JD Vance turns Turning Point speech into midterm battle cry — and a preview of 2028

By Fox News · Fox News

Vice President JD Vance is amplifying his message for next year's midterm elections, when Republicans will be defending their congressional majorities. Vance, speaking at a major conservative summit this weekend, pointed to the Democrats and predicted that Republicans "are gonna kick their ass next November." The comment from the vice president on Sunday sparked immediate chants of "USA" from the crowd at the annual AmericaFest conference by Turning Point USA , the influential and politically powerful conservative group. 2028 POWER MOVE: TURNING POINT'S ERIKA KIRK THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND JD VANCE AS MAGA HEIR APPARENT The annual gathering was Turning Point's first since co-founder and conservative champion Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September. Vance and Charlie Kirk were close friends, and the vice president, who credits Kirk with his political rise, appeared to blame "far left" Democrats and their agenda for his death. VANCE SAYS AMERICA FIRST MOVEMENT REJECTS ‘PURITY TESTS’ "If you miss Charlie Kirk, do you promise to fight what he died for? Do you promise to take the country back from the people who took his life?" Vance asked the crowd. While President Donald Trump remains the top draw, Vance is expected to play a large role on the campaign trail next year on behalf of fellow Republicans and his address at Turning Point, as well as his speech in battleground Pennsylvania a week ago on the issue of affordability, are likely to be an appetizer for things to come in 2026. "The VP will be playing a big role on the trail next year," a source close to the vice president told Fox News Digital. But pointing to the president's and vice president's anything but stellar poll numbers, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) argued, "Here’s the reality J.D. Vance and Trump are unwilling to face: Americans give them record-low approval ratings for failed leadership that has led to massive layoffs, skyrocketing prices, and economic uncertainty." CHARLIE KIRK ALLY WARNS GO…