President Donald Trump thrilled student activists at the TPUSA Summit on Tuesday, urging them to strive for greatness.
“From the very beginning America has been lifted even higher by the daring dreams of young Americans like each and every one of you,” he said.
The president spoke over an hour and a half to the cheering group of about 1,000 activists at the Turning Point USA’s 2019 Teen Student Action Summit on Tuesday in Washington, DC.
Trump noted that the nation’s first president George Washington was 21-years-old when he received his first military command and later chose 20-year-old Alexander Hamilton to be his top aide.
He noted that Betsy Ross was 24 when she began sewing the first American flag and that Martin Luther King Jr. was only 26 when he marched for justice in Alabama
“Now it’s your turn to inspire our country, your chance to choose greatness for America because your time has come, your time is now,” he said.
He welcomed three different student activists on stage, including Park City Utah High School student Ryan Zink who’s school hall was pepper-sprayed at a Turning Point USA event.
“Our voices need to be proudly expressed and they cannot be silenced,” Zink told the crowd after the president invited him up on stage.
He also welcomed TPUSA student chapter president Daniel Gallipolie to speak, who vowed to stand for free speech.
“No matter the teacher, no matter the student, no matter the faculty we will stand up for what we believe in!” he shouted.
Trump also invited high school sophomore Hunter Richard to speak after he was allegedly assaulted by a man after he wore his MAGA hat while going out to a Whataburger restaurant with his friends.
“Hunter thank you for your courage, that was fantastic the way you handled that,” Trump said.
“I proudly wear my Make America Great Again hat every time I go out of my house,” Richard said, noting that he also wore a MAGA hoodie when he went to school.
He told Trump he was disappointed that he could only have him as the president for six more years before he stepped down.
Trump said that the young people in the room would shape not only the future of their destiny but that of the United States of America.
“You are the ones who are lifting our nation in the very near future and I have no doubt that you will do it, to soaring new heights,” Trump said.
He urged them to stand strong against the leftist intolerance that was found on many high schools and colleges.
“The forces of political correctness want to silence conservative students to make you feel alone, marginalized and isolated but you are not,” he said. “The silent majority is silent no more, your moment in the sun is just beginning.”
Trump praised the young conservative leaders in the country who were supporting him and his agenda, noting that the “fake news” did not report on the rise of the Trump movement among young people.
“Its a movement about reclaiming your future, rebuilding your country and restoring your destiny and renewing the values that are the true source of American greatness,” he said.
Trump praised his “friend” TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk for his organizing efforts.
“He’s an incredible guy, his spirit, his love of this country, he’s done an amazing job,” he said. “He’s done something that is just incredible for somebody really of his age, you need tremendous talent to do what he’s done.”