Loyalists of the MAGA movement have begun arriving in Michigan for what is essentially a non-branded Republican National Convention.
This weekend, Donald Trump, some of his potential running mates and other Republicans will speak at an event called The People’s Convention. The rally in Detroit is organized by Turning Point Action, a subsidiary of Turning Point USA, the organization founded by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
TPUSA and TPAction have essentially taken on much of the responsibility for coordinating Trump’s 2024 campaign, and the past few weeks have helped underscore that. For example, TPUSA affiliates organized recent Trump events in Harlem and the Bronx, as well as last week’s MAGA-fueled Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Texas.
Kirk has been at war with the traditional powerhouses of the national Republican Party for years, portraying his organizations as the base and rightful shepherds of the MAGA movement. (For the record, TPUSA was backed by several very wealthy backers.) Some people may have thought that Kirk’s successful effort to oust Ronna McDaniel as RNC chair in favor of more subservient Trump loyalists was the culmination of his efforts at that front. But the People’s Convention may be the crown jewel of his quest to wrest national Republican power and power.
You can see in this promotional tweetfor example, the People’s Convention being branded as an alternative to the Republican National Convention. (And this convention, unlike the actual RNC next month, has the advantage of happening for Trump’s July 11 conviction in his hush money case.)
You’ve heard about the RNC Convention: Turning Point is hosting the People’s Convention in June!
This year’s Action Conference, The People’s Convention, will take place in Detroit, Michigan
Join thousands of patriots who gather to hear from the most prominent… pic.twitter.com/oZCKpysSd3
— Turning Point Action (@TPAction_) February 28, 2024
In addition to Trump, scheduled speakers include vice presidential hopefuls such as Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, along with the likes of Steve Bannon, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and the right. wing activist Candace Owens. And sure – that might not sound like a group of A-listers you, but the list undoubtedly represents the power center of today’s conservative movement. And they’re all lining up to speak at this RNC knockoff.
After watching Kirk’s organization transform Arizona’s GOP division for the worse, Arizona Republic columnist Phil Boas predicted that TPUSA and Kirk’s cold war with the GOP leadership could destroy the national Republican Party.
I agree – and The People’s Convention is just Kirk’s latest shot across the bow.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
