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Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has said the Turning Point USA organisation founded by her late husband will work to elect US Vice President JD Vance as president in 2028, despite Vance not having formally announced a run.
Speaking on Thursday at the opening of Turning Point’s annual America Fest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Kirk made the endorsement during the organisation’s largest gathering since her husband was shot dead in September.
“We are going to get my husband’s friend, JD Vance, elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,” she said, referring to the 48th US president. Donald Trump is the 47th.
JD Vance is scheduled to address the conference on Sunday.
Turning Point USA has been widely credited with helping President Donald Trump broaden his support base, contributing to his victory in the 2024 presidential election. Kirk’s announcement, made ahead of Trump’s one-year mark in office, signals early positioning within conservative circles ahead of the 2028 election.
However, the event also highlighted deep divisions within the conservative movement.
Political commentator Ben Shapiro used his speech to criticise several right-wing media figures, including Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Steve Bannon, calling them “fraudsters and grifters.”
Shapiro specifically condemned Owens, a former Turning Point employee, accusing her of spreading conspiracy theories — including unfounded claims about Charlie Kirk’s murder.
He also criticised Carlson for interviewing far-right commentator and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes on his podcast in October, an appearance that drew widespread backlash.
Carlson later responded from the same stage, dismissing Shapiro’s remarks and calling him “pompous.”
Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point events were known for tackling controversial and polarising topics. Supporters defended the organisation as a platform for free speech, while critics accused it of promoting division.
Authorities have said Kirk’s alleged killer told a romantic partner that he committed the act because he “had enough of his hatred.”
Addressing the crowd, Erika Kirk acknowledged divisions within the movement, saying: “You won’t agree with everyone on this stage this weekend. And that’s okay. Welcome to America.”
She added that since her husband’s death, “we’ve seen fractures, we’ve seen bridges being burned that shouldn’t be burnt.”
The four-day America Fest conference continues through the weekend, with JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr. scheduled to speak on Sunday.
