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Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk gestures a “gig ‘em” during The American Comeback Tour at Rudder Auditorium on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

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Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION

THE AMERICAN COMEBACK

By J.M. Wise News Editor In lines that began forming an hour before the doors to Rudder Auditorium opened, a sold-out crowd of 2,500 fans, detractors and students awaited one of the most highly-anticipated events on Texas A&M’s campus of the semester: The American Comeback Tour, hosted by Turning Point USA founder and president, conservative activist Charlie Kirk. A&M was the fifth stop of Kirk’s tour, with four more campuses announced, and its website is promising more to follow. Kirk announced the tour on Feb. 11 with the goal of pushing “back

against leftwing indoctrination in cates for conservative policies on do in their life, which is the deciacademia.” high school and college campuses. sion of whether or not you [accept] The first speaker was Jobob Tae- Kirk was last in Aggieland on Oct. Jesus Christ.” leifi, a Turning Point USA contrib- 22, 2019. Kirk acknowledged the tumultuutor, who played ous beginning to clips of Texas conPresident Donald gresswoman Jasmine Trump’s second Crockett (D-30) term, which has and alleged she was seen a presidential hired due to her race approval rating and not through that has fallen to merit. 45%. “I would like to The current point out my fapresidential apvorite DEI hire,” proval rating is Taeleifi said. “And higher than the that woman is constart of Trump’s gresswoman Jasmine first term, which Crockett. … If my began at 41%. Founder and President of Turning Point USA goal is to defend “If you do not conservative values, have a religious any time she gets a basis, specifically microphone, my job a Christian one, gets so much easier.” “I think this is the biggest cam- for your society, something else is Kirk, who emerged onstage pus event we’ve ever done in Turn- going to replace that,” Kirk said. wearing a A&M-branded shirt, is ing Point’s history,” Kirk said to the “When you become less religious the founder of Turning Point USA, crowd. “I want to talk about the — which this generation is, Gen Z a nonprofit organization that advo- most important thing someone can is becoming less religious than their

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“ ... you have a gaping-sized hole in your heart, and something must fill it. And out of the lack of Christianity is where we get woke-ism.” Charlie Kirk

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Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s speaking tour makes stop at A&M campus

parents’ generation — then you have a gaping-sized hole in your heart, and something must fill it. And out of the lack of Christianity is where we get woke-ism.” While Kirk celebrated Republican wins of the youth vote in Michigan and Texas during his speech, he also acknowledged that his own work is divisive within the conservative movement. “When you no longer have a bedrock upon agreed moral structure of your society, then people are going to be in moral confusion,” Kirk said. “That is when you start to see widespread transgenderism for our youth, for men in female sports.” Turning Point USA has faced several controversies, beginning with allegations of racism within the organization in 2017, growing to include influencing student elections via funding, misleading donors and abandoning conservative values for Trump’s ideals. COMEBACK ON A4

UNF CK AMERICA

at 6:30 p.m. and included more Trump supporters to debate them, In response to The than 20 social media influencers. including those who were unable The overall tour is a “nationwide gain entrance to Kirk’s event at American Comeback journey to organize, listen, create, toRudder Auditorium. The duo was build power from the ground later joined by Sedgwick to discuss Tour, The Unfuck Amer- and up,” according to its website. points of contention, including imThey launched the event at Ag- migration policies, abortion rights ica Tour arrives in the gie Park at 12 p.m. before gathering and Trump’s sexual abuse allegaheart of Aggieland at Rudder Plaza to debate attend- tions.

By Hilani Quinones Senior News Reporter

Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION

Influencer Dean Withers speaks to an audience in the line to get into Charlie Kirk’s The American Comeback Tour on Military Walk on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

In response to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s The American Comeback Tour arriving at Texas A&M on Tuesday, two Democratic social media personalities spoke on campus at Rudder Plaza at the same time as part of The Unfuck America Tour. Primarily led by Dean Withers and Parker Sedgwick, two creators with several million online followers between them, the event began

ees. Withers, Sedwick and media personality Patrick Jones, who goes by Mr. Jones X online, opened with remarks encouraging the attendees to remain politically involved. “For the future generation, it is time to pick up the mantle and fight the fight,” Jones said. Withers said fundamental rights, such as healthcare and civil rights, are being threatened under President Donald Trump. “If Trump had lost, none of those things would have happened,” Withers said. Withers and Jones then invited

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Psychology junior Maddy Brook said she was motivated to attend the event because she had been following Dean and Parker for a long time. “I wanted to see them debate Republicans, and I try to take away from this event as much as possible because some of the things they debate about are things I’m not educated on,” Brook said. “I take their debates, do my own research and fact-check it. It teaches me to learn more and do research.” UNF CK ON A4