Vice President JD Vance urged Republican unity against Democrats on the final day of Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix on December 21, 2025, shifting focus from weekend infighting to midterm preparations. The event, drawing 30,000 amid the group's first major gathering since Charlie Kirk's September killing, featured speeches from Tulsi Gabbard, Mike Johnson, and surprise guest Nicki Minaj.
Turning Point USA's AmericaFest (December 19-21) at the Phoenix Convention Center marked the conservative organization's first large-scale event since founder Charlie Kirk's September shooting death by Tyler Robinson, charged with aggravated murder.
Initial tensions erupted Thursday with Ben Shapiro criticizing MAGA figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Steve Bannon for conspiracism and associations with figures like Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes. Clashes continued Friday-Saturday, as Vivek Ramaswamy condemned Carlson's Fuentes interview and Bannon labeled Shapiro a 'cancer' far from MAGA.
Sunday brought reconciliation. Vance told the crowd, "President Trump did not build the greatest coalition... by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests." Blaming 'far left' Democrats for Kirk's death, he rallied: "If you miss Charlie Kirk, do you promise to fight what he died for?" Vance highlighted Trump policies on immigration, vaccines, and transgender issues, urging midterm turnout to "kick their ass next November" against foes like Maine's Graham Platner and Texas's Jasmine Crockett.
Speaker Mike Johnson called it an "epic... battle that truly will determine the future of our great republic," stressing 2026 House control. Rep. Byron Donalds emphasized focus: "You can’t form a winning unit if you can’t stay focused on the mission."
Donald Trump Jr. redirected: "The real enemy? It’s... the radical left that murdered Charlie and celebrated it."
Tulsi Gabbard warned of Islamist ideology as freedom's top threat, seeking a "global caliphate," citing Kirk's concerns, 9/11, and threats like Germany's canceled Christmas markets.
Turning Point President Erika Kirk interviewed rapper Nicki Minaj, who praised Trump, mocked Gov. Gavin Newsom, advocated for Nigerian Christians, affirmed traditional gender roles, and quipped on industry backlash: "When the Truth comes out, the lies hide."
