Selfie recreation at AmFest draws backlash over Charlie Kirk memorial display

PHOENIX — Selfies taken at a display described by the Daily Mail as a recreation of the tent site linked to Charlie Kirk’s death drew attention at AmFest, Turning Point USA’s annual youth conference. The four-day event opened with more than 30,000 attendees, according to organizers, in Phoenix. The display appeared as part of AmFest’s exhibits and was noted by attendees and reporters on the event floor.

The setup included a framed mural of Kirk inside a tent labeled with his signature “prove me wrong” slogan, and attendees were seen wearing replicas of the shirt Kirk was wearing when the incident occurred, according to accounts group MS Now. The display prompted immediate backlash from some Kirk supporters and broader MAGA-aligned circles, who argued it exploited trauma for narrative and fundraising. A pro-Donald Trump faction, Project Constitution, called the display “SICK BEYOND WORDS” and accused organizers of using the scene to tug heartstrings for donations. Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said the display was not the tent where Kirk was assassinated, asserting that multiple tents were created for the tour and that this one was a tribute to Kirk. “It was not the tent where Charlie was assassinated. We made many of them for the tour and this was an entirely different tent,” Kolvet told The Daily Mail. He added that the conference theme included the idea of being courageous and picking up one’s own microphone, framing the display as aligned with Kirk’s advocacy for free speech and debate.

The controversy surrounding the display also highlighted divisions within the conservative movement in the wake of Kirk’s death. Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA’s new chief executive, attempted to ease tensions by opening the night with a call for unity, but two of the evening’s headliners, Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson, quickly vented publicized tensions that overshadowed the event’s program.

Shapiro used his remarks to criticize Carlson for hosting far-right commentator Nick Fuentes on his show in October, and he broadly denounced a slate of conservative voices as “frauds” and “grifters.” He warned that the conservative movement faced “serious danger” from figures who, in his view, traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty. He also criticized Candace Owens and Steve Bannon for their roles within Turning Point’s orbit, arguing that some participants had contributed to a climate of misinformation.

Carlson pushed back from the stage, firing back at Shapiro’s criticisms and engaging in his own exchanges with attendees. He defended his decision to host controversial guests and rejected claims of antisemitism, saying that questions about motives are appropriate in political discussions. He also referenced the broader debate over Nick Fuentes and other figures, arguing for a more permissive, questions-driven approach to political discourse. Carlson’s remarks reflected a broader friction within the movement over strategy, messaging, and the boundaries of acceptable dialogue.

The overall dynamic at AmFest underscored a broader realignment within the conservative coalition as it copes with leadership splits, competing narratives about free speech and conspiracy theories, and disagreement over how to balance provocative rhetoric with responsible advocacy. The event’s tone—sharper and more contentious than last year’s—appeared to reflect these ongoing tensions, even as organizers emphasized unity and the continued push for free debate on campus culture and policy priorities.