Donald Trump made an awkward joke about firing his son during a speakerphone call at a conservative conference over the weekend, prompting an uneasy reaction from the crowd gathered in Phoenix, Arizona.
The incident occurred at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference when Donald Trump Jr. decided to call his father and put him on speakerphone for attendees. After greeting the audience, the president turned his attention to his son’s performance.
“I hope my son’s doing a good job representing me — otherwise, I’ll have to say ‘You’re fired, Don. You’re fired.'” Trump told the crowd.
The president continued his ribbing of his eldest son before ending the call. “I hope Don makes a great speech. If he doesn’t make a great speech, let me know about it, I’ll give him hell,” he added. The audience reacted with unease and scattered applause to the remarks.
During the phone call, Trump also praised the organization’s leadership, saying nobody was better than Erika Kirk and that nobody did more for him than Charlie.
The AmericaFest conference drew more than 30,000 attendees and featured speeches from prominent conservative figures including Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens. The event was the first to be held since Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September.
Don Jr. used his appearance at the conference on Sunday to make bold declarations about the future direction of the Republican Party. He criticized both Democrats and members of his own party who oppose his father’s agenda.
“This isn’t the Republican Party anymore,” Don Jr. declared to the crowd, calling it the America First Party or Make America Great Again Party instead.
The president’s son took particular aim at Republicans In Name Only, commonly known as RINOs, suggesting they were working alongside Democrats to undermine his father’s movement. He framed the upcoming political battles as a fight not just against the Democratic Party but against moderate Republicans as well.
The conference was marked by several awkward moments beyond the president’s phone call. Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at the event, where she committed a significant verbal gaffe during a conversation with Erika Kirk.
While praising political leaders, Minaj mistakenly called JD Vance “assassin.” The rapper immediately realized her error and covered her mouth with her hand. Erika Kirk responded graciously to the blunder, assuring Minaj that she had heard worse.
Minaj’s appearance at the conservative gathering reflected her recent expressions of support for Trump’s policies. During her remarks, she mentioned California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The event also highlighted ongoing tensions within the conservative movement. Ben Shapiro criticized Candace Owens, who has promoted conspiracy theories surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death.
The conspiracy theories peddled by Owens around Kirk’s assassination have become a point of contention among conservative commentators and activists. Shapiro’s public criticism represented one of the more visible fractures in what has otherwise been presented as a unified movement.
The conference comes as Trump and his allies prepare for upcoming political battles. Don Jr.’s insistence that the Republican Party has been fundamentally transformed into something new reflects the degree to which Trump’s brand of politics has reshaped conservative orthodoxy.
For Don Jr., the moment represented both an endorsement and a warning from his father. Before thousands of supporters, he received public encouragement while simultaneously being reminded that his performance was being judged, even by family members.
The AmericaFest gathering in Phoenix served as a showcase for the conservative movement’s current priorities and internal dynamics. With speakers ranging from established media personalities to surprise celebrity guests, the event aimed to energize activists heading into the next election cycle.
As the conference concluded, the various controversies and awkward moments that marked the weekend highlighted both the enthusiasm and the tensions within the conservative coalition. From Trump’s jokes about his son to disputes among prominent commentators, the event reflected a movement still defining its identity and future direction.
