Turning Point USA, a prominent conservative organization, recently held an All-American Halftime Show that garnered nearly 20 million views on YouTube, offering an alternative to the traditional Super Bowl halftime performance. Announced in October, the event was particularly well-received by conservative audiences seeking entertainment aligned with traditional American values.
Andrew Kolvet, TPUSA spokesperson, shared his enthusiasm with Fox News on the successful outcome of the show and hinted at the potential for growth with more planning time. However, despite the public success, the organization appears to be grappling with serious internal challenges that could affect its future stability.
Fox News' Lisa Kennedy Montgomery has reported, based on sources close to the organization, that TPUSA might be compromised by individuals within its ranks working to undermine its operations. These allegations surfaced after the organization underwent personnel changes, leading to the dismissal of a handful of employees, as opposed to the dozens rumored online.
Aubrey Laitsch, a former TPUSA public relations employee, was among those recently let go. In a video released on platform X, Laitsch disputed the grounds for her termination, which were officially attributed to her speaking negatively about supervisors to an Uber driver—a claim she denies. Instead, she suggested that her firing was related to her questioning the narrative surrounding the assassination of TPUSA’s late CEO, Charlie Kirk.
Her claims gained further traction when commentator Candace Owens shared Laitsch's video with her followers, describing it as a revealing look into the organization's new direction post-Kirk's leadership. Owens has been vocal in promoting various unsubstantiated theories regarding the assassination of Kirk, including alleged conspiracies involving TPUSA employees and foreign actors.
In the wake of Kirk's death, his widow Erika was appointed CEO to guide TPUSA through the transition. While a December meeting between Erika Kirk and Owens initially seemed productive, it ultimately did not alleviate the tension between them. Owens also circulated a leaked video of Erika Kirk addressing TPUSA staff after her husband's murder, in which she referred to his public funeral as “the event of the century,” a comment Owens critiqued as inappropriate.
The source of these leaks, including the Zoom recording and a WhatsApp conversation where Kirk expressed frustration over donor threats, remains unidentified. However, a TPUSA insider confirmed the authenticity of the leaks and suggested they were shared with Owens following the recent terminations.
Amidst these allegations, a close associate of Kirk's expressed concern that Groyper ideology, a fringe movement within the conservative sphere, might be gaining traction within parts of TPUSA. The extent of this influence and its impact on the organization's direction remains unclear.
The internal strife at TPUSA comes at a time when the organization is still reeling from the loss of its charismatic leader. With Erika Kirk’s absence from the highly publicized halftime show unexplained, the organization may be at a critical juncture as it navigates through these turbulent times.
