Brilyn Hollyhand kicked off his address by commending the students gathered, recognizing their bravery, conviction, and clear dedication to the nation’s future. “Tonight proves something vital: you can take a man, but you cannot extinguish a movement,” Mr. Hollyhand declared, emphasizing that each person in the room was a part of that ongoing momentum.
Hollyhand was referencing the recent assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Speaking a little over a month after the tragic event, he addressed approximately 100 college students at a gathering organized by the Clemson University chapter of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization Kirk had founded.
Dressed simply in a T-shirt proclaiming “JESUS SAVES,” the 19-year-old Hollyhand presented a grave assessment of the current political climate. With the soft, earnest delivery of a youth pastor, he suggested that Generation Z was inadvertently fueling a political fragmentation that he openly called a “civil war.”
“When our generation faces political frustration, what’s our default reaction?” Mr. Hollyhand asked. “We lash out, we scream. We’ve forgotten how to engage in civil discourse.”
His proposed solution? Simply engage in a conversation. This ‘Kirk-lite’ approach formed the optimistic, if somewhat vague, core of the political message Hollyhand has been delivering to young conservatives across the South on his “One Conversation at a Time” college campus tour. He frames this tour as a homage to Kirk’s legacy of campus engagement, often highlighting his personal connection to the late activist, whom he viewed as a mentor.
This assertion has resonated deeply, particularly as conservatives grapple with defining the movement’s direction after Kirk. Ongoing internal disputes over Kirk’s past statements, leaked communications, and lingering conspiracy theories surrounding his assassination continue to fuel unrest within the MAGA movement and among its emerging youth leaders.
The current turmoil occurs as the conservative movement navigates a broader identity crisis regarding its future ideology and style. Questions arise: should it embrace the overt racist sentiments of figures like podcaster Chris Booth, or the aggressive white nationalism of Nick Fuentes, or instead seek a more measured path rooted in Christian and family values, championed by influencers such as Allie Beth Stuckey?
In a mere month, Mr. Hollyhand made at least 18 appearances on prominent cable news networks like Fox and Newsmax. He broadcasted from his Auburn University dorm, sharing personal stories of his “close friend” Charlie and offering insights on how to preserve his legacy. Despite this rapid rise, he still has significant ground to cover: his YouTube channel boasts just over 13,000 subscribers, and his videos rarely achieve more than a few thousand views.
Overall, some remain unconvinced about his swift anointment as a “protégé.” “He suddenly appeared on Fox News, then this campus tour. It all felt a bit rushed,” commented Jane Kihne, 21, a member of Clemson’s College Republicans. “I’m skeptical but also hopeful. Gen Z is always searching for new conservative voices.”
When confronted with accusations of being an “AstroTurfed influencer” or a recipient of undisclosed funding, Mr. Hollyhand simply stated, “There’s no way I could have achieved this on my own. The Lord truly opened these doors.”
Becoming a voice for Gen Z has been Hollyhand’s aspiration since he launched The Truth Gazette, a political newsletter, at age 11 from his family home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His father, Brian Hollyhand, is a successful real estate developer and Republican donor.
He later expanded the newsletter into a YouTube news and interview platform. His archive features interviews with Republican heavyweights like former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senator Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump Jr., all patiently answering the preteen’s affable questions. However, none was more pivotal than his interview with Mr. Kirk, initiated by a bold message Hollyhand sent after learning Kirk was speaking in his hometown.
“I requested 10 minutes of his time, and Charlie offered me 30 minutes instead,” he recollected. This August 2018 encounter proved to be a transformative moment. In the video, a visibly nervous preteen Hollyhand introduces Mr. Kirk alongside far-right commentator Candace Owens. “First off, what you’re doing is fantastic. You’re far ahead of your time,” Kirk tells Hollyhand.
Over the subsequent years, Mr. Hollyhand maintained contact with Mr. Kirk through text messages, a practice Kirk was known for with a broad network of conservative influencers. By Hollyhand’s account, they communicated several times a month, and Kirk occasionally praised his TV appearances. This sustained, albeit sporadic, dialogue led Hollyhand to consider Kirk “one of his closest friends” in politics.
“Each of you has the power to lower the temperature,” Hollyhand implored the Clemson audience, referencing a recent incident where a faculty member was fired for a social media post critical of Kirk after his death. Hollyhand himself has advocated for similar faculty purges at the University of Alabama.
