Turning Point USA invited 72-year-old Target employee Jeanie Beeman onstage at AmericaFest after a video showed her calmly defusing a customer confrontation over a Charlie Kirk shirt. Supporters have reportedly donated more than $260,000 to Beeman since the incident. The four-day conference at the Phoenix Convention Center, expected to host over 30,000 attendees, features major conservative figures and organizers say it aims to honor Charlie Kirk’s legacy while energizing voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.
AmericaFest Honors Target Worker Jeanie Beeman After Viral Confrontation Over Charlie Kirk Shirt
Benny Johnson, left, Jeanie Beeman and Jack Posobiec stand on stage during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Phoenix.
Turning Point USA spotlighted 72-year-old Target employee Jeanie Beeman this weekend after a video of her calmly defusing a confrontation over a Charlie Kirk shirt went viral.
In the clip, a customer can be heard shouting expletives and calling Beeman a "racist". Beeman responds politely and refuses to escalate the exchange:
"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to stand here and argue with you,"
before offering a quiet, "Have a good day." Her composure drew widespread attention and support on social media.
On Stage At AmericaFest
Conservative commentators Benny Johnson and Jack Posobiec invited Beeman onstage at AmericaFest, TPUSA’s marquee conference held at the Phoenix Convention Center. Johnson later posted on X that more than $260,000 had been donated to Beeman following the incident, calling her appearance "a move from being harassed at work to standing on stage at TPUSA’s biggest event of the year."
A group of attendees in a breakout session about expanding Turning Point USA on college and high school campuses during AmericaFest in Phoenix on Dec. 19, 2025.
Event Context And Speakers
The four-day AmericaFest features a lineup of conservative figures and organizers said the event is expected to draw more than 30,000 attendees. Scheduled speakers include Vice President JD Vance as the Sunday keynote, along with appearances by Erika Kirk, Donald Trump Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
Organizers framed the gathering as both a commemoration and a recommitment to the group's mission. In event materials, TPUSA said:
"At AmericaFest 2025, we gather to honor Charlie’s legacy — to continue the mission he began and to celebrate the country he loved."
Reactions And Broader Discussion
Public reaction to Beeman's confrontation and subsequent invitation to AmericaFest has been mixed: many praised her restraint and supporters have rallied around her with donations, while others used the episode to debate workplace expression and civility in public discourse. The incident underscores how a single viral video can become a focal point in broader cultural and political conversations.
Editor’s Note: The original article references a September shooting involving TPUSA leadership. That claim should be independently verified; readers and publishers are encouraged to confirm details with primary sources before republishing.
