By Hollie Silverman and Alex J. Rouhandeh
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AmericaFest is Turning Point USA’s annual conference in Phoenix that features conservative commentators, elected officials and media figures. This year’s gathering is the first since TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September.
Several Republican and Make America Great Again (MAGA) leaders spoke Sunday, the final day of the conference.
The first night of AmericaFest garnered an array of headlines that drew attention to what looked like a MAGA civil war, as Ben Shapiro went after Tucker Carlson and others in the party who’ve been critical of America’s relationship with Israel, labeling them “frauds and grifters.”
You can watch here.
What to Know:
- Erika Kirk has been thrust into the national spotlight as Turning Point USA’s CEO following her husband Charlie Kirk’s assassination during a campus event in September.
- The organization’s board, citing Charlie’s own wishes, chose Erika Kirk to lead, highlighting her commitment to honoring her late husband’s mission.
- The conference is described on Turning Point's website as "a powerful celebration of faith, freedom, and the legacy of our founder, Charlie Kirk."
- Speakers at this year's conference include Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Donald Trump Jr. Vivek Ramaswamy, Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro and Glenn Beck.
- Rapper Nicki Minaj joined Erika Kirk as a surprise guest.
- Vice President JD Vance closed out the event as the last speaker.
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Dec 21, 2025 at 02:58 PM EST
JD Vance Closes Out AmericaFest With Promise to Charlie Kirk
Vice President JD Vance closed out Turning Point USA's AmericaFest Sunday with a call for action, encouraging the audience to "promise" to stand for Charlie Kirk's principles.
Vance recalled that in the days following Kirk's assassination, he rewatched video of the incident over and over, staying up late nights, trying to search for clues and "researching conspiracy theories."
"I owed it to Charlie," he said, adding, "I was consumed by fear."
"It is better to die a patriot than to live a coward," Vance said, noting that the death of Kirk was a "kick in the teeth."
"Most of all I miss Charlie's wisdom," he continued, recalling their late night conversations about politics and how they would work to get things done.
He called on the audience to promise to continue Kirk's legacy, saying, "If you miss Charlie Kirk, do you promise to fight what he died for? Do you promise to take the country back from the people who took his life?"
Dec 21, 2025 at 02:45 PM EST
JC Vance: “Every American is Invited”
Erika Kirk welcomed Vice President JD Vance to the stage to a round of applause and pyrotechnics as the song “Long Cool Woman” thundered through the Phoenix convention center. Just three nights earlier, she endorsed him for president in 2028.
Following a weekend of debate on stage, Vance played the role of conservative unifier as he called on the movement to “love each other despite disagreement.”
“Every American is invited [into Maga],” Vance said. “People of every faith come to our banner because they know American First will make their lives better.”
Trump won the 2024 election by pulling together coalitions that would appear to hold competing interests.
Allies like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon represented a brand of populism focused on cracking down on immigration and backing some polices that traditional fiscal conservatives would decry.
Meanwhile, individuals like Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk backed Trump whilst representing Silicon Valley style libertarianism and calling for an increase in H1-B visas.
Vance, a populist from rural Ohio who earned a Yale law degree and worked for Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel got to sought to demonstrate he could be the man to hold these groups together.
“I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or deplatform,” Vance said. “Charlie invited all of us here for a reason because he believed all of us had something important to say and believed all of you could use your own judgments."
Dec 21, 2025 at 02:33 PM EST
JD Vance Touches on Diversity During AmFest Speech
Vice President JD Vance touched on a variety of hot-button topics during his speech at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest Sunday including sexuality, race, and vaccine.
**"**Because we judge people based on who they are, not on ethnicity and things they can't control," Vance said. "We don't persecute you for being male, for being straight, for being gay, for being anything."
"The only thing that we demand is that you be a great American patriot. And if you're that you're very much on our team," he continued.
"We're using in the Trump administration, the government to protect your free speech, whether it's on college campuses or in the digital marketplace of ideas to," JD Vance said.
Dec 21, 2025 at 02:25 PM EST
Vice President JD Vance Says He Will Continue Fighting to Honor Charlie Kirk
The Vice President spoke during AmericaFest Sunday, after being introduced by Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk.
