Nicki Minaj's comments about Vice President JD Vance at Turning Point USA's AmFest in Phoenix, Arizona reportedly left jaws on the floor.

This past Sunday, the 43-year-old rap icon, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, stumbled into an embarrassing gaffe while speaking with Erika Kirk, widow of the late Charlie Kirk, accidentally calling Vice President JD Vance an "assassin," amidst a summit already simmering with conservative infighting and slip-ups.

For young conservative parents in the audience, this moment was a cringeworthy blunder that underscored the risk of unscripted events spiraling into public relations nightmares, potentially costing organizations like Turning Point USA donor trust and financial support.

Minaj's Misstep Shocks the Crowd

During her address to young men at AmFest, Minaj intended to inspire with praise for strong role models, but instead fumbled spectacularly by saying, "And you have amazing role models like the assassin JD Vance, our vice president."

She froze, head in hands, as laughter rippled through the crowd, clearly aware of the gravity of her error, especially given Erika Kirk’s personal tragedy after her husband Charlie’s assassination in September.

Let’s be real—calling someone an "assassin" in front of a widow who’s lived that horror isn’t just a slip; it’s a stark reminder of why words matter, particularly when conservative values hinge on respect and decorum.

Erika Kirk's Own Verbal Stumble

Erika Kirk, who stepped into the CEO role at Turning Point USA after her husband’s passing, opened the summit on Thursday with a strong endorsement of JD Vance as a future presidential hopeful for 2028.

Yet, she too had her own awkward moment while presenting the Charlie Kirk Courage Award to Utah Valley University student Caleb Chilcutt, accidentally labeling him a "grifter" before correcting herself with, "Trust me, you're not a grifter, honey. It's all good" (Erika Kirk).

These gaffes, while human, highlight a broader tension at AmFest—when emotions run high, even well-meaning leaders can trip over their own tongues, risking the unity conservatives so desperately need.

Infighting Steals the Spotlight

The summit wasn’t just about verbal missteps; it crackled with discord among prominent MAGA figures like Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson, who traded barbs from the same stage.

Shapiro didn’t hold back, slamming Carlson for hosting far-right commentator Nick Fuentes in October and branding Carlson, along with others like Candace Owens and Steve Bannon, as "frauds" and "grifters" who endanger the conservative movement with conspiracism.

Carlson fired back, defending his right to question narratives and scoffing at Shapiro’s criticism with, "Calls to deplatform at a Charlie Kirk event? That’s hilarious," exposing a rift that’s anything but a laughing matter for the movement’s future.

Contrasting Tones and Lingering Questions

Adding fuel to the fire, Shapiro addressed the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, describing the 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in controversial terms, while condemning Owens for suggesting foreign involvement in Kirk’s death without evidence.

Last year’s AmFest painted a picture of a "golden age" for America, per Shapiro and Carlson, but this year’s event in Phoenix revealed a fractured conservative base, grappling with grief, gaffes, and grudges—all while trying to chart a path forward.