Texas to put Turning Point USA in high schools

Gov. Abbott warns of discipline against 'any stoppage' of right-wing group on all campuses.

- BY JADEN EDISON

Texas has launched a partnership with Turning Point USA to create chapters of the right-wing organization on every high school campus in the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault did not outline any plans that would require schools to start the clubs. But Abbott said he expects “meaningful disciplinary action” to take place against “any stoppage of TPUSA in the great state of Texas.”

“Let me be clear: Any school that stands in the way of a Club America program in their school should be reported immediately to the Texas Education Agency,” the governor said last week, referring to the name of the high school clubs.

The announcement comes after Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath privately met with Thifault in early November to discuss expanding the organization’s presence in the state’s schools, which was first reported by the Texas Tribune. Four days after that meeting, Patrick said he would commit $1 million in campaign funds to help bring the project to fruition.

Turning Point USA was founded by Charlie Kirk, the late right-wing activist who was often praised by conservatives as a champion of free speech and criticized for comments that many other Americans found hateful toward LGBTQ+ communities, non-Christians, people of color and women. Kirk was killed in early September while speaking on a college campus in Utah.