Turning Point youth conference begins in Phoenix without founder Charlie Kirk

PHOENIX — Turning Point USA will convene its flagship conference on Thursday for the first time since the assassination of its founder, Charlie Kirk, testing the durability of a movement that helped propel Donald Trump to the White House. The event marks a pivotal moment as the organization navigates a leadership transition and a party that has grown more fractious since Kirk's death.

Kirk's death left a leadership vacuum, and Erika Kirk, his widow, will assume a prominent role as the organization's new leader. Thousands are expected to attend the four-day conference in Phoenix, where the program features Vice President JD Vance, media personalities, and a slate of Trump administration officials, along with Christian bands and pastors. Attendees will have opportunities to take selfies with prominent figures and participate in panels on political organizing, religion and conservative critiques of American culture.

The conference lineup reads like a who’s who of modern MAGA media, with Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Jesse Watters, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro and Jack Posobiec among the scheduled speakers. Several participants have publicly feuded with each other in recent weeks, underscoring the underlying tensions within the movement after Kirk's death.

Analysts say Kirk's absence has left a void in the movement’s ability to keep unified messaging. Conservative commentator Michael Knowles noted that "Charlie was the unifying figure" and warned that without a central figure, the movement could drift. "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."

Within the broader debate over the movement’s direction, conservatives have grappled with questions about Israel and Gaza, and whether the movement should accommodate voices with antisemitic views. The tension has surfaced as some in the movement push a hard-line stance on foreign policy while others warn against allowing fringe opinions to coarsen the discourse.

The influence race within Turning Point intensified after Kirk’s death, as the organization balances star power with a sense of shared mission. The speaker roster includes some of the biggest names in MAGA media, and those invited have openly debated among themselves in recent weeks over strategy and tone. Carlson and Shapiro, who have sparred in public, are among the Thursday speakers, as are other influential conservatives who have used Turning Point events to shape young voters' political views.

The debate over leadership has also touched on conspiracy theories that surfaced in the wake of Kirk’s death. Candace Owens, a former Turning Point employee who hosts a top-rated podcast, has alleged without evidence that Israeli spies were involved in Kirk’s death and that he was betrayed by people close to him. Authorities say the shooter acted alone, but Owens’ comments sparked controversy within conservative circles. Erika Kirk responded to questions about Owens during a CBS News town hall by saying simply, "Stop." She added that conspiracy peddlers risk tainting the jury pool and potentially letting Kirk’s killer avoid accountability. Last weekend, with the conference looming, Erika Kirk and Owens began what they described as a temporary detente, though Owens later said she remained skeptical that the shooter acted alone.

In the meantime, Erika Kirk has gradually taken on more public duties. She spoke at the family’s funeral for Charlie Kirk, then at Turning Point events, and she has represented the organization in interviews. The former 2012 Miss Arizona USA has built a career as an entrepreneur, model, actor and casting director, and she founded a Christian clothing line, Proclaim, while also leading a ministry that teaches the Bible. She has described a continued partnership with her husband’s mission and signaled a desire to honor his legacy while steering the organization through a difficult period. "Charlie and I were united in purpose," she said at a memorial. "His passion was my passion, and now his mission is my mission. Everything that Turning Point USA built through Charlie’s vision and hard work, we will make 10 times greater through the power of his memory."