At a Nov. 5 Turning Point USA event at Auburn University’s Neville Arena, Eric Trump phoned President Donald Trump on stage. The president greeted students, praised Auburn, and paid tribute to the late TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
Eric Trump appeared Wednesday night at Auburn University with his wife, Lara Trump, and conservative commentator Benny Johnson for Turning Point USA’s “This is the Turning Point Tour.” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville also addressed the crowd. Lines formed hours before doors opened; local outlets described a packed arena, while the Daily Wire characterized the turnout as thousands.
Introducing the on-stage call, Lara Trump told the audience, “It says ‘Dad POTUS’ on his phone, just so you know,” before Eric dialed. President Trump answered with “Hello,” drawing cheers. Over speakerphone he added, “I just want to say hi to everybody. I hope Eric is doing a good job. I love you all, the country is doing great,” and praised Auburn as “a special place” where he knows “many people from that area … and from that school.”
Trump also paid respects to Charlie and Erika Kirk, saying, “We know Charlie is looking down on us.” Kirk, the group’s founder, was assassinated on Sept. 10 at a Utah Valley University campus event. According to the Daily Wire, this was the first time the president had joined a TPUSA campus appearance since Kirk’s killing.
In a light moment, Trump teased his son: “You better do a good job; these are smart people … they will report back to me.” He closed with, “As President of the United States, I love you all,” prompting chants of “USA!”
Johnson posted about the moment on Nov. 6. The Auburn Plainsman reported the call took place during the Nov. 5 stop in Neville Arena. TPUSA has said the tour will continue, with a UC Berkeley event scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10.
Tuberville, a former Auburn football coach who won six straight Iron Bowls during his tenure, urged students to carry on Kirk’s mission, telling attendees, “I’m telling you this as a so-called politician, politicians aren’t going to help you. It’s going to be your generation that gets this mess straightened out.”
The Daily Wire reported that Erika Kirk joined the tour at Ole Miss and told Fox News host Jesse Watters she feels Charlie’s presence on campuses; local coverage separately noted her participation in that Oct. 29 stop.
