Vance: ‘America First’ Movement Rejects ‘Purity Tests,’ Welcomes Critical Thinkers
Vice President JD Vance ended AmericaFest 2025, Turning Point USA’s first convention since the death of founder Charlie Kirk, by telling a fired-up crowd that the “America First” movement is open to people who love their country and are free thinkers.
Vance showed up not long after Erika Kirk, who took over TPUSA after her husband died in September, spoke with Nicki Minaj, who was a surprise guest. The vice president told the crowd that the political coalition President Trump built is strong enough to get past any disagreements that may arise.
“People of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America First movement will make our lives better,” he went on. “They know Democrats don’t care about anything other than trans-ing their kids.”
Vowing to stand with “every patriot in this room to defend the country we so dearly love,” Vance dismissed conservative infighting that had gone on earlier in the conference, while not naming any of the podcasters or subjects involved.
“President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests,” Vance said, as some of the earlier speakers name-dropped each other amid divisions over Israel, Ukraine aid, and other controversial issues on the right.
“We don’t care if you’re White or Black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between… [P]eople of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America First movement will make their lives better. And they also know that the Democrats don’t care about anything other than maybe trans-ing their kids.”
“So if you love America, if you want all of us to be richer, stronger, safer, and prouder, you have a home on this team. I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to deplatform, and I don’t really care if some people out there — I’m sure we’ll have the fake news media — denounce me after this speech,” Vance declared.
Later in his speech, Vance said that such infighting is not necessarily a sign of a weak or fractious movement.
“Some of you are impatient at the pace of progress and my response to that is ‘Good.’ I know some of you are discouraged by the infighting over any number of issues. Don’t be discouraged. Wouldn’t you rather lead a movement of freethinkers who sometimes disagree than a bunch of drones who take their orders from George Soros?” Vance said, appearing to refer to criticisms of the Republican Congress’s progress on the America First agenda.
The vice president said Charlie Kirk once told him that politics is not a “dress rehearsal or a game” but a series of decisions that will shape the future of a country.
“My friends, commit to these things, and I promise you victory: I promise you closed borders and safe communities. I promise you good jobs and a dignified life. Only God can promise you salvation and heaven. But together we can fulfill the promise of the greatest nation in the history of the earth,” Vance said, as he closed his speech.
“We have far more important work to do than canceling each other — we have got to build, and President Donald Trump is a builder,” he said. “We’re building a better country right now. We build by adding, by growing, not by tearing down.”
Vance declared that 2025 represented the first year in more than half a century with negative net-migration and that millions of illegal immigrants have either left the U.S. or been deported.
“When you restore sanity at the border, it shows up everywhere else,” he said, pointing to rent costs, gas prices, inflation, and unemployment declining.
“We made it clear that in the United States we believe in hard work and merit –we don’t treat anybody [a certain way] because of their race or their sex, so we have relegated DEI to the dustbin of history which is exactly where it belongs,” the VP said.
The passing of Barbara Rush on March 31, 2024, at the age of 97 marked the closing of a remarkable chapter in American cinema.
A Golden Globe winner and one of the last true stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Rush embodied an era when movie premieres were cultural events and actors carried a compelling, unforgettable presence.
Her death, confirmed by her daughter, journalist Claudia Cowan, not only stirred memories of classic films and television but also inspired a renewed appreciation for the actors who helped define mid‑20th‑century Hollywood.
For more than seven decades, Rush’s career unfolded with a rare blend of elegance, versatility, and resilience.
Rising to prominence in the 1950s, she achieved early acclaim and went on to collaborate with some of the most iconic leading men of her time.
Her life and legacy extend beyond her screen credits, touching on the shifting landscapes of film, television, theater, and family — a testament to both her artistic range and her enduring humanity.
Early Life and the Making of a Star
Barbara Sydney Rush was born on January 4, 1927, in Denver, Colorado, to Roy and Marguerite Rush. Her father was a lawyer for a Midwest mining company, and her family moved frequently during her early years.
Eventually, they settled in Santa Barbara, California, where Rush developed a passion for acting in her youth.
After high school, Rush attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, graduating in 1948. She performed in university theater and won an acting award for her performance as Birdie in The Little Foxes.
