The College Fix

‘Did they say ‘This is MAGA country,’ Turning Point USA CEO asks

A black student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville claimed Trump supporters, driving around in a pick-up trick, “hatecrimed” him.

Yet, he never reported the incident to the police or campus authorities, waiting at least a year to publicize the allegations during a well-attended event on campus with Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk. The student wanted Kirk to disavow alleged hatred among Trump supporters, claiming he was the regular victim of hate.

Student Jaden Clark told Kirk last week that “freshman year I was hatecrimed five times in one night. Three of them by Trump supporters.” It is not clear what year in school he is, but the phrasing implies he is no longer a freshman.

The campus TPUSA group hosted Kirk for the “American Comeback Tour.” The conservative student leader visits college campuses and debates students, often drawing large crowds.

During one incident, there was a “truck full of four white men” wearing “MAGA apparel.” Kirk asked Clark if they said, “This is MAGA country.” Later he called him “Jussie Smollett,” again referencing the hate crime hoax by the black actor.

Soon after, Kirk said he believed the student was “making it up.”

“I think you’re lying,” he said, after the black student said he did not report the incidents.

One of the incidents reportedly included someone threatening to “rape” him. Clark did not say if Trump supporters were guilty for this one, but the hate crime allegedly occurred on the same night.

Kirk challenged Clark to explain what he did to report the incident.

“How would I report that,” Clark asked. Kirk pointed out there is info all over campus on how to report things. The Turning Point USA leader then told the student he could introduce him to a campus official, to which the student said he would “think about it.”

“It didn’t happen man,” Kirk said.

The student then went on to say he faces “vitriol” and “hate” all the time.

He then said a “good amount” of Trump supporters “are racist.” He tried to get Kirk to “alleviate” the “hate” among the Turning Point USA fans. He said the Turning Point USA supporters in the crowd had “hate in their heart.”

The TPUSA CEO, who is well-connected, said he would take the accusation to the Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, FBI Director Kash Patel, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, and other political leaders.

“Nowhere in America should you be allowed to go in front of a microphone with no evidence, no willingness to report, no likelihood to talk to police, and say ‘Oh this happened to me at night,’ and ruin the reputation of half the country,” Kirk said.

The University of Tennessee police department and media relations did not respond to an email Monday morning asking if police reports had been filed following the event last week. Clark did not respond to an email Monday from The College Fix asking if he had filed any reports and for more information on the allegations.

Hate crime hoaxes happen with some regularity on high school and college campuses.

The College Fix reported on 21 hate crime hoaxes last year. Among those were unsubstantiated accusations that a Jewish student threatened her Muslim roommate with a knife, multiple nooses that were determined to have no racial meaning behind them, and multiple cases of unverified racial slurs from sports fans.

MORE: Following probable hoax, Gettysburg College offers more DEI

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: A black student tells Charlie Kirk about how he has been ‘hatecrimed five times’ at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Charlie Kirk/YouTube

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