Brilyn Hollyhand opened his address by commending the students for their bravery, their bold stance, and their clear dedication to preserving the nation.
“Tonight is a testament,” Mr. Hollyhand declared. “You can kill a man, but you cannot kill a movement. And every single one of you is a vital part of that movement.”
Hollyhand’s remarks alluded to the recent assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Just over a month after the tragedy, he addressed approximately 100 college students at an event organized by the Clemson University chapter of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth group Kirk had established.
From the front of a well-lit classroom, clad in a t-shirt proclaiming ‘JESUS SAVES,’ 19-year-old Hollyhand presented a grim assessment of the current political climate. With the soft-spoken demeanor of a youth pastor, he proposed that Generation Z was inadvertently fueling a societal rift that could only be characterized as a ‘civil war’.
“When our generation becomes frustrated with politics, what is our response?” Hollyhand questioned. “We resort to violence or shouting. We lack the fundamental ability to engage in civil discussion.”
His proposed remedy was simple: engage in open conversation.
This suggestion, echoing Kirk’s approach, formed the core of Hollyhand’s optimistic, albeit somewhat vague, political message. He has spent the last month delivering this message to young conservatives on his ‘One Conversation at a Time’ campus tour across the South. Hollyhand frames this tour as a homage to Kirk’s dedication to campus outreach, emphasizing his own role as a mentee of the late activist.
This claim has resonated deeply, as conservatives of all ages grapple with the question of who or what will succeed Kirk. Ongoing internal disputes over his ideologies, revelations from leaked communications, and various conspiracy theories surrounding his assassination continue to stir unrest within the MAGA movement and among its emerging leaders.
This turmoil unfolds as the movement navigates a larger existential crisis regarding its future direction and preferred style. The debate rages: should it embrace the overtly racist rhetoric of figures like podcaster Chris Booth, the aggressive white nationalism of Nick Fuentes, or instead forge a more moderate path rooted in Christian and family values, as promoted by influencers such as Allie Beth Stuckey?
Within a mere month, Hollyhand garnered at least 18 appearances on cable news outlets such as Fox and Newsmax. From his Auburn University dorm room, where he is a freshman, he shared personal stories about his ‘close friend’ Charlie and discussed how to perpetuate his influence. Despite this media blitz, he still faces a significant journey: his YouTube channel boasts just over 13,000 subscribers, with most videos attracting only a few thousand views.
Considering these factors, some observers remain unconvinced about his swift ascension to the role of a ‘protégé’.
“Suddenly he was on Fox News, then doing this campus tour. It all felt a bit surreal,” remarked Jane Kihne, 21, a Clemson College Republicans member who attended the event. “I’m skeptical, yet hopeful. Generation Z is constantly searching for new voices to represent the conservative movement.”
When confronted with accusations of being an ‘AstroTurfed influencer’—a term used by critics to suggest he’s a manufactured persona or backed by undisclosed funding—Hollyhand remained modest. “There’s simply no way I could have achieved this on my own,” he stated. “The Lord truly opened these doors for me.”
Becoming a spokesperson for Generation Z conservatives has been Hollyhand’s aspiration since he launched The Truth Gazette, a political newsletter, at just 11 years old while living with his parents in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His father, Brian Hollyhand, is a prosperous housing developer and a notable Republican donor.
He later expanded his newsletter into a YouTube channel, a platform for news and interviews. His archives showcase interviews with a roster of prominent Republican figures, including former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senator Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump Jr., all of whom amiably answered the young interviewer’s questions. However, his most significant interview was with Charlie Kirk. Hollyhand reached out to Kirk on a whim after learning he would be speaking in his hometown.
“I requested ten minutes of his time, and Charlie generously offered thirty,” he reminisced.
That August 2018 meeting proved to be a pivotal moment. The video shows a preteen Hollyhand, visibly nervous, introducing both Charlie Kirk and the far-right commentator Candace Owens. “First of all, what you’re doing is awesome. You’re significantly ahead of your peers,” Kirk told the young Hollyhand.
Following that initial interview, Hollyhand maintained contact with Kirk through text messages, as Kirk was known to communicate with a broad network of conservative influencers. Hollyhand estimates they exchanged messages several times each month, and he would sometimes receive commendation from Kirk after his television appearances. This intermittent but consistent dialogue is why Hollyhand now views Kirk as “one of his closest friends” within the political sphere.
“Every single one of you has the power to de-escalate the situation,” Hollyhand advised the Clemson audience. This university had recently dismissed a faculty member for criticizing Kirk on social media following his assassination. Hollyhand himself has advocated for similar faculty removals at the University of Alabama.