Her talent earned her a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, a well‑respected training ground for aspiring actors.
It was there that Rush was spotted by a talent scout, prompting her move to Hollywood just as the film industry was transitioning from the studio system that had dominated for decades.
Breakthrough and Golden Globe Success
Rush’s big‑screen debut came in 1950 with The Goldbergs, a film adaptation of the popular radio and television series, but it was her work in science fiction that first caught broader attention.
In 1953’s It Came From Outer Space, directed by Jack Arnold and inspired by a story from celebrated author Ray Bradbury, Rush played Ellen Fields, a schoolteacher who, along with her boyfriend, investigates a mysterious crash that turns out to be an alien spacecraft.
Her performance was both grounded and engaging, and she earned the 1954 Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female.
This accolade affirmed her potential and opened doors to an array of roles that showcased her versatility.
Hollywood Career Through the Decades
Following her Golden Globe win, Rush began a prolific career that would span film, television, and stage:
Film Highlights
When Worlds Collide (1951): An early sci‑fi hit where Rush appeared as part of a story about humanity’s struggle for survival.
Magnificent Obsession (1954): A Douglas Sirk melodrama where Rush appeared alongside Rock Hudson, demonstrating her dramatic depth.
The Young Lions (1958): In this World War II drama, Rush starred opposite Marlon Brando and Dean Martin, proving her ability to stand confidently beside Hollywood heavyweights.
The Young Philadelphians (1959): A legal drama with Paul Newman, adding another prestigious credit to her filmography.
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964): A Rat Pack musical comedy featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bing Crosby, in which Rush played a memorable supporting role.
Hombre (1967): A Western with Paul Newman, further underscoring her adaptability.
Beyond these major films, she took on a variety of other cinematic roles through the 1950s and 1960s, often portraying complex characters who could be glamorous, mysterious, vulnerable, or ambitious, depending on what the story demanded.
Television and Later Career
As Hollywood evolved and film roles became less frequent with age, Rush seamlessly transitioned into television — a move that demonstrated her adaptability and broad appeal. Throughout the 1960s and beyond, she appeared in a range of popular series and soaps, including:
Peyton Place (1968–1969): Rush played Marsha Russell, a complex character navigating family turmoil and societal expectations.
All My Children: She had a recurring role in this long‑running soap opera, appearing in 38 episodes in the early 1990s.
7th Heaven: Into the late 1990s and early 2000s, Rush appeared as Ruth Camden, the grandmother figure in this family drama, illustrating her enduring relevance across generations.
Guest spots on other beloved series, including The Love Boat, Magnum, P.I., Ironside, and Murder, She Wrote, kept her visible to audiences and showcased her range from drama to light‑hearted guest appearances.
In addition to her screen work, Rush maintained a connection to the stage. She appeared in productions such as Forty Carats and A Woman of Independent Means, the latter earning her critical praise and awards in regional theater circles.
Her longevity in entertainment — from the 1950s into the early 2000s and even guest roles into the 2010s — is a testament to her talent, professionalism, and adaptability in an industry known for constant change.
Life Offscreen: Family and Personal Journeys
Barbara Rush was married three times. Her first marriage, to actor Jeffrey Hunter, lasted from 1950 to 1955, and produced her son, Christopher. She later married Hollywood publicity executive Warren Cowan in 1959, with whom she had her daughter, Claudia Cowan, now a senior correspondent for Fox News.
That marriage ended in divorce in 1969. Her final marriage, to sculptor Jim Gruzalski, lasted from 1970 to 1973.
Claudia Cowan has shared that her mother was “among the last of Old Hollywood royalty,” a figure whose career and poise felt connected to a bygone era of glamour and refined craft.
Rush’s personal warmth and generosity, her daughter said, were as much a part of her legacy as her films and television roles.
Despite the shifting tides of fame and Hollywood trends, Rush remained grounded. She lived much of her later life in Westlake Village, California, and in her final years she struggled with dementia, passing away peacefully in a care home on March 31, 2024.
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Her daughter noted that it was fitting her mother chose to leave on Easter Sunday, a holiday Rush loved deeply — adding an extra layer of meaning for the family during their time of loss.
