Overview
- Onstage clashes saw Ben Shapiro denounce Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens, prompting counterattacks that dominated the conference narrative.
- Shapiro rebuked Carlson for hosting ultraright figure Nick Fuentes, while Bannon labeled Shapiro part of an “Israel‑First” faction, underscoring fractures over antisemitism and Israel policy.
- Erika Kirk opened the event by endorsing Vice President J.D. Vance for 2028, giving him the imprimatur of Turning Point USA and a warm reception from the audience.
- Closing the gathering, Vance praised the rollback of DEI programs and told attendees they need not apologize for being white, while positioning himself as a unifier who avoids purity tests.
- Despite the rancor, Carlson rejected talk of a Republican “civil war,” and a Turning Point spokesperson framed the disputes as a necessary debate over the movement’s future.