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Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, the largest and fastest growing conservative youth activist organization in the country with over 250,000 student members, over 150 full-time staff, and a presence on over 2,000 high school and college campuses nationwide. Charlie is also the Chairman of Students for Trump, which aims to activate one million new college voters on campuses in battleground states in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election. His social media reaches over 100 million people per month and according to Axios, he is one of the "top 10 most engaged" Twitter handles in the world. He is also the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which regularly ranks among the top news shows on Apple podcast charts.
Charlie Kirk Interviews Former Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Cancelled Elections and Deep State Control
Charlie Kirk speaks with Victor Ponta, former Prime Minister of Romania and current presidential candidate, about the shocking cancellation of Romania's presidential election in November. Ponta reveals how a Constitutional Court nullified the election results based on unproven allegations of Russian interference, despite independent observers finding no evidence. The conversation explores the growing influence of George Soros networks in Eastern Europe, the erosion of democratic norms under bureaucratic control from Brussels, and Romania's desire to strengthen its partnership with the Trump Administration. Ponta draws parallels between the Deep State in America and the political establishment in Romania that refuses to accept the will of the people, while outlining his vision for restoring freedom, sovereignty, and traditional values to his country.
Charlie Kirk opens the discussion by highlighting the international significance of recent events in Romania, where elections have been cancelled and individuals detained for expressing different opinions. He introduces Victor Ponta, former Prime Minister of Romania, current member of the Chamber of Deputies, and presidential candidate, to explain the crisis unfolding in this NATO member nation.
Ponta describes how Romania was making significant economic advances and building a strategic partnership with the United States during his time as Prime Minister ten years ago. However, he explains that in recent years, a network similar to America's Deep State has taken control, strongly supported by officials in Brussels and members of the previous U.S. Administration.
How a Presidential Election Was Cancelled
Ponta details the shocking sequence of events from November when the first round of the presidential election was held. Two candidates qualified for the second round: Mr. Georgescu and a candidate from a progressive party. According to all polls and public sentiment, Mr. Georgescu was positioned to win the election.
Then something unprecedented occurred. The Supreme Council of Defending the Country, chaired by the outgoing president, recommended that the Constitutional Court cancel the elections. The justification was an allegation of Russian and foreign interference supporting one of the candidates. For the first time in 35 years of democratic experience in Romania, an election was cancelled.
The allegations centered on claims that the TikTok campaign of one candidate had been massively supported from outside the country by a state entity. However, Ponta emphasizes that no proof or evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims, drawing a parallel to the allegations against President Trump of being a Russian agent in 2017.
The Constitutional Court's Unprecedented Action
Ponta explains that while the Constitutional Court in Romania has the general right to defend the Constitution, similar to the Supreme Court in the United States, it has never interfered in this manner before. The court is supposed to certify the results of presidential elections, not cancel them based on unproven allegations.
The decision by nine people on the Constitutional Court to nullify the will of millions of Romanian voters has left the population frustrated and worried about the real state of democratic rules in their country. Ponta notes that people feel their votes don't matter unless they align with what the political establishment desires.
Europe's Silent Endorsement of Democratic Erosion
Kirk asks about the response from fellow European countries that constantly lecture others about democracy and the dangers of autocracy. Ponta's answer reveals a disturbing pattern: Germany, France, Italy, and other European nations immediately supported the Romanian authorities' decision without seeking additional evidence or data beyond the official statement.
Even more concerning, former U.S. Secretary of State Blinken released a statement within 48 hours supporting the Romanian government's cancellation of the election. It wasn't until the Trump Administration took office that real questions began to be asked about the evidence, the decision-making process, and how Romania would demonstrate respect for the will of its people.
From Soviet Control to Brussels Bureaucracy
Kirk raises an important question about whether Romania, having lived under Soviet-imposed totalitarianism for decades, is now becoming more like a Soviet top-down dictatorship than a Western liberal democracy. Ponta's response is revealing and deeply concerning.
He acknowledges that even during Soviet times, Romania succeeded in preserving its national values: love of country, religion, family, and traditional values. However, in recent years, there has been pressure coming from Brussels—not Moscow—attempting to change Romanian values, mentality, and traditions.
Ponta emphasizes that Romanians want to be part of Europe but they want to remain Romanian and put Romania first. This is why the majority of Romanians strongly supported President Trump's "America First" message, which resonated deeply with Eastern European countries that have experienced the dictatorship of what Ponta calls "unnatural and unspecific values" imposed by Brussels.
The Election Results That Shocked the Establishment
For the first time in Romanian democracy, the two candidates from the government and main establishment parties did not even qualify for the second round. This unprecedented result sent a powerful message about what Romanian people truly want: significant change, but not a trade of Moscow-style control for Brussels-style control.
