Conservatives are blasting Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA conference for a stunt in which women in skintight clothing shot cash at students out of a cannon.
The 27-year-old conservative activist’s sixth annual Turning Point USA 2020 Student Action Summit, which began on December 19, is currently underway in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The conference, attended by about 2,000 conservatives, mostly students ages 15 to 25, is aimed at providing activism and leadership training, in addition to networking with the likes of Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Ted Cruz, Rudy Guiliani, Laura Ingraham and Kirk himself.
Conservative commentators were quick to slam Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA for a stunt in which ‘Bang Girls’ fired money out of a cannon into the conference audience
The audience was seen grabbing money out of the air during a 25-minute speech by the CEO of Bang Energy, which sponsored the conference
It wasn’t what’s been said during the conference, supposedly aimed at fighting socialism, that’s drawn the ire of conservatives across the US, however, but one of the stunts that was pulled on Sunday night.
At one point in the evening, conference sponsor Bang Energy was caught on video hyping up the crowd by having so-called Bang Girls – dressed in leggings and midriff-bearing tank tops – spray the cheering audience with cash from a money cannon set up on the stage.
‘Folks, we are trying to get that thing [money cannon] rolling,’ Bang Energy CEO Jack Owoc was heard saying in a video obtained by Mediaite.
As the cash flutters over the ecstatic crowd of young adults – at least some of who were wearing face masks, but not social distancing – they screamed and scrambled to grab the money.
The audience had cash rained down upon their heads throughout what Mediaite described as a ’25-minute sales pitch,’ during which Owoc, a supporter of President Trump, urged attendees to buy his sports drinks.
Conservatives took to social media to condemn Turning Point USA for the free money stunt
Another tweeter asked Turning Point USA’s sister organization, the Falkirk Center for Fiath and Liberty if it could ‘please issue guidance’ regarding ‘what you think of strippers shooting cash to kids. Debauchery is not exactly Christianity.
Once video of the stunt hit social media, conservatives were quick to condemn TPUSA.
‘I wanna just explode over how embarrassing and pathetic this is, but most of you know how I feel about TPUSA so use your imagination,’ prominent conservative Curtis Houck tweeted.
‘Nothing says worshipping Jesus and the need to live out the Word at the same conference you drag out a money cannon with Bang girls.’
Houck, who noted he was a College Republican chapter member while a student, added: ‘THIS is what we’re supposed to believe is the future of the conservative movement and Republican Party? There’s no wiggle room to explain this away or say it’s taken out of context. Don’t talk about Jesus and faith and family then pull this crap.’
Bang Energy CEO Jack Owoc is pictured at the Turning Point conference (left) and in a promotional photo (right). Owoc is a Trump supporter
Video shared on social media showed the Bang Girls firing money out into the crowd (left). Young conservatives were shown cheering in the crowd (right)
Charlie Kirk, 27, has expressed his disdain for socialism, but has not yet commented on the fact that money was given out for free at the conference
Conservative columnist Todd Starnes, meanwhile, tweeted: ‘Oh, wow. I thought that was some sort of Vegas nightclub. That really happened at a conservative conference for teens?’
‘I have nothing good to say about a multi-million dollar organization that approves of their sponsors to make young conservatives look like begging liberals,’ conservative radio host Wayne Dupree tweeted. ‘Nobody wants to say anything though. Nobody wants to open their mouths but you’ll call out the other side. This is sick!’
Pro-Trump conservative Ian Miles Cheong wrote, ‘Idiocracy’ – referring to the 2006 Mike Judge sci-fi cult comedy of the same name – while retweeting a video of the Bang Girls.
‘Nothing says “Conservatism!” like turning your conference into a borderline strip club,’ tweeted conservative journalist Alec Sears.
In response to tweets commenting that money cannons are often used at sporting and entertainment events, Sears wrote: ‘I don’t care what the entertainment industry does. I care about conservatism. Please explain what models and money have to do with limited gov. and statesmanship?’
General conservatives were quick to question the decision to shoot a money cannon at the event, too.
‘Charlie Kirk hates socialism, yet shoots a money canon at his weird conference. Interesting,’ wrote on tweeter.
Another tweeter asked Turning Point USA’s sister organization, the Falkirk Center for Fiath and Liberty if it could ‘please issue guidance’ regarding ‘what you think of strippers shooting cash to kids. Debauchery is not exactly Christianity.’
Kirk has not yet addressed the money cannon or the act of giving out free money to TPUSA conference attendees.
Kirk, a frequent, Pro-Trump Fox News pundit, has, however made no bones about his distaste for socialism over the years since he came to prominence, after writing a Breitbart essay about supposed liberal bias in high school textbooks while a high school senior in 2012.
He co-founded Turning Point USA – a right-wing group which advocates conservative principles at high school, college and universities – the same year and went on to play a role in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Kirk has recently come under fire for spreading false information and coronavirus conspiracy theories, including claiming that the WHO covered up information about the pandemic and claiming that hydroxychloroquin has been proven to treat the virus, which it has not been.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort hosted a packed, masked-free, black-tie ball to kick off the Turning Point USA conference Friday.
Among the attendees were Kayleigh McEnany, Roger Stone, MyPillow CEO Michael Lindell, Laura Ingraham, Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Trump campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley, according to pictures posted to social media.
Photos posted on social media show a crowded ballroom at Mar-a-Lago with nary a face mask in sight, despite Palm Beach County officials extending an order mandating the wearing of facial coverings in all businesses, establishments, and in public spaces.
Two tickets to the fundraising dinner cost $10,000, according to the group, and the gala was sold out.
Trump usually speaks to the group but he has yet to depart Washington DC.