Vice President JD Vance rallies conservatives, honors Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA convention
Vice President JD Vance closed out the final day of Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention on Sunday, rallying conservatives around themes of Christianity and the “America First” movement.
During the conference earlier this week, Charlie Kirk’s widow and now-CEO of Turning Point USA, Erika Kirk, endorsed Vance for president in 2028 — though Vance did not directly respond to the endorsement on Sunday, he thanked Erica Kirk for her support.
“I have to start off with a note of gratitude, Erika, I cannot thank you enough for your strength, your grace and your kind words of support for this administration and for me personally,” Vance said.
The annual convention commenced on Thursday, marking the first year without the organization’s founder, late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September.
“… But let me just say the best way to honor Charlie is that none of us here should be doing something after Charlie’s death that he himself refused to do in life. He invited all of us here,” Vance said.
“Charlie invited all of us here for a reason, because he believed that each of us, all of us, had something worth saying,” Vance added.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 21: Vice President JD Vance speaks on the final day of Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest conference at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 21, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Vance spoke about preparing for the next election, and fighting against the left on culture war issues. (Photo by Caylo Seals/Getty Images)
Caylo Seals/Getty Images
Throughout his remarks, Vance spoke about Charlie Kirk multiple times: “If you miss Charlie Kirk, do you promise to fight what he died for?… Do you promise to help defeat the radicals who cheered his death?”
Vance alluded to “more prosecutions,” offering that he and President Donald Trump have “a list of better judges and prosecutors to enact swifter justice.”
“Greatness awaits every single one of you in the America First movement we are building together, but we need your help to get there,” Vance said.
“Do you want more prosecutions? Great, so do we. Donald Trump and I have a list of better judges and prosecutors to enact swifter justice, so join us in the fight against the stupid Senate rules [who] stand in their way,” he added.
He frequently attacked Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling them “puppets” and accusing them of wanting to make Americans “poor,” “less powerful” and “less safe.”
In a campaign-style closing remark, Vance promised “victory” and “closed borders and safe communities” to Turning Point members committed to Charlie Kirk’s mission.
“Only God can promise you salvation in heaven, but together, we can fulfill the promise of the greatest nation in the history of the Earth,” he said.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, White House Border Czar Tom Homan and Donald Trump Jr. were among the other notable speakers on Sunday, also praising the late Charlie Kirk and rallying the conservative crowd together.
President Donald Trump also gave brief remarks via phone call during Trump Jr.’s, speech and singer-songwriter and rapper Nicki Minaj appeared on stage alongside Erika Kirk.