MILES PARKS, HOST:
It has been roughly three months since right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, and the organization he founded, Turning Point USA, is trying to keep his movement going. More than 30,000 supporters are in Phoenix this weekend to attend AmericaFest, Turning Point's annual conference. NPR political reporter Elena Moore is there, covering this first major gathering since Kirk's death, and she joins us now. Hi, Elena.
ELENA MOORE, BYLINE: Hey, Miles.
PARKS: So let's just start there. What is this event like without Charlie Kirk? I imagine he is on people's minds.
MOORE: Yeah. Well, in some ways, it looks a lot like Turning Point events I've covered before. There's lots of merch sporting conservative and Christian ideas, plus a lineup of speeches from prominent right-wing politicians and media personalities who often walk out to fireworks and light displays, almost like a concert.
But, you know, exactly. Hanging over this event are also a ton of reminders of Charlie Kirk and his death. They're selling shirts that look like the white freedom tee Kirk was wearing when he was killed. And there's even a tent setup resembling the Prove Me Wrong event he was doing when he was shot.
PARKS: And his widow, Erika Kirk, has also stepped in as CEO of this organization. This is the biggest event she has run so far. What's her message been?
MOORE: Well, she's vowed to continue her husband's work and push the organization forward, really leaning in on his message to, you know, build up the GOP youth branch.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ERIKA KIRK: Don't you dare let anyone tell you you're too young, you're not smart enough, and you're not connected enough. As long as you're a part of Turning Point USA, we will empower you and give whatever you need to be able to make that come to life.
MOORE: But Erika Kirk is taking over at a time that's tense for this movement, and that's clouded some of Turning Point's broader messaging in recent days.
PARKS: Right. I understand there's been some friction among the main speakers. Can you explain what's happening?
MOORE: Yeah, I mean, things got heated on Thursday when conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called out a bunch of right-wing media personalities for entertaining conspiracy theories, particularly involving Charlie Kirk's death. He also singled out Tucker Carlson, criticizing a recent interview Carlson did with far-right influencer and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, someone who Charlie Kirk did not support.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
BEN SHAPIRO: He knew that Nick Fuentes is an evil troll and that building him up is an act of moral imbecility. And that is precisely what Tucker Carlson did. He built Nick Fuentes up.
MOORE: And, you know, Carlson then spoke and disputed those claims, adding that he is not antisemitic. But Shapiro's broader criticism about what figures to amplify and what information to promote has kind of continued to come up in both nights of programming so far.
PARKS: Well, over the past couple of days, you've also been talking to some of these young people who are attending this event, AmericaFest. What are they telling you?
MOORE: Yeah, I've spoken with longtime Turning Point supporters who are really just heartbroken, like 25-year-old Ange Perez, who lives in the area.
ANGE PEREZ: It makes me really emotional because I viewed him as, like - he's my hero. And I always saw him as, like, an older brother that I never had.
MOORE: But, you know, alongside that hurt, Miles, many young people have told me that Kirk's death really has been a motivator for them to learn more about conservative politics. You know, one woman who decided to come to the conference after Kirk's assassination told me it was a wake-up call. So that type of interest may, in some ways, be a good sign for Turning Point's livelihood moving forward.
PARKS: There are also more speakers set up for tonight and tomorrow. What else are you going to be watching?
MOORE: Yeah, tomorrow likely has the most draw. Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, is going to speak, and Vice President Vance, JD Vance, is delivering the final address. It's a shift from other big Turning Point events in recent years, where President Trump has often been the headliner. So that change may send a message on how this group views the next set of leaders of the GOP movement ahead of 2028. And, you know, Erika Kirk has kind of already weighed in there. On Day 1 of the conference, she actually endorsed Vance.
PARKS: Well, we should note, Vance has not said he's going to run, though, obviously, he would be a front-runner. Is - do you see Kirk's endorsement as a big deal?
MOORE: I mean, yeah, because Turning Point has a sizable hold on the MAGA youth movement. Trump was able to make gains with voters under 30 in the 2024 election, and Republicans want to keep that engagement going, especially, Miles, since Gen Z Millennials, folks under 45, are going to make up more than half of all eligible voters by 2028.
PARKS: That is NPR political reporter Elena Moore reporting from Phoenix. Thank you.
MOORE: Thanks, Miles. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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