"Erica, I cannot thank you enough for your strength, your grace, and your kind words of support for this administration and for me personally," JD Vance said.
"I will fight alongside you and President Trump and every patriot in this room to defend the country that we so dearly love," he continued.
Vance said he was honored that Nicki Minaj recognized him and congratulated her for her work.
"Let me just say, the best way to honor Charlie is that none of us here could be doing something after Charlie's death that he himself refused to do in life."
Dec 21, 2025 at 02:16 PM EST
Erika Kirk Endorses Vice President JD Vance for 2028 President: What to Know
Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of the conservative group’s founder Charlie Kirk, publicly endorsed Vice President JD Vance as the next Republican candidate for president in 2028.
Speaking during the opening session of Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix on December 18, 2025, Kirk pledged the influential organization’s support to propel Vance to the White House as the 48th president, should he choose to run.
Vance, who has not yet formally announced a campaign, is addressed the conference on its final day.
Erika Kirk introduced Vance Sunday afternoon during the AmericaFest event, saying, "Last year, my husband introduced to all of you to our incredible President of the United States. This year, it's my blessing and such a privilege to be able to introduce to you our incredible vice president, J.D. Vance."
Vance was welcomed on stage with chants of J.D.! from the crowd.
Dec 21, 2025 at 01:58 PM EST
What is Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest? What to know
Turning Point USA held its annual AmericaFest convention at the Phoenix Convention Center from December 18-21, 2025, with more than 30,000 attendees.
The gathering will honor the organization’s late founder, Charlie Kirk, feature speeches from major conservative figures including Vice President JD Vance, Erika Kirk, Donald Trump Jr., and others.
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The four-day event has become a focal point for internal conservative movement debates, featuring high-profile disputes among right-wing commentators and a strong push to inspire young conservative activists following Kirk's assassination in September.
Dec 21, 2025 at 01:41 PM EST
Rapper Nicki Minaj Speaks at AmericaFest
Nikki Minaj made a surprise appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, joining the stage with Erika Kirk to a round of applause.
“Charlie Kirk always had surprises,” Erika Kirk, TPUSA’s CEO said.
Minaj immediately began rattling off tweets she had made criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom, the current front runner do the 2028 Democratic nomination for president.
“I have the utmost respect and admiration for our president,” Minaj said. “He’s given so many people hope that there’s a chance to beat the bad guys.”
Minaj’s appearance on the Turining Point USA makes a significant transformation for the Grammy-winning rap star. Recently, Minaj has spoke in favor of the Trump Administration yet she previously had a long history of speaking in favor of liberal causes.
This year’s AmericaFest attracted an estimated 30,000 attendees, 54 percent of which are women. Minaj’s appearance reflects the org’s growing appeal among young women.
“I just got tired of being pushed around,” Minaj said of her political transformation.
Dec 21, 2025 at 01:30 PM EST
Donald Trump Jr. Calls Republican Party the America First Party
Donald Trump Jr. took the stage to a round of applause and pyrotechnics, kicking off his speech by praising his father’s approach to immigration and the border.
“If you import the third world, you become the third world, and we’re not going to let that happen,” he said. “We are winning, and we’re going to take back our country.”
He placed the blame for these issues on Democrats and certain Republicans “who capitulated to the D.C. swamp” and said he’s “not so sure” that diversity is a strength.
In a weekend that has featured competing views on immigration, with the likes of Vivek Ramaswamy promoting diversity and legal immigration, Trump Jr.’s “America First” message highlighted the party debate that has been a feature of the event.
“It’s not the Republican Party anymore—It’s the America First Party.” Trump Jr. said.
Much of the event has served as forum for different wings of the GOP to litigate what it means to be MAGA, which Trump Jr. will no doubt play a role in shaping.
However, his speech was not all about GOP infighting, as he made clear the enemy was the left.
In an effort to unify the event, Trump Jr said the opponent is not Tucker Carlson or Ben Shapiro (figures who’ve crusted each other on stage) but the “radical left.” He said those in the room were the “last line of defense” in protecting the country.
