In January 2025, influencer CJ Pearson threw an inauguration party that quickly became a cultural flashpoint, spawning countless think pieces, headlines, and hot takes about the rise of Gen Z conservatism. 

This Fourth of July weekend, Pearson returned to the spotlight to set the record straight with another event: MAGA’s summer party to remember for D.C.’s young conservatives, featuring a performance from Grammy-nominated rapper Soulja Boy. 

I attended the bash. Here’s what really happened at MAGA’s “Cruel Kids Summer” bash. 

The event, whose name is a nod to the cover of New York Magazine‘s feature article on Pearson’s inauguration party titled “The Cruel Kids Table,” was a celebration for America’s 249th birthday and the first summer with President Donald Trump in charge in five years. 

“For far too long, conservatives have grown far too comfortable with being members of the ‘silent majority,’” Pearson said. “Those days are over. ‘Cruel Kids Summer’ was about creating a space where young conservatives could show the world we’re not just fighting for America’s future—we’re also having a damn good time doing it and there’s nothing the Left can do about it.”

Over 500 people attended “Cruel Kids Summer” at the lavish........

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