Hollyhand’s vision of “civil discourse” unfolded over the next hour as he discussed topics like D.E.I. (“We need to return to a merit-based system”), Israel (“No more money should be sent overseas”), and pornography (“a threat”). His remarks largely went unchallenged by the audience of young conservatives, sprinkled with a few older attendees.
However, a tense moment arose when a College Republican student pressed Hollyhand on his support for “legal immigration.” “America is projected to be less than 50 percent white soon. How do you feel about that?” the student asked.
Hollyhand sidestepped the question, labeling it a “rabbit hole.” Yet, as the exchange continued, he paused to point out the “civil discourse” in action. “That’s precisely the point,” he stated. “See? No one’s resorted to violence or shouting. We’re having a civil conversation. That’s why I’m here.” The student’s dry retort, “Not yet,” elicited laughter from the room. Hollyhand gripped his microphone, a grimace flickering across his face. “Alright, then,” he said. “Next question.”
His tour continued to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and then Florida State University for its final stops. In between, he made appearances on Brandon Tatum’s podcast and spoke at Liberty University. Despite numerous smiling photo opportunities, Hollyhand is aware he has alienated some. He faced criticism from certain factions of the online right even before embarking on his college campus tour this fall.
When initially announcing his plans, he seemingly overstated Turning Point USA’s involvement, suggesting the group was sponsoring the series when, in reality, it had no official role. (Individual local campus chapters booked his appearances independently.) In a post on X last month, Tyler Bowyer, head of Turning Point Action, deemed Hollyhand’s event organization and promotion “distasteful.”
When directly questioned about Mr. Hollyhand, Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, focused solely on Mr. Kirk. “Charlie’s legacy is truly unique and powerful because he inspired countless new individuals to enter the political arena,” he wrote in an email.
Mr. Hollyhand encountered further criticism last month after posting a video from aboard a private jet. The video, garnering over 39 million views, sparked online outrage, with many calling Hollyhand a privileged “rich kid” and accusing him of being an establishment pawn. In response, Hollyhand explained on X that a “hometown friend” had lent him the jet, enabling him to travel privately from class to a campus speech ten hours away. In a follow-up interview, he declined to disclose his travel arrangements for the Clemson event, citing “security reasons.” (Notably, Hollyhand arrived that evening via the town’s regional airport, which lacks commercial flights.)
“He rose to prominence incredibly fast,” observed Jacob Hein, a 20-year-old farm management major at Clemson. “It’s certainly fueled a lot of speculation.” Evan Howard, the student who challenged Hollyhand on immigration earlier that evening, called him “hopelessly out of touch.”
“I don’t believe he has any right to speak for Gen Z,” said Mr. Howard, 20. “Young conservatives are deeply concerned about immigration. They’re worried about the country losing its white majority. They dislike Israel. This isn’t just my opinion; it’s a fact. I think he’s completely out of his depth. He shouldn’t be speaking here.”
Yet, the criticism seems to roll off Mr. Hollyhand, who maintains that ideological differences are essential for a healthy Republican Party. “It would be strange if we all thought alike,” he remarked. “There’s no script of talking points we’re all expected to blindly adhere to.”
As for the insinuation that his rapid ascent to national prominence was suspiciously timed, Mr. Hollyhand politely suggested that his detractors review his public record. “Perhaps they weren’t aware of my work before. That’s perfectly fine,” he said. “But if you examine the social media data, I’ve been active in this space since I was 11 years old.”
Mr. Hollyhand largely steers clear of the “debate me” style of politics. His views on immigration and his reluctance to embrace racial stereotypes diverge from the America First movement, which has gained significant traction among many Gen Z Republicans. When asked about the recent revelation of a private chat among young Republican club members who exchanged racist texts, Mr. Hollyhand unequivocally condemned the behavior as “disgusting.”
“If we fail to challenge this fringe element, they will undoubtedly push our party over the edge,” he warned. In an ironic twist of today’s attention economy, this measured and nuanced stance might actually garner more attention for Mr. Hollyhand. “He’s far from perfect,” admitted Mitchell Boone, 27, who traveled an hour just to hear Hollyhand speak. “But honestly, I was surprised. I told my group chat that he’d probably be another ‘Republican in Name Only’ phony. I’m glad to say he isn’t.”