Which Turning Point USA leaders were accused of racist remarks and when did those incidents occur?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and several people associated with it have been accused over time of racist or bigoted remarks; watchdogs like the ADL say “TPUSA’s leadership and activists have made multiple racist or bigoted comments” [1] [2]. Specific incidents in reporting include viral videos and named speakers: a UNLV chapter leader filmed using racial epithets and shouting “white power” (documented in SourceWatch) and multiple controversies involving TPUSA figures such as Candace Owens’ 2018 London comments and repeated criticisms of founder Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric [3] [2]. Recent events include a Dec. 4–5, 2025 TPUSA event in El Paso where White House border czar Tom Homan was heckled as “racist” during his talk [4] [5].
1. Known, named episodes critics point to
Watchdog reporting and compilations list several specific episodes that critics and media cite when accusing TPUSA leaders or affiliates of racist remarks: a viral video identified by SourceWatch showed a man described as the former UNLV TPUSA chapter president using racial slurs and shouting “white power,” prompting TPUSA to say it removed the student from involvement [3]. The Anti‑Defamation League’s backgrounder states TPUSA leadership and activists “have made multiple racist or bigoted comments” and recounts several episodes tied to individuals associated with the group [1].
2. High‑profile personalities whose rhetoric drew accusations
Multiple TPUSA personalities have been singled out in reporting. Candace Owens drew backlash for comments reported in 2018, including minimizing Hitler in a London appearance, which triggered internal criticism from TPUSA chapters [3]. Media coverage and watchdogs have also scrutinized founder Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric — critics say he denied systemic racism and used inflammatory language on race; broader profiles of TPUSA say its leaders have repeatedly provoked accusations of racism [2] [6].
3. Campus incidents and organizational responses
Beyond celebrities, campus leaders and chapter members produced viral controversies: the UNLV video described above is an example in which TPUSA said it “swiftly and permanently removed the student” from involvement after the clip surfaced [3]. The New Yorker and other longform reporting (cited by TPUSA critics) previously documented allegations of racial bias and problematic chapter behavior tied to the organization’s campus activities [7] [8].
4. Recent, contested moments in December 2025
In early December 2025, reports noted an incident at a TPUSA event at the University of Texas–El Paso where an attendee called Tom Homan “racist” and “traitor” during his speech on Dec. 4; news outlets published video and writeups of Homan’s heated exchange with the heckler [4] [5]. Those stories show the label being applied to a guest speaker at a TPUSA event and the resulting public confrontation, not a finding by an independent body that Homan had personally made racist remarks [4] [5].
5. Summary of what sources assert and what they do not
Available sources explicitly state patterns of accusations against TPUSA leadership and activists (ADL backgrounder, Wikipedia summary) and recount discrete episodes (UNLV video, Owens’ London remarks, Charlie Kirk’s controversial rhetoric) [1] [2] [3]. The December 2025 El Paso event is reported as a heckling incident where Homan was called “racist” by an attendee; sources do not document an official finding that Homan made racist statements at that TPUSA event [4] [5]. Sources do not provide a single comprehensive list that ties every named TPUSA leader to a dated racist remark in one place; instead, reporting and watchdogs compile multiple episodes across years [1] [3].
6. Competing perspectives and implicit agendas
TPUSA and its defenders argue the organization promotes free speech and conservatism on campus; some conservative outlets and TPUSA allies depict accusations as politically motivated or the product of isolated incidents [9] [10]. Watchdog groups such as the ADL, the Southern Poverty Law Center (cited in summaries), and investigative outlets present a countervailing narrative that the organization’s leadership and activists have repeatedly produced racist or bigoted content [1] [2]. Be aware: sources critical of TPUSA emphasize systemic patterns; pro‑TPUSA sources frame controversies as exceptions or hostile treatment.
Limitations: this analysis uses only the supplied reporting and compilations; it does not adjudicate legal fault or intent and does not include materials beyond the provided sources. Available sources do not mention a single consolidated timeline enumerating every TPUSA leader accused and the exact dates of their individual remarks; instead they document a series of episodes and watchdog conclusions across multiple years [1] [3] [2].