Turning Point USA began its spring college tour at George Washington University on Thursday with its CEO, Erika Kirk, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The event at Lisner Auditorium featured several prominent speakers, including Kirk, who took over TPUSA after her husband, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot in September 2025.
“Each stop is a chance to honor Charlie’s mission and keep the fight alive. We know he wouldn’t want us to surrender or be coerced into silence. Free speech is only free if we use our voices,” TPUSA wrote on the GWU event’s page.
Charlie Kirk was a prominent conservative figure who frequently visited college campuses to engage in political dialogue with students. TPUSA announced its spring college tour on Instagram on March 12.
Erika Kirk and Leavitt talked about the importance of a free and “true” press. They emphasized that the late Kirk’s mission was about fostering open dialogue and that news outlets are not practicing true journalism.
“What I’ve been noticing is that a lot of these — especially independent journalists — they pedestal their sources above the actual individual or organization that they’re talking about,” Kirk said.
“It’s a 24/7 news cycle we live in, and we’re on the front lines of that at the White House every day,” Leavitt said.
They called on students to forge a future of free thinking and taking action.
“I pray that each and every one of you, especially students, look to my husband as the example to speak with truth and take your freedom of speech from the standpoint of responsibility, of engaging in discourse and dialogue, and doing it in a way where you are obviously standing for what you believe in, but also giving the people who don’t agree with you an opportunity to share why,” Erika Kirk said.
“Because when you listen, then you can respond better.”
Leavitt said faith is paramount to staying grounded in the face of fake news and unethical journalism.
“Faith gives you such perspective that even the worst story or the worst news cycle is just a moment, and it’s passing,” she said.
The crowd was made up of students from the GWU chapter of TPUSA and other attendees. Many people in the audience wore red “Make America Great Again” hats or white “Freedom” hats.
The TPUSA college tour is free for all, although attendance is first-come, first-served. Lisner Auditorium holds around 1,400 seats. Last-minute attendees climbed to the top of the auditorium for the event.
At the end, attendees could ask Erika Kirk and Leavitt questions during a Q&A panel. Most notably, the last person questioned the basis of the SAVE America Act. The speaker cited data from the Heritage Foundation and argued that voter fraud is minimal, and so is it worth it just to “prevent a few hundred cases of voter fraud?”
Leavitt said, “Why are you OK with any voter fraud in the United States of America?”
She continued, “It is absolutely absurd that voter ID is not the land of law in this country.”
Other speakers included Ryan Van Slingerland, president of TPUSA at GWU; Jack Posobiec, a political activist; Laine Schoneberger, chief investment officer at Yrefy; and Joshua Haymes, pastor, host, and founder of the Reformation Red Pill podcast.
Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in September 2025. Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with the murder. He’s due back in court on May 18.
PARENTS AND BOYFRIEND OF TYLER ROBINSON TO TESTIFY FOR PROSECUTION IN CHARLIE KIRK MURDER TRIAL
Charlie Kirk’s death sparked national outrage and prompted discussion over political violence in America.
The TPUSA tour will make more stops across the country, including the University of Georgia on April 14, the Ohio State University on April 21, and Baylor University on April 22, among others. Additional schools will be announced.
