Charlie Kirk tripped up by high-schooler's pointed question at leadership summit
A high-schooler seemed to momentarily confuse MAGA acolyte Charlie Kirk when she asked about the contradictory messaging emanating from his ultra-conservative "Young Women's Leadership Summit," The Washington Post reported.
Kirk is the founder of Turning Point USA, with a mission to empower "citizens of all ages to Rise Up against the radical Left in defense of freedom, free markets, and limited government," according to the group's web site.
Kirk would later tell the women that college was a “scam” but a good place to find a husband, and he "admonished that if they’re not married with kids by age 30, the chances of either happening for them will drop precipitously," the Post reported.
During a question and answer session, high-schooler Nicole Hader asked, “I was wondering if you could clarify what the mission of this summit is, because it’s a Young Women’s Leadership Summit, and all of the women that spoke on that stage today and yesterday were there because they pursued a career."
Hader referred to speakers like podcaster Alex Clark, anti-trans activist Riley Gaines, and the myriad young women entrepreneurs selling their wares throughout the summit's facility.
Kirk's wife, Erika, who espoused old-fashioned family values on the stage, also happens to run an online ministry and sells a line of "biblical streetwear." She advised the young women, "I don’t want you to be chasing a paycheck and a title and a corner office" only to “sacrifice such a short window that you have in this time period.”
Hader continued that as far as she could tell, "the takeaway from the conference 'was that I should, quote, get married and have babies.'"
The Post reported that "murmurs and some giggles rippled across the room" at her question.
Charlie Kirk considered the question, calling it "interesting," as his face "scrunched into a thoughtful grimace," according to the Post.
He continued, “I wouldn’t say all of them are there because they pursued a career — maybe I’d have to think about the entire career.”
Kirk then "stammered a bit before continuing," the report said.
“I could flip it on you. The people that pursued a career are telling you to pursue kids. Maybe they know something you don’t know," Kirk said.