“AmericaFest” wrapped up in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday. It was the first Turning Point USA conference held since Charlie Kirk, who had founded the organization in 2012, was killed earlier this year.
Turning Point is a major force in American domestic politics and a key power broker in the American right that has a massive network of volunteers across the country, allowing the organization to shift the balance of primary elections in states where they are held early and where grassroots mobilization is particularly crucial.
Did this year’s conference seek to mend the fences following the splits that have emerged within MAGA, as now former members of the movement, like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, criticize President Trump for prioritizing foreign affairs?
To a large extent, yes. Beneath the surface, however, it was also an early opportunity to campaign for Vice President JD Vance as the Republican candidate for the coming presidential elections and to put the dogmatic face of America on display.
Internal disagreements and conflicts among MAGA celebrities cast a shadow over the combative speeches of its biggest stars: Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, Donald Trump Jr., and Erica Kirk, Charlie’s widow. Erica’s presence and force of personality were the backbone of the event, which was presented as a celebration of faith, freedom, and Charlie Kirk’s shared legacy.
The dividing lines within MAGA, especially among young conservatives, were evident. It is striking, and perhaps alarming, that skepticism of Israel has become a central subject of contention. Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens are pushing back against US support for Israel, if not showing outright hostility to Tel Aviv, while figures like Ben Shapiro defend conservative politics and reject conspiracy theories.
The three broad wings of the American right openly jostled to shape the narrative at the Turning Point conference: an ultra-hard right bordering on fanaticism, a conservative right that could be considered relatively moderate, and a heritage right.
The heritage wing seems to be the most dangerous threat to the American dream as conceived by the MAGA-led right. This issue was taken up in the speech of former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican of Indian origin campaigning to become the Governor of Ohio.
The notion of “heritage Americans” is extremely dangerous, and it is spreading like wildfire in pockets of the right, especially online. The fundamental premise of this faction is that Americans who do not have an Anglo-Saxon background are essentially not fully American. The racial hierarchy it promotes ranks Americans along ethnic lines in a manner that would inevitably fuel civic strife. Tucker Carlson attempted to downplay the rise of this idea, dismissing it as delusion, but many believe it is gaining ground.
Vice President J. D. Vance succeeded in presenting himself as an embodiment of America’s contemporary melting pot, notably by stressing that anyone who “loves America” has a home in MAGA. "We don't care if you're white or black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between."
Erica Kirk presented Vance as the man capable of taking Trump’s America First vision forward, but it is clear that Vance is opposed by Republican Party figures who see his Trumpian approach as a deviation from the traditional principles of limited government, pro-trade policies, and low taxation, which have defined the GOP for generations.
Did a theme that concerned many Americans and deepened the unresolved debate over the identity of the United States, whether it is a secular or a civic state, run through the conference?
Vance delivered a dogmatic speech, presenting himself as a shepherd and concluding that America is a Christian nation, striking a tone that enthused the audience, especially the youths in attendance. Meanwhile, Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser, declared that America must be re-baptized, while Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, delivered a speech with a Huntingtonian tone, warning of the threat that Islam poses to the United States.
Will the divisions exposed at the conference give rise to a debate that strengthens the MAGA movement or fuel infighting that tears its coalition apart, paving the way for a Democratic victory in the upcoming midterm elections and a subsequent return to the White House?
