Charlie Kirk on Trump-Backed Candidates, the 2018 Midterms, and Fighting Leftist Suppression at Stanford
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Charlie Kirk on Trump-Backed Candidates, the 2018 Midterms, and Fighting Leftist Suppression at Stanford
Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA discusses the success of Trump-backed candidates in primary races and challenges the conventional wisdom about the 2018 midterm elections. Kirk explains why he believes the predicted blue wave may not materialize, citing shrinking generic ballot margins and President Trump's accomplishments. He also reveals the extensive obstacles conservative speakers face at Stanford University, detailing the litigation, fees, and administrative hurdles placed on his upcoming event with Candace Owens. Kirk argues that while leftist activists receive red carpet treatment on college campuses, conservative voices must fight for access to what should be marketplaces of ideas. Despite these challenges, Kirk maintains that a revolution is brewing among college students, with conservative and libertarian viewpoints becoming the new counter-culture on campus.
Trump-Backed Candidates Performing Well in Primaries
When asked about Trump-backed candidates winning Senate primaries in Pennsylvania and Nebraska, Charlie Kirk offered a strong assessment of the broader primary landscape. Kirk emphasized that the idea of the Republican Party needing to distance itself from President Trump is completely incorrect. According to Kirk, candidates who align themselves with the president, his successes, and his agenda have performed very well in these primaries.
Challenging the Blue Wave Narrative
Kirk took issue with the conventional wisdom heading into the 2018 midterm elections. While the common thought suggested a blue wave with Republicans performing poorly, Kirk expressed significant disagreement with this prediction. He pointed to the generic ballot, which he noted was shrinking dramatically and was within the margin of error at three to five points.
Drawing a parallel to 2016, Kirk reminded viewers that Republicans were supposed to be about two and a half to three points down on the generic ballot but actually performed better than expected. Based on these metrics, Kirk predicted that November 2018 would surprise many people. When pressed on whether he was questioning the conventional wisdom that Democrats would take the House, Kirk confirmed he was questioning it greatly.
Trump's Accomplishments Overlooked by Media
Kirk argued that President Trump has achieved significant successes that, if he were a Democrat, would lead the media to herald him as one of the most successful and accomplished presidents in U.S. history. Kirk cited denuclearization efforts, deregulation, and tax cuts as examples of the president's achievements.
The Stanford University Speaking Engagement
Kirk discussed his upcoming speaking engagement at Stanford University with Candace Owens, marking what he called "the big three" conservative speaking events in California. Within a span of six weeks, Kirk and Owens spoke at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and were preparing for Stanford. Kirk noted that UC Berkeley involved some back and forth, while UCLA was particularly chaotic and became the site of Candace Owens' famous viral moment.
Administrative Obstacles at Stanford
Kirk revealed the extensive hurdles and obstacles that the Stanford administration placed in their path. The list of challenges included excessive fees, multiple changes of location, weeks of litigation, and thousands of dollars in additional costs. Kirk had to secure donors and board members to finally gain approval for the event.
Kirk expressed his belief that the administration was afraid of conservatives coming on campus and afraid of conservative speakers in general. He challenged this approach by arguing that if conservative ideas were truly bad, the administration should let them come on campus and no one would show up.
Double Standards on Campus
When asked whether the administration feared conservative ideas or the violence that might accompany them, Kirk suggested the administration was pandering to activists and giving radicals a platform by using potential demonstrations as an excuse to restrict conservative viewpoints on campus.
Kirk highlighted a stark contrast in treatment between conservative and leftist speakers. He pointed out that Linda Sarsour, described as a far left-wing activist, had the red carpet rolled out for her at Stanford and was speaking within days. Meanwhile, conservative speakers faced weeks of litigation, thousands of dollars in fees, stalling tactics, and significant administrative resistance. Kirk stated that if the administration really had their way, they would not want conservatives to come at all.
The Marketplace of Ideas Under Threat
Kirk lamented the state of modern college campuses, noting that while they are supposed to be marketplaces of ideas where discourse, dialogue, and disagreement are allowed to happen, they have instead become leftist echo chambers. However, Kirk expressed optimism that conservatives are changing this dynamic.
A Growing Conservative Movement on Campus
Despite years of leftist propaganda emanating from universities across the board, Kirk reported significant progress for the conservative movement on campus. Through years of work via digital media and coverage from supportive platforms, a not-so-silent majority has emerged on college campuses consisting of students who identify with more conservative or libertarian viewpoints.
Kirk shared encouraging metrics: Turning Point USA chapters are growing at a record rate, and they are packing lecture halls for their events. He suggested that being conservative has almost become the rebellious, punk rock, fun thing to be on campus.
Conservatives as the New Counter-Culture
Kirk posed a provocative question: who wants to be a leftist on a college campus when leftists don't believe in genders, don't believe in free markets, and don't embrace personal responsibility? He characterized conservatives as the rebels and the cool kids, while leftists have become the conformists.
Kirk concluded with confidence, declaring that a revolution is brewing on college campuses and that conservatives are going to win, even looking ahead to 2045.
