The art of debate, discovering the complete and genuine truth, is a practice cherished by both political ideologies alike; however, nothing satiates a Republican quite like it.
To intellectually outmaneuver an 18-year-old college student, with their accompanying blue hair, pronouns and degree in Gender Studies, evokes the rhetorical legends of yore like nothing else. But within the right-wing sphere of influence, one icon of debate stands out above the rest — Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, CEO and founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “win America’s culture war,” rose to prominence through viral clips of him debating college students. Riding the wave of the “Make America Great Again” movement, Kirk became the face of conservative youth — and an integral player in right-wing college activism.
However, stopping at universities across the country on “The American Comeback Tour,” Kirk perhaps faces his most difficult challenge yet: normalizing Trump’s actions.
Even we Illini were blessed by Kirk’s presence at our very own Foellinger Auditorium.
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On April 8, as lines of red-capped youth stretched across the length of the quad, protesters gathered to show Kirk that the hateful rhetoric he espouses wouldn’t be allowed on the University’s campus. An admirable goal, of which I wanted to join; however, I felt my resistance would be better utilized in this medium.
Planning to attend his event, I aimed to dismantle whatever lies he chose to spread that day in my next column, but I never made it inside. I had been blacklisted — as if standing in line for hours with Kirk fans wasn’t deterrent enough.
The Daily Illini obtained a list of students who were to be prevented from attending, which included myself. After pondering why I may be on the list, I realized this platform made me a threat to TPUSA.
Kirk is afraid of individuals who jeopardize the narratives he’s taken so long to construct because, subconsciously or not, he knows what he is saying is wrong. Despite his ability to debate, there is only so much one can do to defend an intentional crashing of the stock market and a fascist-like rounding up of immigrants.
People are beginning to realize, for the second time, that President Donald Trump is a psychopath with no plan. The recent Florida special elections can be seen as a litmus test for this. In a district that swung 30 points to Trump, Republicans won by roughly 14 points — an extreme drop in less than five months.
As such, Kirk needs to keep the people who threaten his pro-Trump narrative and persona as a debate legend at a safe distance. Regardless, this indefensibility won’t sway his audience so long as Kirk can maintain the appearance of winning.
Through debate, Kirk has cultivated a right-wing pipeline for youth, especially young men, leveraging his ability to win debates to legitimize his opinions and brainwash his fan base.
This is Kirk’s appeal; he does the arguing for you, removing the onus on the individual to intellectually defend their point. Rather, they rely on the knowledge that they are right because Kirk, someone they agree with, out-debated a college student.
Due to this, he can never publicly appear to lose a debate, lest his fanbase see past his facade — explaining why I was blacklisted.
Understanding this dynamic and that Kirk, and others like him, won’t allow for the opportunity to be proven wrong, we must show these people that what they believe is wrong through social ostracism. We cannot let Republicans think their fascist ideas are normal or acceptable.
If you see a MAGA hat on the street, call the person a fascist. Flip off Teslas when you can. And ghost your Republican friends and family.
The more uncomfortable we make these people, the better chance we have to break through the manipulation of organizations like TPUSA. And maybe we could even help Republicans understand what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a tactic they have historically used.
Kirk and the Republicans he represents have utilized this method against the left, delegitimizing the opinions of many by calling them “snowflakes.” This epithet has been used to insinuate that these people’s voices don’t matter, that they are too sensitive, easily offended and overreacting.
Through this, the country’s right wing has made believing in progressive policies feel unreasonable, despite the majority’s desire for them. This societal ostracism has repressed the voices of many and convinced them that they’re wrong in their opinions.
However, when faced with a similar tactic by people who disagree with him, Kirk, the king of debate, would rather shut us out. He creates his own little “safe space,” where only his fragile opinions are allowed.
Grayson is a sophomore in LAS.
