Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled to speak to Ole Miss students and participate in a Q&A with them as part of the “This is the Turning Point” tour.
Vance will be introduced by Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, in what is scheduled to be her and Vance’s only public appearance on the college tour.
TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed September 10 at Utah Valley University while speaking to thousands of students. That campus was supposed to be his first stop on “The American Comeback” tour, and it was renamed and filled with new speakers in an effort by TPUSA to continue to reach young people.
The joint appearance of Vance and Kirk is not just a coincidence. After her husband's assassination, Erika Kirk has publicly thanked Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha, for consoling and supporting her.
The vice president and his wife also escorted Kirk's casket on Air Force Two after his death.
Vance has also publicly credited Charlie Kirk for floating his name to Donald Trump as a potential running mate, directly stating Kirk helped him become the U.S. vice president.
The Wednesday event will be held in the Ole Miss basketball arena, named The Pavilion. It is set to start at 5 p.m. CST.
University of Mississippi, home to about 27,100 students, is located in the small town of Oxford in North Mississippi.
The stadium holds approximately 9,500 people, Gregg Davidson, an Ole Miss professor and TPUSA faculty advisor, told AFN.
“There is potential that the stadium will be completely packed by students,” he said. “They will let everyone in in the student line first and only as seats are available will they open it up to public admission."
After the professor spoke to AFN, TPUSA announced the event is “sold out” and is expected to reach its capacity with student attendees.
Davidson, who has been the TPUSA chapter advisor since the summer, said student membership has swelled to 400-plus Ole Miss students after Kirk’s death.
Describing the goal of TPUSA, Davidson said its members want to interact with people who hold opposing views, even if they’re hostile, to create a dialogue with them rather than angry shouting.
“I hope people increasingly see that from Turning Point USA,” he said, “and likeminded organizations."
Regarding his comments to AFN, Davidson pointed out he was speaking for himself and the TPUSA chapter, not for the University of Mississippi or the national organization itself.
