Overview

• The Southern Poverty Law Center’s new Year in Hate and Extremism report brands TPUSA a “hate group,” citing its role in stoking fears of threats to white Christian supremacy and links to hard-right extremists.
• Charlie Kirk denounced the designation as a “cheap smear” by a “washed-up” nonprofit that he accuses of exploiting donor fears to pressure banks and schools to isolate conservative voices.
• Elon Musk endorsed Kirk’s critique on X, calling the SPLC a “scam organization” after it mapped TPUSA alongside violent white supremacist groups.
• Critics point to the SPLC’s history of labeling mainstream conservative organizations—including Alliance Defending Freedom and Moms for Liberty—as evidence of left-wing bias and fundraising tactics.
• Founded in 2012, TPUSA operates chapters on more than 3,500 college campuses and hosts national summits to mobilize young conservatives and promote traditional values.