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In a moment that brought a packed arena at Auburn University to its feet, Eric Trump called his father, President Donald Trump, live on stage during a Turning Point USA event Wednesday night. The impromptu phone call, which took place during the organization’s nationwide tour, drew thunderous applause from thousands of attendees.
“Should we try calling him?” Eric Trump asked the crowd while co-hosting the Alabama event with his wife, Lara Trump. The audience responded with enthusiastic cheers as Eric held his phone to the microphone.
“Hello? Hello?” President Trump could be heard saying on the other end of the line, eliciting a raucous response from the crowd.
Eric Trump described the scene to his father: “We have the most beautiful crowd of people, thousands and thousands of people at Auburn University. They are incredibly enthusiastic, and they absolutely adore this country, they adore God, and they adore you.”
President Trump warmly addressed the audience, saying, “I want to just say hello to everybody. Auburn is a special place, I’ve been there many times.” He then took a solemn moment to honor Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
“I just want to pay my respects to Charlie and Erika — these are two incredible people,” the president said. “Erika, I’ve spoken to her often, she is just a spectacular person, and she is going to start where Charlie left off, and we should never allow this to happen.”
The president’s comments about Kirk carried particular weight at the event, as the current nationwide tour, titled “This is the Turning Point,” is explicitly designed to honor Kirk’s legacy. According to the organization’s website, each stop represents “a chance to honor Charlie’s mission and keep the fight alive.”
Kirk’s assassination has sent shockwaves through conservative political circles and raised serious concerns about political violence in America. His widow, Erika Kirk, recently sat down with Fox News host Jesse Watters for her first interview since the tragedy, discussing what she described as her husband’s “horror movie” murder.
During the call, President Trump acknowledged Kirk’s significant contribution to his administration, saying he was “so responsible for our win.” In a poignant moment, he added, “We love Charlie, he’s looking down on us right now.”
The Turning Point USA tour has been drawing substantial crowds at university campuses nationwide. The organization, which Kirk founded in 2012, has become one of the most influential conservative youth movements in the country, focusing on free-market values and limited government principles.
“We know he wouldn’t want us to surrender or be coerced into silence. Free speech is only free if we use our voices,” the organization stated on its website regarding the continuation of its mission following Kirk’s death.
The Auburn University event follows other recent high-profile tour stops, including an appearance by Vice President JD Vance at the University of Mississippi on October 30 and an event at Montana State that featured entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Governor Greg Gianforte.
As Eric ended the call, President Trump offered final words of encouragement to the audience: “As President of the United States, I love you all and our country is doing great.”
The Turning Point tour continues to demonstrate the organization’s resilience in carrying forward its mission despite the tragic loss of its founder. With Eric and Lara Trump among the prominent conservative voices stepping in to help lead these events, the organization appears determined to maintain Kirk’s influence on young conservative Americans across university campuses.
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10 Comments
I’m curious to see how this event and the Turning Point tour play out. Do you think it’s mainly about energizing the base or trying to expand Trump’s influence beyond his core supporters?
That’s a good question. Likely a mix of both – rallying the base while also trying to broaden the appeal. It will be interesting to see how effective they are at that.
Interesting to see Eric Trump calling his father live on stage. Seems like the crowd was enthusiastic to hear from the former president. I wonder how these types of events help rally the MAGA base.
Yes, it’s clear the Trump family still commands a strong following. These events provide an opportunity for direct connection with supporters.
While I’m not a Trump supporter, I have to admit the live phone call was a clever move to engage the crowd. It speaks to his ability to create a spectacle and connect with his base.
I agree, the theatrics of these events are part of Trump’s playbook. Whether you agree with his politics or not, he knows how to put on a show.
Curious to see how this event and the Turning Point tour impact the political landscape leading up to the next election. Trump still seems to have a strong following, but it remains to be seen if he can translate that into broader electoral success.
That’s a good point. Trump’s continued influence will depend on whether he can expand his support beyond his core base. The next election cycle will be telling.
Love him or hate him, President Trump certainly has a knack for generating excitement at his events. The live phone call added a personal touch that his supporters likely appreciated.
Agreed. Whether you agree with his politics or not, Trump knows how to work a crowd and keep his base energized.