Source: Politics<\/p>\n
PHOENIX \u2014 Donald Trump has the respect of the newest generation of conservatives. But at the nation\u2019s largest annual gathering of MAGA Millennials and Gen Z-ers, talk of the former president has centered on his legacy, rather than anticipation about his political future.<\/p>\n
The young voters who were drawn to a Republican Party led by Trump are already open to another leader becoming the face of the GOP. That, of course, is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump\u2019s top potential rival in a 2024 primary.<\/p>\n
Neither Trump nor DeSantis are scheduled to speak at Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest conference, a four-day event that marks the first major public gathering of conservative activists since Trump announced a third presidential run in mid-November.<\/p>\n
Turning Point\u2019s 11,000 attendees packed a convention hall and breakout rooms to hear from right-wing commentators and a handful of elected officials, most of whom railed against \u201cwoke\u201d liberalism and RINO Republicans.<\/p>\n
At times from the stage here, Trump and his policies were praised. So were DeSantis\u2019. But aside from unsuccessful Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, speakers largely shied away from the nascent 2024 campaign, with most declining to pledge loyalty to Trump in his comeback presidential bid.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love both of them so much. So I don’t really want to deal with the fact that they might have to run against each other,\u201d said Kevin Flaherty, a 19-year-old conference attendee from Detroit. But Flaherty said he would support DeSantis over Trump, believing the Florida governor would have greater appeal to independent voters.<\/p>\n
The balancing act was on full display during the event\u2019s opening session Saturday, when the night\u2019s headline speaker, Fox News host Tucker Carlson, was asked by a young audience member which of the two men he would support in a presidential primary.<\/p>\n
Carlson laughed nervously. He suggested his endorsement wouldn\u2019t matter much anyway. He touted DeSantis\u2019 undeniable appeal among voters in Florida and beyond.<\/p>\n
Then, Carlson proceeded to talk about Trump in the past tense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m so grateful that Donald Trump ran in 2016. Donald Trump completely changed my view of everything,\u201d Carlson said. \u201cHe showed up and said things like, \u2018Why don\u2019t we have a border?\u2019 Or my personal favorite is like, \u2018What’s the point of NATO?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it just exposed the whole thing, and I’m so grateful to have seen that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlson told attendees he is \u201cnot endorsing anybody\u201d in the next presidential primary. And he\u2019s not making any guesses, either, as to which man will emerge victorious.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point, it does seem like two forces moving toward one another at high speed,\u201d Carlson said of the possible Trump-DeSantis matchup he\u2019s watching unfold. \u201cSo we are two years minus one month out from the presidential election, and I am completely comfortable putting my total ignorance on full and florid display, and telling you I have no freaking idea. But I can’t wait to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Obvious Trump acolytes \u2014 his own son, Donald Trump Jr., and future daughter-in-law Kimberly Guilfoyle \u2014 talked him up. But they focused on touting Trump\u2019s record during his term in the White House, without making specific mention of his latest campaign. Trump Jr. teased that his father was the best person qualified to \u201cstand up not just to the Democrats, but the donor class as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guilfoyle at one point read off a list of Trump\u2019s accomplishments in office, before eventually ending her speech with the former president\u2019s signature campaign slogan \u2014 that the crowd could \u201cmake America great again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lake, a charismatic former television news reporter, became an instant sensation on the right by championing Trump\u2019s disproven stolen-election theories \u2014 as she did Sunday concerning her own race, which she lost last month. She received applause when she declared she wanted to see Trump back in office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat man cares more about this country than anybody I know,\u201d Lake said.<\/p>\n
But other one-time Trump loyalists held back.<\/p>\n