Conservative activist Charlie Kirk came to the University of Tennessee on Thursday, March 13. The event proved to be a popular opportunity for students to listen to, debate and express their own political views, with proponents and opponents of Kirk’s politics all coming together and engaging in discussion.
The controversial activist and executive director of the conservative political organization Turning Point USA did not give a speech. Instead, Kirk fielded questions from and engaged in debate with UT students.
Kirk first walked out flinging white hats with a golden “47” embroidered on them into the crowd for students to catch. The audience greeted Kirk with applause as he opened up and encouraged people to debate him.
“That’s a lot of people. How are we doing, University of Tennessee?” Kirk said. “It’s great to see you guys. Wow, this is really something. You know how it works, if you disagree, go to the line and we’ll have a great conversation here, and go Vols everybody.”
As part of his American Comeback Tour, his event attracted several hundred attendees and elicited reactions from supporters and protestors.
The HSS Humanities Amphitheatre was full of students coming, going and staying to listen to prolonged discussions about today’s pressing issues, including topics like abortion access, foreign affairs, and economic policy. The event was so well attended that the crowd entirely filled the amphitheater grounds, formed on all sides of Kirk’s tent, and several students even climbed trees to get a better view.
Kirk was brought to campus by UT’s chapter of the Turning Point USA organization, a nonprofit national organization that works to spread conservative politics in high schools and universities.
It was clear that many showed up in support of Kirk, with several attendees donning political attire, including red “Make America Great Again” hats. Luke, a finance major and attendee, was happy to see UT’s turnout and was waiting in anticipation to hear from Kirk.
“I think it’s great,” Luke said. “I love the massive turnout for Charlie Kirk coming. It’s great to see even people that disagree, that they at least care enough to take a stand.”
Others saw the event as an opportunity to spread messages for their own political agendas. Organizers from the Young Americans for Liberty, a national libertarian student organization, were seen holding a sign and advocating for allowing firearm concealed carrying on campus. Reagan Bittel, a UT student and member of YAL, explained their group’s advocacy goals for campus carry.
“We’re advocating for students to be allowed to carry firearms on campus in a concealed manner,” Bittel said. “We think this is an important issue because we have an issue with school violence, mass shootings, we have issues out on Cumberland. … I feel that it should be the right of the students to carry a firearm on campus to defend themselves when help isn’t always readily available.”
Charlie Kirk protestors gather outside of HSS. Thursday, March 13, 2025.
While the event certainly drew fellow-minded conservatives and right-wingers, it also brought out several protestors who opposed Kirk’s politics. The College Democrats organization stood in protest of what they deemed to be Kirk’s divisive and unproductive dialogue. Walker Kinsler, president of the organization, spoke about why the group protested Kirk’s event.
“The College Democrats are out here protesting the fact that Kirk brings a lot of hatred and division into politics, and we disagree with that,” Kinsler said. “My sign specifically mentions how he makes a lot of money off of it. I just don’t believe people should be profiting from polarization in America.”
Other students echoed similar thoughts about Kirk and his politics. Event attendee Eden believes Kirk promotes dangerous ideologies and is disappointed in Kirk’s welcome on campus.
“I honestly disagree with Charlie Kirk on a moral level about a lot of issues,” Eden said. “And I think platforming him is kind of dangerous, especially when he calls for a lot of dangerous ideologies that lead to harm towards others. It’s kind of disappointing to see just how many people are promoting him because of all the dangerous ideas he does platform.”
Kirk’s event brought out students’ politics and allowed those with conflicting beliefs to hear a bit from the other side. Kirk himself engaged with friendly attendees who agreed and with those on the polar opposite side of the political spectrum.
This allowed all attendees to at least hear both sides’ arguments on issues. Throughout the event, students could be seen diligently listening to debates and engaging in their own as they seized the opportunity to have productive discussions on all forms of policy.
The day after the event, Kirk said on his podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” that the event was “magical” and one of the greatest events he’s ever done in his 13-year career.
“I’ve got to give the University of Tennessee credit,” Kirk said. “Not for anything they’ve done — but they built a great amphitheater.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to add in Kirk’s comments from “The Charlie Kirk Show” about the event.
