Vice President J.D. Vance closed Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025 in Phoenix, the organization’s first major gathering since TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September. His absence was a central emotional focus throughout the convention, and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, now CEO of TPUSA, played a prominent role. Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance alongside Erika, drawing attention before Vance took the stage.
In his remarks, Vance stressed that the “America First” movement should be broad and resilient, welcoming people from all backgrounds who “love America”. He argued that the coalition should avoid rigid ideological purity tests and instead embrace a range of views and disagreements. Vance said the movement’s strength lies in its diversity and ability to tolerate internal debate without letting conflicts become destructive.
A central point of Vance’s speech was his rejection of internal “purity tests” in conservative politics. He warned against canceling or deplatforming fellow conservatives over differences and said disagreements are better viewed as signs of intellectual vitality rather than weakness. His remarks came amid broader conservative disputes at the conference over ideological direction and figures within the right‑wing media ecosystem.
Vance repeatedly emphasized themes such as economic opportunity, national strength, and loyalty to country as the core unifiers of the America First agenda. He portrayed the movement not as a narrow club but as a coalition defined by shared priorities rather than rigid cultural litmus tests. He also stressed that the focus should be on building the movement and advancing its policy goals rather than sidelining people with differing viewpoints.
Responding to supporters’ frustrations about political progress, Vance acknowledged impatience among the base, saying it reflected engagement rather than apathy. He argued that open debate and disagreement among independent thinkers were preferable to enforced uniformity and could help sharpen priorities as Republicans work on congressional and federal policy objectives.
In the final portion of his speech, Vance highlighted policy outcomes linked to the current America First approach, including border enforcement, economic indicators, and the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — which he said have been relegated to the “dustbin of history.” He ended on an optimistic note, urging supporters to focus on growth and unity rather than division, framing President Trump as a “builder” and calling on the movement to expand its coalition to shape the nation’s future.