Ponta makes clear that Romanians don't love Russia and are afraid of Russia, but they see the United States as their ally that will guarantee not only military safety but also their values, democracy, freedom of speech, and everything that they and their parents fought for.
A Vision for Romania Under New Leadership
When asked how he would position Romania with the incoming Trump Administration if elected president, Ponta outlines a clear vision based on shared values. He believes that most values the Trump Administration is working to reinstate in the United States are not only acceptable but feel very familiar to Romanians.
His approach includes:
Putting Romania first, just as President Trump puts America first
Fighting for national sovereignty and national interest
Respecting all people while maintaining Romanian tradition, religion, and values
Being a member of the European club without surrendering national identity
Contributing more to security rather than expecting America to carry the entire burden
Sharing costs and investing more in defense as long as Romania has a strong and reliable partner in the United States
Ponta strongly believes that Europe will be weaker without the United States, that NATO doesn't exist or work without the United States, and that it's in Romania's and Europe's interest to strengthen relationships militarily, politically, and economically with America rather than seeking conflict.
Economic Success and Future Plans
During his premiership from 2012 to 2015, Ponta achieved significant economic growth based on very low taxation and less regulation. He strengthened the partnership with the United States and started major projects with American companies regarding Romania's natural resources, including exploration for natural gas in the Black Sea.
These economic projects improved the quality of life for Romanians in tangible ways they could feel in their pockets and in the quality of education and healthcare. Looking forward, Ponta says he would take inspiration from President Milei of Argentina, using what he jokes would be a gold chainsaw rather than silver (since Romania is rich in gold) to cut through bureaucracy.
He identifies the biggest problem for Romania's development as the bureaucracy from Brussels and the European establishment, which he considers even worse than Romanian bureaucracy.
The George Soros Network in Romania
Kirk shifts the conversation to George Soros and his Open Society Foundation, which has pumped billions of dollars into American communities, district attorney races, and various institutions in an effort to reshape the country. He asks Ponta to explain what Soros has specifically done in Romania.
Ponta reveals that networks financed and supported not only by Soros but sometimes even by USAID funds have worked against the interests of the Romanian people to control the nation. He expresses appreciation that America has started unveiling how these funds were used.
The worst manifestation of Soros influence in Romania, according to Ponta, is the attempt to control the judiciary. Prosecutors and judges have persecuted people for promoting different political ideas and for having different opinions on social networks or in the media. The Soros network has built a system of analysts, reporters, journalists, and influencers who dictate what is true, what values people must obey, threatening prosecution for non-compliance.
Ponta also notes that the biggest protesters against energy and natural resource projects started with major American companies were openly financed and supported by Soros networks. This opposition prevented Romania from using its resources for the benefit of its own people.
The Stakes of the Upcoming Election
Ponta takes the opportunity to address the American audience directly, emphasizing that the majority of Romanians look to the United States as the model for democracy and freedom. His parents and grandparents waited for Americans to free them and help them live in peace, freedom, and democracy, and that sentiment remains strong today.
He stresses that Romanians working with or in America and with U.S. companies try to prove they are good and reliable partners who share the same values: going to church, valuing family, and loving their country. Romania may not be a large country, but it is significant in the region, and Americans can rely on Romanians as long as they find trustworthy leadership.
Ponta believes the partnership between the United States and Romania should be win-win, not Romanians asking for handouts from Americans, but rather living together sharing the same values, doing business together, defending together, and paying a fair share. His vision is to make America great again and make Romania free and independent again.
Vice President Vance's Message to Europe
Kirk plays a clip from Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference, where Vance stated: "We're at the point of course that the situation has gotten so bad that this December Romania straight up canceled the results of a presidential election based on the flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous pressure from its neighbors. Now as I understand it the argument was that Russian disinformation had infected the Romanian elections but I'd ask my European friends to have some perspective. You can believe it's wrong for Russia to buy social media advertisements to influence your elections, we certainly do, you can condemn it on the world stage even, but if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country then it wasn't very strong to begin with."
Ponta's reaction reveals how significant this message was for Romanians. For most Romanians, hearing Vance's words felt like help arriving when needed most. While Romanian politicians reacted with rage, claiming the statements weren't true, the majority of Romanians understood the core message: if Romania is a strong democracy, it shouldn't use undemocratic tools to cancel elections. Either prove Russia was involved or respect the vote of the people.
An Invitation to a Free Romania
Kirk concludes by expressing interest in visiting Romania but noting with irony that under current leadership, he might be arrested given the direction the country is heading. Ponta assures him that once Romania returns to freedom and democracy, which he believes will happen soon, Kirk will be most welcome. He emphasizes that Romanians are wonderful people living in a wonderful country, and they will fight for their rights to create a new free and democratic Romania.
