Charlie Kirk pressures pastors to boost support for Donald Trump’s campaign

Rightwing activist urges protestant leaders to mobilise congregants for swing state campaigns

At a recent political training session in a Dallas suburb, Charlie Kirk, executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), sharply criticised faith leaders for their lack of support for Donald Trump. During the three-day event, Kirk implored pastors to mobilise their congregants for "deployments" to key swing states.

Mimicking pastors who have expressed reservations about Trump, Kirk said, “‘But, but Charlie, I don’t think Trump is a very good role model for our church.’ I have no patience for you any more, people. I am sick of this.”

The event, named Igniting the Remnant Pastors, featured prominent rightwing speakers, including retired Lieutenant General and conspiracy theorist Mike Flynn. The conference, which charged $199 per pastor and $49 per wife, aimed to "mobilize the body of Christ to take meaningful action" in support of Trump.

The gathering underscores the Trump campaign’s efforts, alongside allies like TPUSA and the America First Policy Institute, to energise evangelical voters for the 2024 election. Kirk’s address emphasised a strategy of transforming church leaders into informal Trump advocates who would then engage their congregations in grassroots efforts.

Kirk’s speech also included criticisms of media coverage, particularly of Kamala Harris’s presidential bid, which he described as “the most unlikable” and “super dumb.” He also lamented the press’s handling of an incident at a Trump rally, where the former president’s ear was grazed by a bullet.

“We fought with the trial, and we fought with the indictments, and we fought through, you know, the debate, and Trump almost got shot. I need a rest – I totally get that, but get over it,” Kirk told attendees. “Because we are at war in this country for the future of this civilization.”

Karen Goll, a researcher with Documented who focuses on the Christian right, found Kirk’s rhetoric alarming. She observed that his provocative language appeared designed to motivate pastors to use their pulpits to sway the election in Trump’s favour.

Kirk also lauded TPUSA-backed efforts in Arizona that led to the removal of Maricopa County’s Republican head of elections, Steven Richer, who had contradicted Trump’s claims about the 2020 election. “Defeating Richer was a red pill or a promising development,” Kirk stated.

In his concluding remarks, Kirk urged pastors to mobilise their congregants to “chase ballots” in swing states, offering free lodging and stipends. Despite restrictions on partisan political activities by non-profits and churches under a 1954 law, enforcement is infrequent. Trump has vowed to abolish these restrictions.

“Our goal is to have 10,000 out-of-state patriots flood Arizona and flood Wisconsin,” Kirk said, echoing Trump’s rhetoric. “In a way that we’ve never seen before.”