Erika Kirk spoke at America Fest in Phoenix this week, confronting conservative infighting, outlining Turning Point USA’s next steps, and urging activists to turn faith and grief into organized action for the future.
America Fest ran at the Phoenix Convention Center from the 18th through the 21st, and Erika Kirk opened the event with a clear, determined presence. She wore a glittery outfit and walked onstage to strong applause, carrying the mission forward after a tragic national moment. Her appearance was about steady leadership, public faith, and rallying a movement that has lost one of its founders.
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated during a campus stop on the “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University while debating at a “Prove Me Wrong” table. The shock of that day still shapes the conversation in conservative circles, and Erika has navigated grief and public duty in equal measure. She has spent the last months keeping his message alive, honoring his memory, and working to expand the movement among young Americans while caring for their two children.
In her remarks she did not shy away from the divisions that surfaced after the murder, calling out how tragedies quickly reveal who stands with you. She pointed to the importance of unity where it matters and warned against letting petty fights undercut long-term goals. The core message was simple: if conservatives want to win, they must act like a coherent movement and translate belief into votes and civic engagement.
Erika also addressed several high-profile critics who crossed lines in public commentary, naming examples of absurd and damaging claims. She rejected sensational accusations that distract from the work ahead, and she pushed back on attacks that target character rather than engage with ideas. Her tone was firm but focused on redirecting attention toward rebuilding and outreach instead of feeding conflict for the cameras.
Part of her appearance included explanations for why she would promote the book Charlie had written, published after his death. She framed that media tour not as self-promotion but as stewardship of an idea and an organization Charlie helped build. Promoting ideas, she said, is how you keep a movement alive and bring new people into the fold.
Erika shared encouraging updates about Turning Point USA’s growth and announced future plans, including a faith-focused tour called Make Heaven Crowded. She described the tour as part of a strategy to merge cultural and political outreach through churches, campuses, and community events. For conservatives committed to faith and free speech, this is an approach that combines spiritual priorities with concrete organizing.
She named two political priorities plainly: keep Congress in Republican hands and elect Vice President JD Vance in 2028. Those are not abstract goals; they are the tactical aims she intends TPUSA to support through youth mobilization and grassroots campaigning. From her perspective, maintaining Republican governance is essential to safeguard religious liberty, school choice, and national sovereignty.
Erika urged attendees to take what they learn and turn it into action, insisting that events like AmFest are not just entertainment but catalysts for sustained engagement. She challenged the audience to “stand up boldly, to be brave, to speak clearly,” and to move beyond cynicism toward constructive participation. Her call was explicit: honor Charlie not with words alone but with ongoing, organized effort.
“Don’t just attend AmFest. Let it mark you. Let it stretch you. Let it challenge assumptions, strengthen convictions, and maybe even make you a little uncomfortable because that’s where growth happens, in those moments.
Let it be another Turning Point in your life. Another moment where you decide not to drift, not to disengage, not to give in to cynicism, but to stand up boldly, to be brave, to speak clearly, because that is how we are going to honor Charlie. We are going to honor him not just with words, but with action.”
The tone throughout was resolute conservative optimism: grief acknowledged, anger contained, and the future framed as a campaign. That blend of faith and political clarity is the message Erika and TPUSA aim to take on a national tour. She sees the movement as a vehicle for both cultural revival and electoral success.
Her speech was also a reminder that political movements hinge on personal leadership and durable institutions, not just viral moments. TPUSA’s next phase, according to Erika, will focus on building resilient local networks and strengthening student outreach so the energy at AmFest converts into lasting influence. Success, she argued, comes from disciplined organizing and a refusal to let tragedy paralyze the cause.
There were practical announcements about tours and new initiatives, all designed to keep momentum moving through 2028. Erika framed these plans as an extension of Charlie’s work and as proof that the organization would not flinch from public life. For attendees and supporters, the takeaway was straightforward: keep showing up, get organized, and turn faith into civic power.
The event closed with a strong appeal to action rather than performance, a reminder that political victories require more than speeches and clicks. Erika’s message was a clear political roadmap from a Republican viewpoint: build the movement, win elections, protect conservative institutions, and honor the past through decisive action. The path she laid out is meant to convert grief into momentum and preserve a conservative future led by engaged young activists.
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