erika Kirk endorsed Vance as the next Republican presidential nominee.
The event concluded with the underlying tensions unresolved, revealing a conservative movement grappling with its identity, leadership, and direction in the wake of its founder's death and amid intense geopolitical debates.
