Turning Point USA’s America Fest in Phoenix, Arizona saw college students and even whole families attend to speak and to listen, to advocate for and to network with publications, content creators, businesses, vendors and thought leaders. The four-day conference at the Phoenix Convention Center was dominated by the first Speaking appearance of President-elect Donald J. Trump since his election victory in November and defined by appearances by such conservative voices as The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh and Michael
Knowles, TheBlaze’s Glenn Beck and Ally B. Stuckey as well as Steve Bannon, James O’Keefe and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
The atmosphere differed significantly from the AmericaFests of 2023 and 2022, which could be described as strategy sessions, filled with a panoply of ‘get-out-the-vote’ and ballot-chasing initiatives which proved fruitful in the November election. Rather the mood was simultaneously celebratory and victorious, while tempering optimism with a wariness toward the newly elected Congress.
In one room some speakers discussed the collapse of the woke-left, while across the hall the crowds loudly chanted “Shut it down! Shut it down!” prior to the passage of the third iteration of the Budget Continuing Resolution Friday.
As earlier noted, families abounded with grade school children led by their parents from event to event bedecked in patriotic ware and cheerful, red MAGA hats. One such family, the Andersons of East Mesa, just under an hour away from downtown Phoenix had parents Tim and Kelly bring their daughters Kaylee and Jada along. Kelly explained that her girls were homeschooled and were brought to Phoenix to learn.
Asked why they were there she said, “To be around people who are actually joyful, who are in celebration of the victory we fought so hard for. To expose my kids to the process, and to meet more like -minded people who we can network with.”
She explained, “We're a homeschool family and so this is a lot of civics and they get to watch all these podcasts and see all these people with me at home so now getting to interact with them and see it up front is pretty awesome.”
Kaylee piped up that she was looking forward to meeting former Secret Service Agent turned-host Dan Bonjino. They were also hoping to meet Knowles.
Another family, a father and son Mr. Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) and his son Eoindaniel came to the Desert Southwest to share the plight of Irish fishermen with American conservatives, hoping to draw international attention to the crushing blows dealt to them by the oppressive Eco-leftists in Dublin and the EU.
Murphy said that he’s also seeking to bring back some of the MAGA energy to Ireland in the face of the radical leftist, pro-abortion, and pro-illegal immigration policies handed down by Irish and EU lawmakers in an attempt to reverse the damage.
In a statement to ConservativeHQ Patrick explained,
“My son and I are enjoying a special father son experience that is selfishly ours. We both followed American politics closely for the past years.
Couple this with our similar beliefs. Ireland is resembling the madness of the USA in regard to a lack of belief in family, the community right to follow values that make sense. Government is influenced by an ideology of acceptance of people having the right to go against nature and punishing those who dare object.
Freedom of speech, immigration and the abandonment of our rights as citizens of our country. My Catholic religious beliefs attacked, but not the madness of killing developing life before it has a chance to be born.
Our ability to protect our values being eroded.
We come here with hope in us asking those who are bringing a reversal of what is wrong to the USA will help us Start the process in Ireland.
We need our people be put first.“
Trump spoke to the conference for over ninety minutes to cap off the four-day event on Sunday. Speaking to Fox10, Kathy Hair told the outlet, “People coming together, It's about unity, right? Yeah, it's about change.” The King family from California, like the Kellys from Arizona brought their children. Forest King told reporters that "I'm learning a ton.” His wife Karissa said, "To have the kiddos here, they've been able to really dig in, and they've asked us lots of questions. We've been able to respond to the questions and train them."
Speaking to the gathered crowd Trump told them he was offering “just a small preview of the common sense revolution,” according to ABC News.
“Because that's what I call it, a commonsense revolution that's coming soon to America, to a theater near you, right? But it's coming to you through your president, Donald J. Trump,” he said.
The President-elect said that he plans to demand the return of the Panama Canal to U.S. control, throwing establishment media into a tailspin. He said, "It was not given for the benefit of others by a token of cooperation, but it was given to Panama and to the people of Panama. But it has provisions. You have to treat us fairly, and they haven't treated us fairly if the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, that we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full, quickly and without question. Not going to stand for so to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly."
Earlier in the day Trump had posted to Truth Social about his selection of Paypal co-founder Ken Howery to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Denmark and even suggested, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” echoing a Pat Buchanan talking point from his 1996 Presidential campaign.
During his remarks he presented his vision for the second Trump administration saying, "With the stroke of my pen, on day one, we're going to stop the transgender lunacy. And I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools."
From the suburbs of Phoenix to southwestern shores of Ireland, the 2024 Election in the United States and the victory of the President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican party has shown a far-reaching influence, and AmericaFest is bringing together conservatives, populists, libertarians and Republicans from Arizona to Cork and from Mar-a-Lago to California.
Conservativism has risen as the popular movement of 21st century, and Turning Point USA’s America Fest is this truth made manifest.
Matthew Holloway is a contributor for Conservative HQ. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@theconservativefreelancer.com.
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