At the 2025 AmericaFest conference hosted by Turning Point USA in Phoenix, Erika Kirk, the widow of the late Charlie Kirk and now leader of the organization, delivered a high‑profile speech that became one of the event’s defining moments. In her address, she **publicly endorsed Vice President JD Vance as the candidate Turning Point USA will support for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, promising the group’s backing long before an official campaign has begun. This endorsement was framed as a significant early signal to conservative activists and donors.
The endorsement carries symbolic and strategic weight because Turning Point USA is one of the most influential conservative youth organizations in the U.S., with a broad network of campus activists and grassroots supporters. Early organizational backing can help shape media narratives and donor attention ahead of more crowded primary fields, reinforcing Vance’s visibility among young conservatives.
At AmericaFest, Turning Point USA made clear it views itself as a key mobilizer for future Republican efforts. In addition to endorsing Vance, leadership emphasized efforts to build conservative turnout infrastructure, particularly in early primary and swing states, and to leverage its active base to support both the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential cycle.
The conference also reflected broader ideological debates within the conservative movement. Some speakers and attendees voiced disagreements over strategy, messaging, and figures within the coalition, underscoring ongoing friction between various factions on the right. These dynamics are part of a larger conversation about the future direction of the Republican Party post‑Trump.
Vice President JD Vance, while not yet formally declared as a candidate, has been welcomed at Turning Point USA events and seen as a unifying figure for many attendees. He has used the platform to call for broader conservative unity, and polling at the conference reportedly showed strong support for him among the organization’s base—though that polling reflects the views of a specific group rather than the broader electorate.
Erika Kirk’s endorsement at AmericaFest came during her first major appearance as CEO of Turning Point USA following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, in 2025. Her leadership signals both continuity with the organization’s previous trajectory and a more proactive role in shaping future political battles, particularly amid conservative efforts to consolidate support behind key figures like Vance.
