Republican Gathering Focuses on Opposition Amidst Party Rifts
In Phoenix, the Turning Point AmericaFest concluded on Sunday with prominent Republican figures attempting to mend internal conflicts that had surfaced earlier in the weekend. Vice President JD Vance emphasized the need for unity, redirecting attention toward countering Democratic opponents.
"President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests," Vance stated to enthusiastic applause. He added, "We have far more important work to do than canceling each other."
During his address, Vance criticized "far left" Democrats, linking their policies to harm against Americans and referencing the September killing of Charlie Kirk, which has cast a shadow over the event. He highlighted Trump-era policies on immigration, vaccines, and transgender issues, urging attendees to prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.
"If you miss Charlie Kirk, do you promise to fight what he died for? Do you promise to take the country back from the people who took his life?" Vance asked the audience.
Internal Divisions Surface at Conservative Event
The festival, held at the Phoenix Convention Center, attracted 30,000 of Donald Trump's most dedicated supporters. However, the gathering was initially marked by discord, starting on Thursday when conservative commentator Ben Shapiro criticized fellow MAGA-aligned influencers, including Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Steve Bannon.
"The conservative movement is in serious danger," Shapiro warned, pointing to "charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty."
This tension continued into Friday and Saturday, with Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential hopeful now running for Ohio governor, describing it as "a time for choosing in the conservative movement." Ramaswamy focused on Carlson's interview with far-right figure Nick Fuentes, condemning inflammatory remarks as unacceptable.
In response, Steve Bannon took the stage, countering Shapiro's criticisms by labeling him "a cancer, and that cancer spreads." Bannon asserted, "Ben Shapiro is the farthest thing from MAGA."
Efforts to Bridge Gaps and Focus on Elections
Other speakers on Sunday, including Speaker Mike Johnson, echoed calls for unity. Johnson described the weekend as "an epic and faithful battle that truly will determine the future of our great republic," stressing the importance of maintaining House control in the midterms.
Vance also targeted Democratic Senate candidates Graham Platner of Maine and Jasmine Crockett of Texas, predicting, "We are gonna kick their ass next November," which sparked chants from the crowd.
Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, a gubernatorial candidate, urged cohesion, saying, "I choose to build a movement, be part of a movement, that stands on principle, on strength, that loves the people in the movement, even sometimes when they piss you off. You can't form a winning unit if you can't stay focused on the mission at hand."
Donald Trump Jr. shifted focus outward, stating, "The real enemy? It’s not Steve Bannon or Tucker Carlson or Ben Shapiro, it’s the radical left that murdered Charlie and celebrated it on a daily basis."
The event, the first since founder Charlie Kirk's death in September, featured various conservative voices, culminating with Vance and Johnson's speeches. The political affiliations of the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, remain unclear amid the charged atmosphere.
