(NewsNation) — Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk announced her endorsement of Vice President JD Vance to head the GOP ticket in 2028, a move that comes less than a year into President Donald Trump’s second term. But amid infighting within the Republican Party, the question arises: Is Vance the future of the GOP?
Erika Kirk, who took over as CEO of Turning Point following her husband’s death in September, kicked off Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest on Thursday by backing Vance’s potential presidential bid for 2028 in an early attempt to consolidate support for the current Vice President.
“We’re going to ensure that President Trump has Congress for all four years, we’re going to get my husband’s friend, JD Vance, elected as 48 in the most resounding way possible,” Kirk said. Charlie Kirk had pushed for Vance to be the Republican nominee for the 2028 election before his death.
Kirk’s early endorsement comes at a time when Republicans are facing a crossroads ahead of the crucial 2026 midterm elections: whether to stay loyal to President Donald Trump’s messaging, despite polls showing that some of his policies are unpopular with Americans, or drift away from that altogether.
Republican infighting at Amfest
The first two days of AmFest featured infighting among popular conservatives. Ben Shapiro, a conservative commentator, called out Candace Owens for spreading conspiracy theories over Charlie Kirk’s death and warned that other conservative commentators like Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Steve Bannon were a danger to the conservative movement.
“The conservative movement is in serious danger,” Shapiro said. “Not just from the Left, but from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracies and dishonesty.”
Carlson responded by highlighting some of the fractures within the MAGA movement, railing against cancel culture, adding that it is against what Charlie Kirk would have wanted.
In the conference’s closing speech, Vance preached unity among Republicans and declined to condemn extremism or define a boundary for the MAGA coalition. The movement should be open to anyone as long as they “love America,” he said.
“I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to deplatform,” Vance said Sunday.
Ted Cruz to run in 2028?
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is considering a second presidential run, according to anonymous sources who spoke to The Washington Post.
Cruz has been outspoken in his support for Israel and in denouncing antisemitism, which has led to conflict with conservative commentators like Carlson.
A recent Atlas Intel poll reveals 46.7% of Republicans would vote for JD Vance if the 2028 GOP primary were right now, leading Secretary of State Marco Rubio (22.6%) and Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. (13.4%).
Rubio stated that he will not seek the 2028 presidential nomination, telling Vanity Fair, “If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him.”
Cruz’s name didn’t appear on the poll, and he would likely have a lot of ground to make up for a shot at the 2028 nomination.
Cruz has reportedly bashed JD Vance to Republican donors behind the scenes, warning of his isolationist foreign policy, according to The Post.
Endorsing Vance for 2028 ‘probably a mistake’: Batya
NewsNation contributor Batya Ungar-Sargon believes the decision to endorse Vance so early is premature and could backfire among voters.
“Endorsing somebody for 2028 this early on, I think that’s probably a mistake. I’ve just got two words on that: Kamala Harris,” Ungar-Sargon told “NewsNation Prime” on Sunday, referring to Democrat Harris’ fast-track nomination and unsuccessful White House bid last year.
“The American people really do not like a coronation,” she added. “They want to see the debate and the exchange of ideas that a primary brings. And a candidate that has not been through that grueling primary process, it’s very hard to imagine them performing that well in the general (election).”
The Associated Press and NewsNation’s Natasha Zouves and Batya Ungar-Sargon contributed to this report.