Vance Gets 2028 Nod as MAGA Movement Shows Both Unity and Division
The conservative movement gathered in Phoenix last week for its biggest annual event, but this year’s AmericaFest felt different. For the first time since 2012, Turning Point USA’s flagship conference happened without founder Charlie Kirk, who was tragically murdered in September during a campus event in Utah.
Over four days at the Phoenix Convention Center, more than 20,000 young conservatives came together to honor Kirk’s memory and chart a path forward. But what emerged was a movement both unified in grief and divided over its future direction.
Widow Takes the Reins, Backs Vance
The most significant moment came opening night when Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow and now CEO of Turning Point USA, made a bold political move. Standing before thousands of activists in a gold-sequin pantsuit, she threw the organization’s considerable weight behind Vice President JD Vance for 2028.
“We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,” she declared, her words nearly drowned out by cheers.
That’s no small endorsement. Turning Point raised $84 million last year and has built a grassroots machine that helped deliver young voters to President Trump.
The speaker lineup read like a who’s who of the MAGA movement. Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, Vivek Ramaswamy, Glenn Beck, and dozens more took the stage. Even President Trump called in by phone Sunday, with his son holding the speaker up to the microphone.
In a surprise appearance, rapper Nicki Minaj joined Erika Kirk on stage, immediately launching into criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom, the likely 2028 Democratic nominee.
The Gloves Come Off on Stage
But keeping everyone together proved harder than expected.
The first night saw an explosion when Ben Shapiro took the stage and called out Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Megyn Kelly by name, labeling them “frauds and grifters” who “traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty.”
Shapiro’s main gripe was Carlson’s recent interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, which he called “an act of moral imbecility.” He also tore into former Turning Point personality Candace Owens for spreading conspiracy theories that Israeli spies were somehow involved in Kirk’s death.
The counterattacks came fast. Bannon fired back Friday, calling Shapiro “a cancer” that “spreads” through the conservative movement.
Bannon told the cheering crowd:
“Mark my word, he will make a move on Turning Point, because he’s always been envious of Charlie Kirk,”
Megyn Kelly jumped in too, saying Shapiro:
“had the nerve to call me a friend right before he called me a despicable coward.”
Deeper Than Personal Feuds
These weren’t just personality clashes. The fights revealed fundamental disagreements about the movement’s direction. Bannon framed it as “a proxy on ’28” – a battle between those who put “America First” versus what he called Shapiro’s “Israel first” approach.
The conference also exposed divisions over who belongs in the conservative tent. Some want to engage with controversial figures on the far right, while others believe they should be completely excluded.
Even attendees noticed the tension. Deacon Jones, a 19-year-old Turning Point member from Tennessee, said the event felt “noticeably different” without Kirk.
Jones explained:
“We’re making major issues minor and minor issues major. We’re talking about all the things we’re disagreeing on and splitting our party.”
Vance closed out the conference on Sunday with a message aimed at keeping the conservative coalition together.
Vance said:
“I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or deplatform. Charlie invited all of us here for a reason because he believed all of us had something important to say.”
Andrew Kolvet, Turning Point’s spokesman, admitted no single figure can fix these rifts in Kirk’s absence. “It’s going to be a team effort,” he said, though he praised Vance’s unifying message as making it feel like “Dad’s home” telling “the kids to settle down.”
Nevada’s Political Future Takes Shape
Nevada’s Republican candidates Annie Black and Erica Neeley were in attendance and the conference had clear implications for Silver State politics.
Black recently announced she is running to return to the Nevada Assembly representing District 19, a seat she previously held in 2021.
She tells NN&V:
“As Matt Walsh recently said on Tucker, when Charlie Kirk was murdered, everyone said ‘we’re all Charlie Kirk’—but the reality is, Charlie’s gone, and there was only one of him.
The organization’s political arm, Turning Point Action, announced major investments in Nevada for 2026 and 2028, calling it part of building a “red wall” alongside Arizona and New Hampshire.
For Nevada Republicans eyeing 2026 races, the Turning Point endorsement of Vance signals where the energy and money in the conservative movement will flow. The organization has proven especially effective at turning out young voters, something Nevada Republicans desperately need after recent losses.
Neeley is running for Nevada Assembly District 9 in 2026. She previously ran for this seat in 2024 and came very close to defeating then-Speaker Steve Yeager, who has since announced he won’t seek re-election.
Neeley reflects on the event, telling NN&V:
“The next generation is mobilized, energized, and enthusiastic about the American Dream and the possibilities ahead.”
What This Means for Conservatives
The conference revealed both the strength and fragility of the conservative coalition Trump built. Without Kirk’s unifying presence, different factions are already jockeying for position. You had traditional conservatives, populists, libertarian tech types, and Christian nationalists all trying to claim the movement’s future.
Vance seems positioned to hold this coalition together, at least for now. The Yale-educated populist from rural Ohio who worked in Silicon Valley has feet in multiple camps. But whether anyone can maintain Trump’s unique coalition without Trump himself remains the big question.
Neeley spoke of Vance’s influence, saying:
“One of my favorite moments was hearing J.D. Vance speak and outline what we’re fighting for, along with the accomplishments we’ve already made by working together. It reinforced why this work matters.”
For grassroots conservatives, the message was clear: the movement continues, but it’s entering uncharted territory.
Black tells NN&V:
Looking Ahead
As conservatives left Phoenix, they carried both hope and uncertainty. The movement that helped deliver Trump’s comeback showed it could survive tragedy, but also revealed deep divisions about what “America First” really means.
For Nevada conservatives watching from afar, the conference sent a clear signal about where national resources and attention will focus. With Turning Point pledging major investments in the state and Vance emerging as the likely 2028 standard-bearer, the landscape for upcoming races is taking shape.
The real test comes next year when Republicans defend their congressional majorities without Trump on the ballot.
Article updated to include quotes from Annie Black and Erica Neeley.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
