A public dispute has emerged between conservative commentator Candace Owens and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) over an event featuring Erika Kirk at Nampa Christian School in Idaho.
The disagreement began after a social media post said more than 500 high school students attended a TPUSA Club America tour event at the private Christian school on September 18. The event featured Erika Kirk, who reportedly addressed students as part of the organisation’s youth outreach programme.
Owens questioned the way the event was organised and described it as a “secret” gathering. She said parents had contacted her about an event involving middle and high school students during the school day.
A central point of Owens’ criticism was whether students had voluntarily chosen to attend. She claimed the event was conducted as a school assembly rather than an optional Club America meeting and questioned whether students had been given a choice.
Owens also said parents had been told they could not attend the event with their children. She subsequently asked TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet whether students had signed up to participate or whether the school administration had arranged the gathering during regular school hours.
Kolvet rejected Owens’ description of the event as secret. He said TPUSA does not publicly market certain events because of security concerns. According to Kolvet, parents had been informed about the programme and were given the option to have their children opt out. He said three students chose not to attend.
Kolvet also argued that a school assembly should not be confused with a regular student club meeting and questioned Owens’ characterization of the event.
Owens continued to focus on whether students had a genuine choice about attending, keeping the disagreement centred on how the programme was organised and communicated to families.
The Idaho event is part of TPUSA’s wider youth outreach efforts. The organisation describes Club America as a movement for high school students and also conducts programmes involving conservative speakers at schools and colleges.
The dispute has brought attention to questions surrounding political organisations’ engagement with students, including parental notification, voluntary participation and the distinction between school activities and student club events.
The disagreement also adds to a series of public disputes surrounding TPUSA and its activities following the death of its founder, Charlie Kirk. Erika Kirk has since taken a prominent role in the organisation’s public activities and youth programmes.
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