PHOENIX (AP) — A simmering battle over the future of President Donald Trump’s political movement exploded on one of the right’s biggest stages Thursday, as prominent conservative influencers used Turning Point USA’s annual youth conference to attack each other and their competing visions.
The feuding threatened to eclipse efforts to memorialize Charlie Kirk, the organization’s charismatic founder who was assassinated in September, even as participants insisted they were honoring the legacy of a unifying figure within the Republican Party.
First up was Ben Shapiro, who described Tucker Carlson and others as grifters and charlatans, guilty of misleading their audiences with falsehoods and conspiracy theories. Shapiro sharply criticized Carlson, a former Fox News host, for interviewing outspoken antisemite Nick Fuentes on his podcast, calling it “an act of moral imbecility.”
Barely an hour later, Carlson took the same stage and mocked Shapiro’s attempt to “deplatform and denounce” people who disagree with him.
“I watched it,” he said. “I laughed.”
The raw bitterness on the opening night of the four-day conference reflected deep divisions over the meaning of “America First” and next steps for the “Make America Great Again” movement defined more by the force of Trump’s personality than loyalty to a particular ideological project.
All those fucking power-hungry dickheads.
“Recruiters for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol were on hand, along with an armored tactical vehicle they drove into the exhibition hall.”
Genius.
Quite the power struggle, but everyone deserves a shot.
I see what you did there
The feuding threatened to eclipse efforts to memorialize Charlie Kirk, the organization’s charismatic founder
HAHAHAHA as charismatic as a hemorrhoid.
I don’t particularly care about the exact flavor of Nazis they want to be.
Sure, but a divide in what has mostly been a solid wall is a good opportunity
See, the thing about divide and conquer is that ‘divide’ is just the first step. What does conquest look like here? It’s like invading Russia: nobody wants the place – it’s full of fucking Russians. Likewise, if it was possible, who’d want to lay claim to these people?
it’s full of fucking Russians
The Mongols knew what to do about that.
You don’t want to lay claim to them or their audience without serious redemptive efforts. But you do want them too focused on infighting to do anything productive. You know, like we historically are.
Yeah, fair enough.
No we aren’t!
/s
Ok fed.
I do, however, enjoy it when various flavors of Nazi fight each other.
Yeah, that’s fair. I mean, who doesn’t?
Edit:
“So who d’you think are gonna win?”
“The rest of us.”
First up was Ben Shapiro, who described Tucker Carlson and others as grifters and charlatans, guilty of misleading their audiences with falsehoods and conspiracy theories.
Hahahahahahah!!! Pot calling kettle black. This sort of infighting is what happens when leadership falters. Trump’s corrupt mismanagement is becoming more apparent, and starting to tank his approval among even the hardcore MAGAts, and the other narcissists waiting in the wings are now knifing each other as they jockey for position. Wait until the economy comes completely unglued in 2026 and we experience major economic collapse, with bank runs, etc., similar to the lead-in to the Great Depression. We are definitely living in interesting times!
He only cares because now they’re being open about their antisemitism
More of the same old shit. Whenever quarrelsome people get together, even if the pretense is something they all have in common, they inevitably end up fighting each other. And what even is a modern conservative, if not quarrelsome? It’s like 100% of their party’s political identity.
TP USA. Toilet Paper United States of America. That’s their agenda.
Bizarre to end the article with a quote that seems like it’ll start a new segment about, like, the opinions of attendees from a heretofore unmentioned attendee, then just end.
“I just felt like I had an obligation to be here,” said Daren Struiksma, 20, of Harrisburg, South Dakota.
Okay? Why mention that?
The article had some arbitrary minimum number of words requirement? 🤷
Well it made me wonder about the author’s intent. Why choose this quote in particular? What does this quote imply that they felt was important to communicate?
Honestly, I don’t think the quote really says much of anything. I think you could find someone saying this at any convention be it political or, I dunno, Star Trek.
But the rest of the article is about demonstrating fractures in right-wing unity and so maybe the author wanted to imply that the guests feel their attendance is obligatory more than desired. It’s a stretch to argue that, but I struggle to think of another reason to include it.
AI
Oh that makes a lot of sense, shoulda thought of that!
The more they fight amongst them, the better.
Oh just wait until the mid-terms and general election. The limp-wrist sissy slapfighting will be for the ages with these goblins.
If there’s anything I know, it’s that when someone who controls money or power dies, there’s a ruthless scramble to be the beneficiary.
Oh, that happens even among the poor and lowly. Nothing like death to bring out people’s avarice.
I didn’t say how much money or power.
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Will Republicanism become the tip of the spear for the Israeli state? Or will it become a more traditional Protestant-aligned reactionary organ of corporate power?
Find out next election cycle on Who Grifts Best!
Oh, they’ll be both, it’s just a matter of relative timing.
Big (circus) tent party.
