AmFest display reproducing Kirk murder scene fuels debate at Turning Point USA event

PHOENIX — The opening night of AmFest, Turning Point USA’s four-day youth conference, drew more than 30,000 attendees as a replica tent and mural tied to Charlie Kirk’s death sparked questions and controversy. Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was killed by a gunman during a debate at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. The display appeared at AmFest as part of a broader staging that attendees could interact with, including a mural of Kirk and props bearing his famous “prove me wrong” catchphrase.

A report from liberal network MS Now, which was covering the Phoenix event, described fans taking selfies beside the display and a framed mural inside the tent. Reporter Brandy Zadrozny said, “You can see from behind me, this is a recreation of the tent where Charlie Kirk lost his life at Utah [Valley] University in September, and people are taking selfies with it.” She noted that attendees wore replicas of the shirt Kirk had worn when he was killed, and that the tent was labeled with the “prove me wrong” phrase that often framed his debates. The scene quickly became a flashpoint for responses from Kirk’s supporters and critics alike, in a gathering that organizers billed as a celebration of free speech and debate.

The display appeared amid a broader AmFest atmosphere that had already been strained by questions about how to honor Kirk’s memory while sustaining the movement’s political aims. Organizers said the tent was part of a touring exhibit honoring Kirk’s life and his call to debate boldly. Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet told The Daily Mail that it was not the tent where Kirk was assassinated and that “we made many of them for the tour and this was an entirely different tent.” He added that the organizers had intended the display as a tribute to Kirk, referencing the conference’s theme of encouraging attendees “to be courageous and pick up your own microphone.”

The exhibit drew sharp reaction from across the political spectrum. A pro-Trump account associated with the event described the display as “SICK BEYOND WORDS,” arguing that it was not healing but a deliberate, provocative reenactment intended to shape the narrative and fundraising. Others accused the setup of exploiting trauma for political ends. The discord underscored what has become a broader schism within the conservative world following Kirk’s death, with factions debating methods, tone, and accountability for public figures who have played a role in shaping the movement’s post-2020 trajectory.

AmFest remained a stage for high-profile confrontations as well. Erika Kirk—Turning Point USA’s new chief executive—took the podium on Thursday to urge unity, but the event quickly devolved into conflict between two of the movement’s most influential figures. Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson, who have drawn attention for their handling of conspiracy theories and inflammatory commentary, both addressed the crowd later in the week. Shapiro used his remarks to condemn what he described as “charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty,” and he criticized Carlson for hosting far-right commentator Nick Fuentes in October, as well as Candace Owens and Steve Bannon for what he characterized as harmful rhetoric. He also invoked a controversial line about the suspect in Kirk’s death, saying, “The person who allegedly shot Charlie Kirk and whom all the evidence points at all of it is a gay trans-loving furry,” a phrasing that drew immediate backlash and was cited by opponents as an example of the rhetoric Shapiro warned against.

Carlson’s rebuttal followed, with remarks aimed at Shapiro’s stern critique. He argued that questioning motives and engaging with difficult questions are intrinsic to politics, telling the audience that it is “okay to ask questions” and pushing back on what he characterized as attempts to silence debate. Carlson’s response—delivered in a competitive exchange with Shapiro on the same stage—illustrated the deepening divide within the conservative movement about how to address Kirk’s death and its aftermath. The clash also touched on broader debates about deplatforming, media responsibility, and the boundaries of political discourse in the wake of a high-profile assassination.

The tension at AmFest contrasted with last year’s tone when both Shapiro and Carlson spoke during a period some aides framed as the movement’s “golden age” after Trump’s electoral victory. Instead, this year’s gathering exposed how personalities with large platforms can quickly polarize an audience and redefine what is considered acceptable commemoration or critique within the conservative spectrum. Experts and observers noted that the unresolved questions surrounding Kirk’s death—who was responsible, what motives drove the gunman, and what it means for the future of debate within the movement—continue to reverberate through events like AmFest.

As the four-day conference continued, attendees left with mixed impressions: some viewed the remembrance as a call to defend free speech and robust debate, while others saw it as a stark reminder of the dangers of celebrity-led political culture and the potential for sensationalism to derail constructive dialogue. Whether the display at AmFest will have a lasting impact on Turning Point USA’s approach to public memorialization and the ongoing rancor among conservative leaders remains a developing story.