Matt Walsh and Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire spoke at the University of Idaho on Tuesday night as part of Turning Point USA's college tour. They criticized political violence from the left and debated transgender ideology with audience members. The event honored the legacy of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, assassinated last September.
Walsh and Knowles condemned recent political violence, including an attempted assassination of President Trump last Saturday at the White House Correspondents' dinner. Walsh described the gunman's manifesto as filled with 'mainstream Democrat talking points' but 'so, so lame,' calling left-wing radicals 'violent, evil, soulless, and such corny dorks.' Knowles praised the second indictment of former FBI Director James Comey for threats against Trump as 'a very good start' and called for prosecutions of others, including Hassan Piker and Democrats who have urged violence against conservatives. 'We’ve got a great start with this administration, and we need a lot more of it,' Knowles told the audience hosted by the university's TPUSA chapter. This was one of five April campus visits to honor Charlie Kirk, killed at Utah Valley University last September. Audience interaction focused on transgender issues. A transgender-identifying student accused Walsh of misrepresenting data on mass shooters. Walsh responded, 'As someone who believes that women have penises, you’re not one to lecture people for lying,' adding that 'transgenderism itself is a lie.' He defined 'groomer' behavior as involving drag queens performing for children, children dressing as drag queens, or chemical castration of minors. The student countered with examples of drag shows at old folks' homes, prompting Walsh to quip, 'Now you’re grooming granny, too? Why have drag queens around kids at all?' The speakers turned to the November midterms and Trump administration achievements. Walsh acknowledged Republican foreign policy differences but urged speaking out, criticizing right-wing 'doomerism' and noting President Kamala Harris would be worse. He highlighted border shutdowns as an 'America First' victory, with Knowles joking that conservatives 'can never be happy.'
