NEW: Multiple people close to former President Trump say he’s been frustrated with Turning Point USA and its founder Charlie Kirk over Kirk’s relationship with Florida Gov. DeSantis, although the Trump campaign and Kirk say there’s no rift.
Started in 2012 to energize young conservatives, the group has quickly grown to become a sort of quasi-party apparatus in its own right through organizing, holding rallies with prominent conservatives and, perhaps most importantly, tying itself closely to former President Donald Trump and his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
More recently, Trump noticed Kirk starting to ally himself with DeSantis in his effort to shake up the Republican National Committee, according to the adviser, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Kirk was vocal in wanting to oust the incumbent chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, who was originally handpicked by Trump for the job.Harmeet Dhillon — who was boosted heavily by Kirk — in comments that made waves at the RNC’s winter meeting last month.
Other Kirk allies, as well as a spokesman for Trump, also disputed suggestions the relationship has frayed. “Charlie and Turning Point were very close to Trump since the beginning,” this person said. “But the distance has grown since the beginning of 2022. And then you get to the end of 2022, there’s a coordinated effort for TPUSA to build that relationship with Ron. Why? Charlie wants to be next to the new shiny thing on the block.
One Turning Point official noted Trump specifically stayed out of the RNC fight by not endorsing either candidate, opening the door to a broader outside effort to take down McDaniel. Kirk wanted to speak with DeSantis about his platform for higher education, but the conversation naturally turned to the RNC race with its prominence in the news cycle.
But as the party underwhelmed at the ballot box last fall, so too did some prominent candidates Turning Point helped elevate within the party.Wednesday, Turning Point’s political arm is splitting with the Students for Trump group, a conservative social media powerhouse in its own right.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump Aide-Turned-Critic Warns That DeSantis Will ‘Implode’ Against TrumpThe View’s Alyssa Farah Griffin asserted on Thursday that Ron DeSantis would quickly fold under the pressure of a heated GOP primary against Donald Trump, adding that the Florida governor will “implode” in the face of sustained attacks.
Read more »
Florida Man vs Florida Man: Trump Suggests DeSantis Was 'Grooming' and Partying With Underage GirlsThe former President isn't shy when attacking potential political opponents and now Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is responding to Trump's recent Truth Social post.
Read more »
DeSantis responds to Trump spreading rumor he drank with high school girlsOn Tuesday, the former president shared images allegedly depicting the governor with underaged girls at a high school party.
Read more »
Donald Trump, Longtime Friend of Jeffrey Epstein, Suggests Ron DeSantis Groomed High School GirlsTrump left out the part about being pals with Jeffrey Epstein—and backing Roy Moore for Senate—when making the insinuation about DeSantis and the girls the governor taught at a Florida high school.
Read more »
DeSantis rebuts Trump’s ‘groomer’ attack, insists he doesn’t ‘smear other Republicans’Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) brushed off former President Donald Trump's fiery screed against him while adhering to his playbook and avoiding a slugfest with his potential 2024 foe.
Read more »
DeSantis on Trump’s attack: ‘I don't spend my time trying to smear other Republicans’DeSantis responded to Trump’s latest attack — a reposted social media message sarcastically insinuating the Florida governor is grooming teen girls — saying “I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans.”
Read more »