Thousands Young Conservatives Gather Tampa Turning Point USA Summit

Thousands of young conservatives gathered in Tampa for Turning Point USA's 2025 Student Action Summit, an event aimed at promoting conservative values among high school and college students. Key speakers included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who highlighted defense budget savings and pledged support for ICE agents, and Congressman Byron Donalds, endorsed by President Donald Trump for governor, who encouraged political activism and criticized New York City's mayoral candidate. Donald Trump Jr. and conservative media figure Tucker Carlson also addressed the crowd, with Trump Jr. praising his father's policies, including the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and immigration stance. Attendees valued the opportunity to network and openly discuss their political beliefs, emphasizing support for constitutional values, freedom of speech, and pro-life and pro-gun positions. Meanwhile, protesters, including members of the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, rallied against the summit, denouncing ICE presence on campuses and criticizing budget cuts to educational institutions under President Trump. Opponents argue that some speakers' views may alienate independent voters, while supporters see the summit as a crucial platform for conservative youth engagement.