Battle Lines Drawn at TPUSA’s Amfest

Colin Slechta, CA - Writer 

Turning Point USA held its first annual conference since the assassination of the organization’s founder, Charlie Kirk. The event took place in Phoenix, Arizona, and lasted from Dec. 18th-21st.

Kirk's death has created a power vacuum in the world of conservative commentary. This resulted in a bitter atmosphere of infighting during the conference.

The primary wedge between the two sides is over support for Israel. Supporters of Israel, such as Ben Shapiro, argue that Israel is a close American ally and fights for our interests in the Middle East. These voices make up the old guard of the Republican party - such as major donors, commentators, and most Congressmen. Critics such as Tucker Carlson embody the new guard, youthful and energetic but lacking institutional power. They argue that our relationship with Israel has been one-sided and a drain on resources.

Ben Shapiro opened the conference with a salvo against Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens. He attacked Carlson for platforming the controversial America First host, Nick Fuentes, on Carlson's podcast earlier in the year.  Shapiro accused Carlson of giving credence to Israel-critical voices, which he called antisemitism.

Shapiro did not enjoy the crowd's support. An attendee by the name of Nicky Rudd asked Shapiro why he called the Israeli attack on the American ship USS Liberty “irrelevant”, resulting in thunderous applause from the audience.  

Tucker responded to Shapiro’s speech by saying that calls for deplatforming at a Charlie Kirk event were laughable in light of Kirk’s legacy of fighting for free speech.

Some voices argued for circling the wagons and stopping the infighting. Matt Walsh, who recently appeared on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, stressed the need for a united front against leftist ideology. He posited that this infighting undermined the movement. Erika Kirk, the widow of the late Charlie Kirk, echoed a similar message and told the crowd they would elect Vice President Vance as the nation’s next Commander in Chief.

“The Republican party is a big tent party filled with diverse viewpoints and political philosophies,” John Tober, a pro-Israel sophomore here at GWU, who attended the Amfest Event, explained his thoughts on the split. “Tucker Carlson is absolutely a part of that movement and is an inspiration to many… But let’s be clear, supporting Israel and its right to defend itself is a belief held by the overwhelming majority of the Republican Party, and a fringe minority on X suggesting otherwise is simply incorrect.”

​This internecine fighting has implications for Republican politics in future elections. Any presidential hopeful will have to thread the needle so as not to alienate the Republican donor base or the youth if they want a shot at the Oval Office in 2028.