A controversial tribute to the murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked significant outrage and exposed deepening fractures within the American right at a major youth conference.
Selfies at a Recreated Murder Scene Cause Fury
At the hectic opening night of AmFest, the annual youth conference for Turning Point USA, a bizarre display drew the attention of attendees and reporters alike. More than 30,000 people gathered for the four-day event in Phoenix, where a tent was set up bearing a striking resemblance to the Utah Valley University site where Kirk was assassinated by a gunman on September 10.
Reporters from the liberal network MS Now observed young conference-goers posing for selfies inside the tent, which was labelled with Kirk's famous debate catchphrase, 'prove me wrong'. A framed mural of the activist was also part of the display. Many attendees wore replicas of the shirt Kirk was killed in, with some heard saying 'For Charlie.'
The unconventional tribute provoked immediate and fierce condemnation, even among Kirk's own supporters and adherents of Donald Trump's MAGA movement. A prominent pro-Trump social media account, Project Constitution, called the display 'SICK BEYOND WORDS', accusing organisers of using psychological tactics to manipulate emotions for control and donations.
Conservative activist Michael Flynn Jr echoed the disgust, publicly questioning whether others found the spectacle disturbing. Another critic online summed up the sentiment, writing: 'Nothing says peak current year like recreating the tent where a guy was murdered for people to take selfies in.'
Leadership Pleas for Unity Ignited by Public Feud
The display is seen as another sign of a growing schism within conservatism following Kirk's death. Erika Kirk, the new chief executive of Turning Point, attempted to calm tensions by taking the stage first on Thursday night to plead for unity.
However, her calls were swiftly drowned out by a very public feud between two of the event's headline speakers. Commentators Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson used their platform to trade bitter personal attacks, battling over conspiracy theories that have circulated since the assassination.
Shapiro launched a broadside, criticising Carlson for hosting far-right commentator Nick Fuentes in October and collectively labelling Carlson, Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon as 'frauds' and 'grifters'. He warned that 'the conservative movement is in serious danger' from such figures.
Shapiro specifically condemned Owens for her repeated suggestions that Israel may have been involved in Kirk's death. He urged clarity, stating: 'We should not say things like, "They shot Charlie" without specifying whom we mean by they.' He identified the alleged shooter as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, whom he described as a 'gay trans-loving furry'.
Carlson Fires Back Amid Accusations of Cowardice
Carlson responded in kind from the same stage, dismissing Shapiro as 'pompous' and claiming he laughed at his speech backstage. 'Calls to deplatform at a Charlie Kirk event? That’s hilarious,' he retorted.
He also defended himself against accusations of antisemitism following his interview with Fuentes, asserting that 'Antisemitism is not just naughty, it’s immoral.' Carlson complained about cancel culture within the movement, arguing for the right to ask difficult questions without being labelled.
'It is okay to ask questions. And I thought that was, like, the whole reason we were against the left,' Carlson told the audience. 'They're not going to force you to get up there and make ritual denunciations. Because this isn't my religion. It's politics.'
The chaotic and divisive tone marked a stark departure from last year's AmFest, where both Shapiro and Carlson had optimistically proclaimed the US was entering a 'golden age' following Trump's electoral victory. The Daily Mail has contacted Turning Point USA for comment on the controversial display and the internal divisions on show.
