TL/DR –
The annual conference of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) highlighted sharp ideological disagreements among prominent conservative figures in the US. This reveals an underlying divide in the Republican Party and within Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) base. The conference was the first since the death of TPUSA’s founder, Charlie Kirk, and featured prominent speakers such as Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, and Megyn Kelly, who publicly clashed on issues including support for Israel, bigotry, and free speech.
Prominent conservative figures clash at Turning Point USA’s annual conference
Well-known conservative figures in the US recently butted heads at Turning Point USA’s (TPUSA) annual conference, highlighting a division within the Republican Party and Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) base. The conference, held in Phoenix, Arizona, was a gathering of Republican leaders, media personas, and conservative activists, and exposed deep ideological conflicts within the conservative movement.
Prominent attendees and contentious discussions
Top conservative figures, such as Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, and Tucker Carlson, heatedly debated issues including US support of Israel, bigotry, and free speech. According to Esam Boraey, a senior fellow at Cornell University’s Center on Global Democracy, the conflict reflects a power struggle between two conservative wings: MAGA and America First. Both groups are vying for leadership of the conservative movement post-Trump.
The conference also marked the first since the death of TPUSA’s founder, Charlie Kirk.
About Turning Point USA (TPUSA)
TPUSA is a nonprofit conservative group established in 2012 by Charlie Kirk. After Kirk’s untimely death, his widow Erika took over as CEO. This organization, with 850 chapters nationwide, works to mobilize and train young conservatives, advocating for free-market principles and limited government.
Key Speakers and controversies
The conference included a mix of Republican officials, conservative media figures, and celebrities such as Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, US Vice President JD Vance, and Erika Kirk, among others.
Debates over bigotry, conspiracy theories, and platforming surfaced, with Ben Shapiro criticizing some of his fellow conservatives for promoting extremist figures. Shapiro and Tucker Carlson clashed over the latter’s decision to host controversial figure Nick Fuentes on his podcast.
US Support for Israel and the “American” identity
Support for Israel was a recurring topic, with Steve Bannon accusing staunch supporters of Israel of prioritizing Israeli interests over American. The question of what defines an “American” was also raised. Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor, spoke against defining American-ness based on ancestry or heritage, contrasting with the view of his party colleague, Vice President Vance.
Implications for the upcoming mid-term elections
Analysts suggest that the America First side appears to be gaining traction. According to Boraey, the upcoming midterm elections could potentially signal the end of Trump’s influence and the rise of the America First agenda.
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