Dec 21, 2025 at 01:15 PM EST
Donald Trump Tells AmericaFest: “Nobody Did More for Me Than Charlie!”
President Donald Trump joined Turning Point USA's AmericaFest by phone Sunday, with his son Donald Jr. putting his speaker up to the microphone.
"Hello everybody! I want to be with you," the president exclaimed. "I just want to say that nobody did more for me than Charlie. There is nobody better than Erica."
He joked that if his son Trump Jr. didn't make a great speech, he would "give him hell."
Dec 21, 2025 at 01:00 PM EST
Speaker Mike Johnson Tells AmericaFest Goers: Live As Charlie Kirk Lived
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson spoke during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest Sunday, encouraging those in the crowd to "live as he [Charlie Kirk] lived."
Johnson acknowledged Arizona Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Andy Biggs call to put a statue of Charlie Kirk at the capitol, saying, he would "Work on that statue in the capital."
He was met with the crowd chanting "Charlie! Charlie!"
"I think the best way to honor Charlie's legacy is to live as he lived," Johnson told the crowd. "And what I mean by that is, I think there's two very important things that all of us can and should do. I think we should advance his principles, and I think we should adopt an approach*.*"
"What Charlie stood for was very well known by everybody. He was a man of deep faith and conviction, as we know. He was a man who was truly authentic," Johnson explained, adding, "And that's what drew everybody into the message. That was the great power of his message...It came so deep from his heart. It was authentic*."*
Dec 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM EST
Glen Beck at TPUSA AmericaFest: “We Must Stop Fighting With One Another!”
During the final day of Turning Point USA's AmericaFest, Glen Beck, conservative political commentator, told the crowd that he had prepared words but felt he had a different message to spread after hearing Erika Kirk speak.
"She's a woman with great heart," he said, noting, "I have a ton to share with you, and honestly, I had a completely different speech that I was prepared to give you today, until I started watching and I last night, started thinking about what you need to hear."
"I wanted to talk to you about history. I wanted to talk to you about the economy and what was what's coming. Wanted to talk to you about what is coming for Western civilization, and to warn you that today, the times have changed, and you are desperately needed, desperately needed," he continued.
He then said, "There's something else that I think is more important that you need to hear. We must stop fighting with one another. It is important to stand for the truth."
"But people are not your enemies. Lies are your enemies. We each have a responsibility to stop, to stop and point out lies, to stop lies, but you can't stop lies. You can't stop darkness with more darkness," Beck explained. "You can't stop hate with more hate. You only dispel the darkness of light with the light of truth."
Dec 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM EST
Andy Biggs, Arizona Governor Candidate, Reads Politically Naughty or Nice List
Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who is running for governor of the state, spoke during the final day of the Turning Point USA's AmericaFest.
During his speech, he spoke highly of President Donald Trump and his administration.
In the spirit of Christmas, Biggs said, he wanted to read his "Naughty or Nice" list.
First on the naughty list was President Joe Biden, followed by Tom Homan, the White House border czar, who made the nice list, according to Biggs.
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"Tom closed the border. Tom enforced the law," Biggs said, adding, "Republicans back our great CBP and ICE agents who are taking the border back and deporting dangerous illegal aliens. That's nice. That should be on the back of ICE's coat. Nice."
He then listed some democrats and their actions that made his naughty list.
"Democrats responded by giving us the communist, Islamist mayor for New York. Democrats gave us Jasmine Crockett. How naughty is that? That's muy malo," he exclaimed, adding, "Democrats gave us DEI policies. Is that naughty?"
Dec 21, 2025 at 11:37 AM EST
TPUSA Plays Parody of Vanilla Ice song “Ice Ice Baby” With Lyrics About ICE
Turning Point USA played a music video about United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the fashion of the Vanilla Ice song "Ice Ice Baby" Sunday.
The lyrics of the song spoke about ICE agents tackling people and arresting them. The video showed a man dressed like ICE with a mask on his face rapping, spliced with videos of ICE detaining people.
The lyrics were written out on the video and read as follows:
TP Lets kick it!
Alright, stop, cooperate and listen.
ICE is back to take illegals to detention.
We will grab a hold of you tightly
Throw you like a harpoon daily and nightly.