Hollyhand’s interpretation of “civil discourse” became clear over the subsequent hour as he presented his opinions on issues like D.E.I. (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), stating, “We need to return to a merit-based system”; Israel, asserting, “No more money should be sent overseas”; and pornography, which he labeled “a threat.” For the most part, his remarks were well-received by the audience of young conservatives, which also included a few older attendees.
However, a tense moment arose when a member of the Clemson College Republicans pressed Hollyhand on his support for a “legal immigration” option. The student challenged him, asking, “America is on the verge of becoming less than 50 percent white. What are your thoughts on that?”
Hollyhand sidestepped the question, dismissing it as a “rabbit hole.” As the discussion progressed, he interjected to highlight the “civil discourse” he believed was occurring.
“That’s precisely the objective here,” he stated. “Look, no one has resorted to violence or shouting. We are engaging in a civil conversation, and that’s why I came.”
The student’s immediate retort, “Not yet,” triggered a burst of laughter throughout the room.
Hollyhand gripped his microphone, a visible grimace on his face.
“Alright then,” he responded, “Next question.”
His tour was set to conclude with stops at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Florida State University later that week. In the interim, he had been a guest on conservative commentator Brandon Tatum’s podcast and delivered a speech at Liberty University. Despite numerous cheerful photo opportunities, Hollyhand understands that he has alienated certain individuals. He faced criticism from elements of the online right even before embarking on his college campus tour this autumn.
When he initially unveiled his plans, he seemed to exaggerate his association with Turning Point USA, asserting that the organization was sponsoring his event series. In reality, the national group had no direct involvement; his appearances were arranged by individual local campus chapters operating autonomously.
Last month, Tyler Bowyer, who leads Turning Point Action, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Hollyhand’s approach to organizing and promoting his events appeared “distasteful.”
When questioned specifically about Hollyhand, Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, opted to speak solely about Charlie Kirk. He stated in an email, “What truly defines Charlie’s unique and powerful legacy is his ability to inspire a multitude of new individuals to engage in the political sphere.”
Hollyhand encountered further criticism last month after sharing a video from inside a private jet. The video, which garnered over 39 million views, quickly became a target of online ridicule, with critics labeling him a privileged individual and an “establishment plant.”
In his defense, Hollyhand posted on X that a “hometown friend” had provided the private jet, enabling him to travel from class to a campus speech ten hours away. During an interview, he declined to disclose his travel arrangements for the Clemson event, citing “security reasons.” Notably, he arrived at the town’s regional airport, which does not accommodate commercial flights.
“He emerged from relative obscurity remarkably fast,” commented Jacob Hein, a 20-year-old farm management student at Clemson. “It has certainly fueled much speculation.”
Evan Howard, the Clemson student who engaged Hollyhand on the topic of immigration earlier in the evening, characterized him as “hopelessly out of touch.”
“I genuinely don’t believe he has the right to represent Generation Z,” stated Howard, 20. “Young conservatives are deeply concerned about immigration. They worry about the country’s changing demographics and harbor strong negative feelings toward Israel. These aren’t just my opinions; they are observed realities. I feel he is entirely out of his depth and shouldn’t be speaking here.”
Despite the criticism, Hollyhand appears unfazed, contending that ideological differences are beneficial for the Republican Party.
“It would be peculiar if we were all in perfect alignment,” he remarked. “No standardized talking points are distributed that everyone is expected to adhere to.”
Regarding allegations that his sudden rise to national prominence was suspiciously opportune, Hollyhand courteously invited his detractors to examine his record.
“Perhaps they simply weren’t aware of my work, and that’s perfectly acceptable,” he commented. “However, if you review my social media history, you’ll see I’ve been active since I was eleven.”
Hollyhand mostly steers clear of the confrontational “debate me” style prevalent in modern politics. His nuanced positions on immigration and his reluctance to employ racial stereotypes diverge from the America First ideology, which has gained significant traction among many Gen Z Republicans.
When questioned about the recent revelation of a group of young Republicans exchanging racist text messages, Hollyhand unequivocally denounced the behavior as “disgusting.”
“If we fail to challenge this extremist element, they will undoubtedly lead our party to ruin,” he asserted.
In a peculiar twist within today’s attention-driven landscape, this very measured approach might actually draw more attention to Hollyhand.
“He’s far from perfect,” admitted Mitchell Boone, 27, who traveled an hour specifically to hear Hollyhand speak.
“But, to be honest, I was taken aback,” Boone elaborated. “I had been telling my group chat that he would likely be a ‘RINO’ phony—a ‘Republican in name only.’ I’m genuinely pleased to report that he isn’t.”