Will it ever stop
Yo!
I hope No!
Turn on the siren lights and I'll glow.
To the extreme
I rock cuffs 'cuz you're a vandal
Border shut, wax illegals like a candle.
TACKLE!
Gang members that loom
We're rounding up your crew in our sick costumes.
DEADLY!
They are bringing in fentanyl.
Not deporting is indefensible.
Love it or hate it, you better move out the way.
You can run and hide but ICE don't play.
If there is a problem we'll solve it
Check out the hook while Homan resolves it.
ICE, ICE, BABY!
Deport Em!
Dec 21, 2025 at 11:27 AM EST
Chants of USA as Tom Homan, White House Border Czar, Takes Stage
Tom Homan took the stage after a music video about United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the fashion of the Vanilla Ice song "Ice Ice Baby."
Homan was met with chants of USA as he took the stage following the parody song.
The border czar said that the border is the safest its ever been and said that people who call federal agents "Nazis" are "disgusting."
"Right now, today, as I'm standing here, we have the most secure border in the history of this country," Homan told the audience, recalling his recent trips around the country.
"I just returned. I was on the California border. I was on Arizona border. I was on the Texas border just a few days ago. I spent three days on the....northern border, by plane, by boat, by four wheel drive, three days on the border. I didn't see one illegal alien," he explained.
Dec 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM EST
Roger Stone Recalls Charlie Kirk Calling Him After Arrest
Roger Stone, former White House trade adviser who was the senior Donald Trump aide to serve time over efforts to overturn the 2020 election, recalled his arrest and spoke about Charlie Kirk calling him after Stone's arrest.
"I finally got home in the late afternoon, and then my cell phone rang, but it was a number I didn't recognize, so I didn't answer it, and then it rang again, and I still didn't answer it. Then it ran a third time. This time I answered it, and it was Charlie Kirk," Stone said.
"I didn't know Charlie Kirk. I'd met him once or twice, but we weren't friends. I didn't know him," Stone explained.
Kirk told him, 'I saw what happened. It is outrageous. We both know there is no Russian collusion. You and your wife are going to go through hell. You, your wife and your family, but I want you to know that we will be leaving, and I want to give you a piece of advice: Turn this horrific burden that you are about to go through. Turn this horrific tribulation over to the Lord, put your hand yourself in the hands of God. Confess your sins. Get right with the Lord, and I guarantee you he will lift you up from your persecutor.'"
Dec 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM EST
Wisconsin Congressional District Candidate: “We’re the generation that Charlie died for.”
Michael Alfonso, a Republican running for Wisconsin's 7th District, spoke during a panel at the Turning Point USA AmericaFest Sunday.
Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action, held the panel during the final day of AmFest which included Alfonso, Amanda McKinney of Washington state, Retired Pinal County, AZ Sheriff Mark Lamb and former Iowa State Representative Joe Mitchell.
"We're the generation that Charlie died for," Alfonso said. "It's time for us to step up and make a difference."
Bowyer pointed out that if Alfonso, 25, succeeds in his congressional run, he would be the youngest member of congress.
Dec 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM EST
Michael Whatley Says Turning Point USA Endorses Senate Run
Michael Whatley, American politician and former chairperson of the Republican National Committee, said during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest final day Sunday that he would be running for North Carolina Senate with the support of Turning Point USA.
Whatley spoke about his belief in the abilities of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance during his speech, saying in part, "Donald Trump has won every single one of the races, and we're going to win in 2028 because we are fighting for every community. We're fighting for every family, and we're fighting for what's right."
"We don't need Roy Cooper in the Senate," he continued. "We need somebody who's going to stand there shoulder to shoulder with President Trump and be a conservative voice and a conservative champion."
Dec 21, 2025 at 10:13 AM EST
Final Day of AmFest Kicks Off With National Anthem, Pastor
The final day of AmericaFest started Sunday morning with a performance of the National Anthem.
The performance was followed by Greg Laurie, a Pastor from California, who spoke about JD Vance's background.
"He's a heartbeat away from the Presidency of the United States," Laurie said.
Laurie is an American evangelical pastor and Christian author who serves as the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, based in Riverside, California.
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